Today’s volleyball quadrangular at Free State High might not be critical in terms of Sunflower League titles, but there’s still one aspect important to both teams.

It’s the annual FSHS-Lawrence High showdown.

Though the match will be sandwiched around games against Shawnee Miege and Olathe East, the Firebirds and Lions will be ready to roll when it comes time to play each other, right?

Maybe not.

Both LHS coach Jo Huntsinger and FSHS coach Nancy Hopkins are taking the it’s-just-another-game approach. Both teams have sub-.500 records and for the first time since 1997, neither will win the Sunflower League title.

“I think we both realize that’s it’s not a do-or-die game,” Hopkins said. “When you’re out of the running for league, you focus on the end of the season. One of us has won the league title, every year since Free State opened, but you know, that’s just the way it goes.”

Both teams simply are trying to improve on their fundamentals and teamwork before the sub-state tournament begins Oct. 26. Between now and then, it doesn’t so much matter who you play, as how many games you get.

“I’d rather play three games and get as much practice as we can,” Huntsinger said. “The last couple weeks, we really feel like we should’ve beaten a lot of teams that we lost to.”

The Lions (7-8) are 4-5 the last two weeks. Huntsinger has shuffled the lineup slightly each week in an attempt to find the right playing combination. Once she gets one that works, she’ll stick to it.

“I don’t like to change when there’s not a lot of reason for it,” Huntsinger said.

As for the Firebirds (6-12), they started the season using a 5-1 formation, but switched to a 6-2 a few weeks ago. That allowed senior Linsey Morningstar to play along the frontline and hit and block, instead of running the offense all the time.

It was a move that Hopkins said was necessary simply because the team was struggling, and Morningstar’s talents were too good not to use.

Still, despite the tough seasons for both schools, expect support and a little bit of extra motivation when the match rolls around.

The bottom line is, it’s still a rivalry.

“When Lawrence High and Free State play, it’s always a big game,” Hopkins said. “It always gets a big crowd, no matter where it is.”