SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Marisa Zanobini will drive across the Blecher-Freeman Memorial Causeway Tuesday morning like she does every morning . With her two teammates in tow, they talk about everything on their drive into Sacramento to attend St. Francis High School. But the most likely subject Tuesday will be the matchup against Davis Senior.

“We talk a lot and before a game it is nice to talk about what we want to accomplish without it being in a super stressful environment,” said St. Francis sophomore Maggie Oys, who rides with the Zanobini sisters each day from Davis.

Oys, the elder Zanobini, Marisa, and younger sister, Julie, have a long history on the west side of the Causeway. Not only do they live in Davis, they have played for the Davis Water Polo Club and Head Coach Doug Wright for many years. They now play for American River Water Polo and will suit up Tuesday for the Troubadours and St. Francis Head Coach Heather Moody.

“Davis is our biggest rivalry in the league and personally we played for Davis for eight years,” said Marisa Zanobini, who has 11 goals and eight assists on the season.  “For them coming in as the opposing team is weird but it is super competitive. There is more to it. We have personal backgrounds and personal things at stake.”

Both teams enter the matchup with 4-0 records in Delta Valley League action. Davis (17-7) has allowed just five goals in league play, while St. Francis (13-8) has given up just nine goals.

“The biggest thing is Davis right now is having a really good season,” said Moody. “They are fast, aggressive and have a great goalie. We need to make sure we are ready to go and stay focused.”

Rosters aside, the rivalry has great history. The two schools have met for the section title each of the last nine seasons and 10 of the last 11 overall. Davis won 9-8 in 2012 on a late goal, a memory that sticks with the St. Francis team.

“It shows that we need to come out stronger in the beginning so there is no room for any last minute shots to switch the score,” said Marisa.

Oys, who scored four times in a win last week, has been providing scoring for the Troubadours this season. She ranks tied for third on the team in goals with 20 behind junior Emily Reinl (25) and former Davis club teammate Brinnley Barthels (23).

Sophomore Julie Zanobini has also contributed nine goals and a team-best 17 assists. She often finds her sister or is on the receiving end of a pass from Marisa. The sister duo is treasuring every moment they have together in the pool this season.

“It means a lot because it is her last year on the team so I am trying to make everything of it,” said Julie Zanobini of playing at St. Francis with Marisa. “It is really nice to have a sibling on the team. We understand each other and if one of us is feeling down we can pick each other up.”

The feeling is mutual among the sisters, one of three sisters pairs on the St. Francis roster, joining Brinnley and Jennalyn Barthels and Emily and Samantha Reinl.

“I love it,” said Marisa Zanobini. “We have played together our whole lives. We have the sister connection. We know to pass it to each other if one of us is going to shoot it. It is the best thing about playing together.”

Moody hopes all her players will be connecting Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at Jesuit High School.

“The biggest thing with the girls and me is that we stay calm so we can attack and play our style of water polo,” said Moody.

Oys is excited about the matchup.

“It is very heated…We have known these girls and it the group of girls we learned to play with and the coaches that taught us to play,” said Oys. “It is a different experience to play on the other side and having to play your friends.”

While competing in the pool, they know they will see each other again in and out of the pool

“We have always been with them and been taught to play with them,” said Julie Zanobini. “It is hard to play against them but it is nice because it is good competition.”

The St. Francis High School Booster Club will provide a BBQ for both teams and fans at the contest. The JV teams will meet at 4:45 p.m.

“For the girls that live in Davis know and also have played for Doug Wright on club, it is fun to matchup and play,” said Moody. “As a whole everyone is excited about the matchup. It is going to be a big game.”