Free State High’s volleyball players were licking their chops when they saw the pairings for today’s Class 6A sub-state tournament at Olathe East.

The third-seeded Firebirds (19-18) will play seventh-seeded Topeka High (14-22) in the first round of the 2 p.m. tournament. A win would put them into the finals against the winner of second-seeded Olathe South (21-12) and seventh-seeded Lawrence High (12-24).

Overland Park Aquinas, Olathe East, Leavenworth and Olathe North are in the other bracket.

Free State thumped Topeka Tuesday at the Tonganoxie quadrangular, and the Firebirds pounded Olathe South earlier this season. Free State lost its regular-season meeting against Lawrence in a nail-biter at LHS.

“We’d like for us to beat Topeka and LHS to beat Olathe South so we see LHS in the finals,” Free State coach Nancy Hopkins said. “That way at least one of us makes it to state.”

The Firebirds have played well down the stretch, posting strong showings at the Seaman and Emporia tournaments. They won two more matches at Tonganoxie, so Hopkins said her squad had high expectations today.

“They’re confident that they’re going to do it and go to state,” she said. “Looking at the bracket, we’ve got pretty much the best chance to get to state that we could get.”

The Lions enter sub-state on a hot streak, too, despite having to forfeit three victories for using an ineligible player earlier this week.

Junior hitters Bobi Riley and Bonnie Toplikar each had strong matches during Tuesday’s home quadrangular, as did seniors Nicole Hunter and Sarah Hayes. That’s why Lions coach Jo Huntsinger is confident.

Lawrence’s 12-24 record might not be indicative, but Huntsinger said her squad could do some damage today.

“We are playing the best volleyball we’ve played so far this season,” she said, “and this is the right time to do it. I’m feeling pretty confident we have improved. We’re peaking at the right time.”