Parkland has been waiting for this time of the year and the Trojans were hoping to add their first piece of hardware last night in the EPC volleyball championship.

The Trojans took on Emmaus in a rematch of last year’s conference championship and the expected result was one of victory.

Unfortunately, last night’s result was past Press deadlines, but if there are any sure bets in local sports, Parkland volleyball might be the most guaranteed prospect. But head coach Scott Trumbauer is never the type to take anyone for granted.

“It’s Parkland and Emmaus and you never know how either team is going to show up,” Trumbauer said. “We obviously have a storied history with them and players on both teams know each other well, so we just have to come out ready to play.”

It’s a tall task anytime the Trojans are on the agenda, as Whitehall found out for a third time this season in Monday’s EPC semifinal round, losing 25-12, 25-18, 25-18.

It was the third time the Zephyrs have been swept by Parkland this season and Emmaus was hoping to not fall victim to that similar path on Wednesday night, as the Hornets were swept by the Trojans earlier this year.

“We’re excited to play them again and we need to make sure we’re hitting our spots defensively and when we’re hitting,” said Emmaus head coach Ken Dunkle. “We have the ability to beat them. We just have to believe we can. We just can’t give them free points. That’s going to be the biggest thing.”

For Whitehall head coach George Cowitch, he understands the uphill battle his team faces when taking on their local rival. The Zephyrs may get another crack at the Trojans in next Tuesday’s District 2-11 AAA subregional semifinals, should Whitehall get past Delaware Valley in the opening round.

“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.

“We’ve competed and beaten Parkland in the past, so we hope that mental stigma isn’t there when we play them. 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.”

And for the Trojans, they know they can beat anyone and this is the time of year they like to prove it.

“They know now that there are things on the line,” Trumbauer said. “I could tell tonight [Monday against Whitehall], we had a little bit of a different attitude for the entire match, just the communication. You could see it’s the postseason time. Kids have different attitudes at that time, which is good. Now is the time to kick it in.”