kang@journalnet.com

IDAHO FALLS - Lindsey Van Orden and Jessica Porter dipped their spoons into their respective bowls of ice cream.

This was no ordinary post-match meal. Snake River was at the state tournament, which made it perfectly acceptable for the Panthers to indulge in ice cream, even if their Chuck-A-Rama table already was cluttered with dishes containing the remnants of salad, chicken, potatoes and cornbread.

Surely, this had to be the best part of being at state, wasn't it?

"You better say no," hollered Snake River assistant coach Christine Van Orden from across the table.

Well, maybe a close second to actually playing at state. Snake River made its first appearance at the 3A state tournament since the 2005 season on Friday, and with the Panthers' only two seniors, Porter and Lindsey Van Orden, on the freshman team that year, it meant every Panther was making her state debut.

Similarly, none of West Side's players knew before Friday what it felt like to represent the Pirates at the state tournament. They do now, and just like the Panthers, they know it's an experience they'll always cherish.

"I'm never going to forget this year of volleyball," said Kelsey Keller, a senior West Side outside hitter. "It's just been great, the friendships we've made and all of the things we've been through together. We've had some really fun experiences, and I know I'm never going to forget them. I'm excited to be able to share them with other people when I get older."

Before its meal at Chuck-A-Rama, Snake River lost a close match to Priest River, 16-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-21, at Bonneville High. West Side had a more successful debut in the 2A bracket, topping West Jefferson, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21 in the second round after dispatching Nampa Christian, 26-24, 17-25, 26-24, 26-24 in the first round at Idaho Falls High.

West Side will play again at noon today against Melba.

As soon as the Pirates stepped into Idaho Falls' gym, they knew their match against Nampa Christian wouldn't feel like just any other match.

Proud parents packed the stands wearing West Side's district champion T-shirts, and many families even had in tow little children dressed up as buccaneers. Greeted with that sight, the Pirates had never felt prouder wearing their yellow and maroon outfits.

"There's just a different atmosphere at state," West Side coach Bridget Beckstead said. "You have a little more electricity in the air. It's do or die. This is it. This is the end of our season. This is where you can make or break your year and leave your mark forever."

That tension carried over into the match. Senior outside hitter Piper Lemmon could barely stand still at the beginning of a contest that saw their emotions fluctuate wildly from elation to depression within seconds.

"I was just so nervous," Lemmon said. "I was going numb and shaking and all. I was so scared."

Their nerves a little more settled after an opening-round victory and post-match celebration at Subway, the Pirates could then temporarily savor their trip and their stay at a Best Western Comfort Inn.

That didn't come easily to the Pirates either. West Side stays overnight at just one tournament - the Gooding Invitational - every year. Unaccustomed to packing for overnight trips, the Pirates forgot plenty of essentials, such as flip-flops, in Keller's case.

"I only have tennis shoes - they're going to reek now," Keller said. "I forgot so many dumb things I needed. It was crazy. I hate packing."

Snake River, which made the 45-minute commute from Moreland and didn't have the luxury of a hotel stay, found other ways to have fun off the court, beginning with their post-match feast at Chuck-A-Rama's.

"It's been a blast," Lindsey Van Orden said. "I've loved every minute of it."