Olathe ? This season’s city volleyball showdown between Lawrence High and Free State High will be played tonight. It just won’t be played in Lawrence.

“I don’t really think it matters too much where the match is played, it’s still Lawrence High and Free State, and it will still be a fun one,” FSHS coach Nancy Hopkins said of the two city teams traveling to Olathe East to play a 5 p.m. quadrangular with O-East and Roeland Park Miege.

LHS coach Jo Huntsinger shared similar sentiments.

“The luster of this one won’t be lost, trust me,” Huntsinger said. “Both teams are really lucky that we get to play 25 percent of our matches in Lawrence considering how high school volleyball’s schedule breaks down.”

Teams across the state get only 10 days to play regular-season matches and thus the necessity for the four-team format.

Every two years the teams in tonight’s quad return to Lawrence for two years of matches at FSHS and LHS, then its back to Olathe and Roeland Park.

While there is a chance that both the Lions and Firebirds could meet in a late-season tournament in Emporia or during sub-state, the only certain showdown between the two 10-4 rivals comes tonight on the road.

“You could put us almost anywhere, and this match-up is still going to be an exciting one,” Huntsinger said. “The kids all know each other and are friends off the court. But once they get on it, it doesn’t matter the setting or the scene.”