COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — The sixth meeting between the College of Southern Idaho and Salt Lake Community College volleyball teams will be the most important.

It may be the biggest meeting between the two ever, as they stand in each other’s path to a national championship at the penultimate hurdle.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to face off with someone from our league again in the semifinals,” CSI head coach Heidi Cartisser said. “But that again speaks to our conference, and how strong it is. We have two of the top four teams left, and it really should be three of four.”

The third she referred to was North Idaho College. The Cardinals aren’t even here, because they lost to CSI in the region semifinals and the region gets1 1/2 seeds to nationals.

Western Nebraska or Missouri State-West Plains will certainly have something to say about it, but the general feeling is that tonight’s semifinal between CSI and Salt Lake is almost the de facto championship: whoever wins this is heavily favored to win the next night.

The two squads have met five times this season, with little to separate them. Salt Lake won the first match of the year in five sets, as well as the most recent one, also in five sets. CSI won the three in between, one in straight sets, one in four, and one in five. One of each team’s win came on the opponents’ floor.

But the Golden Eagles feel they have the edge despite being bested in the most recent match, at the Region 18 championships. They have the motive for revenge, another chip Cartisser could place on her team’s collective shoulder should she so choose.

Or, the players may have already done it for her.

“I think that’s a huge advantage for us,” said sophomore right-side hitter Jessica Peacock. “We’ve got nothing to lose, and they have everything to lose.”

Peacock could be on to something. It’s the Bruins who are the overall No. 1 seed to this tournament, and the region champion. Salt Lake has never won a national championship, and this might be the Bruins’ best shot so far to do so.

CSI is seeking its ninth title, while it would be Salt Lake’s third championship match appearance. Every time the Golden Eagles have reached the final they have won — CSI and Miami Dade have combined to win 16 of the 35 national championships on record (8 each).

Salt Lake has yet to taste ultimate victory.

With stakes this high, the rivals could hardly be faulted for making it out to be more than it is. But don’t count on it happening.

“We’re going to use that anger and the desire for revenge to our advantage,” Peacock said. “But we’re still going one game at a time, and in that respect it’s just another match.”

Not so sure it’ll be just another match when the first ball goes up tonight.

David Bashore may be reached at dbashore@magicvalley.com or 208-735-3230.