St. Ignatius girls volleyball players celebrate after the match-winning point against Sacred Heart Cathedral in the CIF-Central Coast Section Division III final on Saturday at Independence High School in San Jose.

The Sunset District’s St. Ignatius College Preparatory needed just three games to defeat rivals Sacred Heart Cathedral in their girls volleyball CIF-Central Coast Section Division III matchup Saturday, denying Sacred Heart a fourth consecutive crown and winning the Wildcats their first CCS title.

St. Ignatius downed Sacred Heart 25-15, 25-10, 25-20.

“[The players] knew what they needed to do today and definitely had some motivation,” St. Ignatius head coach Lisa Becerra told local sports website San Fran Preps. “We have that rivalry to play off of and they know what’s at stake.”

The key to the Wildcats’ success was their diverse attack, led by senior setter Christina Lee, who finished with a match-high 40 assists. She also had two kills on second contact and a match-high four aces.

Lee’s favorite target was junior Claire Healy, who finished with a match-high 11 kills, but Lee also fed other St. Ignatius players with regularity, as four other Wildcats finished with six kills or more.

Both teams advance to the state CIF tournament, with action starting Tuesday.

Photo: AJ Canaria/San Fran Preps