Regional Volleyball: Fairfield-Centerville rivalry heating up

For the Fairfield volleyball team, a journey into the postseason wouldn?t be complete without a match-up against rival Centerville somewhere along the way.

The two teams will meet this Thursday in the Region 7 semifinals, and the faces on the other side of the net will be very familiar to the 27-9 Trojans.

Over the last two seasons, the Trojans have run into Centerville in the postseason with differing results. Last season when Fairfield hosted the Big Redettes in the first round, Centerville ended the Trojans? season with a tight five-setter by scores of 19-25, 25-27, 25-20, 25-21, 15-9. The year before, Fairfield ended the Big Redette?s season in a similar fashion.

In 2011 alone, the two squads have met four times in the budding rivalry and split the matches 2-2. In their last meeting, on Oct. 15 in Centerville, the Big Redettes came away with a 25-11, 23-25, 15-12 victory.

?On any given night it kind of depends on how the coin flips,? Fairfield head coach Nancy Diers said of the rivalry. ?When you break it down you?ve just got to make less mistakes.?

Centerville (20-12) is led by Katie Appler, who has recorded 270 kills and 41 aces in 2011. Like Oskaloosa, Centerville runs a 5-1 offense, which features one setter and five attackers.

Diers said Fairfield?s fate may rest on slowing down Appler and Centerville?s outside hitters, as well as putting pressure on the Big Redettes with their serve.

?They?ll play good defense, they?ll keep the ball alive,? said Diers. ?They won?t be afraid to attack at us because they know they?ve got a 50-50 chance right now.?

The rivalry is sure to be cranked up another notch when the two teams take the court at 7 p.m. Thursday in Fairfield.