Whitehall knew what they were getting themselves into during Monday night’s East Penn Conference volleyball semifinals against Parkland.

It’s a tall task anytime the Trojans are on the agenda, but the Zephyrs weren’t able to overcome a slow start en route to a three game sweep, losing 25-12, 25-18, 25-18.

Parkland advanced to Wednesday night’s EPC championship against Emmaus, which was past Press deadlines, but it’s no secret that the Trojans, the top ranked AAA team in the state, will likely make a run to a second consecutive state title.

For Whitehall head coach George Cowitch, he understands the uphill battle his team faces when taking on their local rival.

“They’re big across the front row and we’re not putting the ball where we need it for our hitters,” Cowitch said. “We can make a change and I have something in mind, because what we’ve been doing hasn’t been working.”

Parkland (15-1) has swept the Zephyrs (13-6) in all three of the team’s matches this season and the Trojans came out firing with target practice in the first set at Easton Area Middle School and never looked back, despite the Zephyrs best efforts at staying competitive in the second and third sets.

“The last two sets we were right there, but then we make mental mistakes like serving a ball out and that’s a big difference,” said Cowitch. “I don’t know where the slow starts are coming from. At the beginning of the season, we were actually starting real hot, middle of the sets not coming out and then finishing at the end. That’s something we gotta address, but we don’t have much time.”

The focus now shifts to Tonight’s District 2-11 AAA subregional playoff at Delaware Valley. Whitehall earned the fifth seed and are forced to hit road to their fourth seed counterparts.

Should the Zephyrs come out on top, they’ll see Parkland next Tuesday in the semifinal round at Allen.

“We’ve competed and beaten Parkland in the past, so we hope that mental stigma isn’t there when we play them,” said Cowitch. “Unfortunately, sometimes that happens when kids see Parkland on that shirt. I know we can hang with them, but it’s really up to our guys to believe that too.”