Norwich — Steve Banks was just about to talk to reporters Tuesday night when he unloaded a few primal screams. Happy screams. Or at least screams of relief. That's what happens when your team, the tournament's top seed and with but one loss all season, finds a way to win after staring at deficits of 8-1 and 10-1.

And now Fitch High School — 20 wins, one loss to date — is a win away from the school's eighth Eastern Connecticut Conference volleyball championship.

The Falcons defeated No. 5 Woodstock Academy 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-16 and will face No. 3 Waterford, in the finals for the first time after a 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 25-118 win over No. 2 Lyman Memorial.

The title match is Thursday at 6 p.m. at Norwich Free Academy.

Fitch lost the first game to Woodstock and trailed 8-1 in the second and 10-1 in the third.

"We just kept saying to the kids 'one play at a time,'" Banks said. "I did tell them that good teams can rebound and we are a good team."

It helps, too, to have a number of seniors on the floor who do resilience from habit. Examples: Caroline Taber (14 points), Jen Severino (18 kills, five digs), Mackenzie Aldridge (12 kills, five digs) and Mae Sefransky (40 assists). Severino, in particular, made life difficult for the Centaurs.

"A dynamic player," Banks said.

And now the Falcons get to see one of the league's upstarts, a relatively young program that accomplishes a little more every year. Waterford (18-4) used seniors Vanessa Kobyluck and Mickayla Shelburn to make some program history Tuesday night, its first berth in the finals.

"I don't want to say making the finals for the first time is life-changing," Kobyluck said, "but it's nice to see our hard work is paying off."

Kobyluck had 52 assists while Shelburn had 24 kills.

"They're fantastic," Waterford coach Beau Lucas said of Kobyluck and Shelburn. "These seniors, and there are 10 of them, all come on to the court and produce. We have six girls who can hit. They can recognize when one is having a strong night. Lately, it's Mickayla Shelburn. Her athleticism is the kind you see once every 10 years. She hits over blockers. A joy to watch. She's the quietest, kindest, most giving kid on the team."

Shelburn: "We've executed this year a little more than last year. It's definitely not one player. It takes the whole team."

m.dimauro@theday.com

Twitter: @BCgenius