Crosstown match-ups in this city usually mean that two of Federal Way, Todd Beamer, Decatur or Thomas Jefferson high schools are playing each other.

On Tuesday night, however, the two teams meeting for a volleyball game were 4A Federal Way and 1B Christian Faith.

Federal Way’s net enrollment count in the last Washington Interscholastic Activities Association classification period was 1,139. Christian Faith’s was 57.9.

The size difference has not mattered much when the two teams meet. Last year, Federal Way won a close 3-2 match.

Federal Way’s program has seen tremendous growth in the past two years. Just two years ago the team did not win a conference game and only won one set in conference play. Last year, they won six games and were only shut out of winning a set in league play twice.

Christian Faith enters this season looking to take the final steps to win a state championship. They finished third in state with their only blemishes being the three sets dropped to Pomeroy in the semi-finals.

They have been to the state tournament every year since 2009.

The atmosphere in the Federal Way High School gym was lively as fans of both schools kept the chants for their respective teams going consistently through the match.

Federal Way took the first two sets 25-13 and 25-14. The early setbacks did not hurt Christian Faith’s resolve.

In the third set, Christian Faith jumped out to an early lead. They led by as many as five points in the set, taking a 15-10 lead at one point. They won the set 25-22.

The fourth set saw the two teams start off by trading points and the lead a couple times. While Federal Way eventually pulled away, Christian Faith never backed down. Federal Way went on to win the set 25-16 and the game 3-1.

“As far as our girls go, they’re super young,” Christian Faith head coach Stephanie Pond said. “I’m really proud of them. We only have nine players so to have them come out and fight like crazy against a big high school when they go to a high school without a gym, I’m of course proud of them. To pick up a game against a greatly improved Federal Way team, I’m excited for them.”

“I feel [the game] was eye-opening for some of the things we need to work on, but it was also great to see our progress from last year,” Federal Way head coach Donja Walker said. “We pretty much returned everyone except our libero. So it’s exciting to see their progression from last season to now.”

Federal Way saw strong play from Taliatupu Lologo, Michellay Stewart and Aya Bispham.

Lologo finished with 12 kills, 12 digs and three service aces. Stewart had 11 kills and Bispham finished with five aces, five kills and seven digs.

“I’m very impressed with Federal Way and the work that Donja Walker has done here,” Pond said. “When we started this tradition of playing each other seven years ago, the kid’s here wouldn’t go for the extra ball or really apply themselves. She’s worked really hard to build a good program here. Federal Way High School should be very proud of the work she’s done here.”

“We’ve gone from that team where you play your subs against to that team where you have to play your starters to win this game,” Walker said. “It’s a testament to the girls and all their hard work that they’ve done in the offseason.”

Federal Way played Chief Sealth on Thursday after the Mirror’s publishing deadline. Their next game is at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14 at Todd Beamer High School.

Christian Faith’s next game is at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Puget Sound Adventist Academy.