Within the state of Idaho, you might be hard pressed to find a more bitter rivalry at the college level than the one between North Idaho College and the College of Southern Idaho.

Get the two outside of the state, who knows what might happen.

BOTH SCHOOLS qualified for the NJCAA volleyball tournament last week in West Plains, Mo., with the Cardinals entering as the seventh seed and the Golden Eagles the top-seeded team in the tournament.

Each won their first match Thursday, and both played in the second round later that day.

NIC lost in the second round to Western Nebraska, while CSI beat Hillsborough in the second round.

"After we played our match on Friday, we went back to the gym and rooted for them in the semifinals," NIC coach Kandice Gregorak said. "I told the girls after our match that we cheer for the teams in our conference, so we went back to support them."

CSI beat NIC in Coeur d'Alene on Oct. 19 to clinch the Scenic West Athletic Conference championship, then beat the Cardinals in Twin Falls in the Region 18 tournament championship match.

"They'd killed us during the regular season, so we wanted to cheer for them," Gregorak said. "Everyone on our team was up for it. We really respected CSI. They'd been really great to us all year and had great attitudes."

CSI returned the gesture on Saturday for NIC's 7th/8th place match against Hillsborough.

"After we'd cheered for them, (CSI coach) Heidi (Cartisser) called me to say they'd be at our noon game and all their players and fans showed up for our game. I told her that she had other stuff to worry about that day, but they showed up anyway and it was great."

Following NIC’s match on Saturday, they left to find black and gold face paint — the school colors of CSI — for the national championship match and even shagged balls while the Golden Eagles warmed up for the match.

CSI WENT on to win its 10th national title in school history with a win over Western Nebraska in three sets.

“It was ‘big time’ to see NIC come and support us on Friday night,” Cartisser said. “Our team was so happy and excited to have them there. I am just thankful we had the opportunity to show the same respect and cheer them on the next day in their final match.”

“I told our girls to enjoy this moment watching CSI and the title match,” Gregorak said. “I told them that if they wanted to get better, watch CSI, because they’re a dang good team. Fundamentally, they’re a really good team and just get after it.”

“To have NIC show up with their faces painted to the championship match made me have to hold back a few tears,” Cartisser said. “Wow. What an incredible display of sportsmanship and an example of great leadership in that program and great representation for Idaho.”

NIC will lose only four players from this year’s 23-8 team that finished eighth at nationals.

“I told them after the match that last year, we beat them,” Gregorak said. “I said if you guys stick together, you’re going to be just as good. Last year, CSI placed in the top 10 (sixth at nationals). It was really cool to cheer them on and we wanted them to win. During our matches, we were chanting ‘Idaho’ throughout the gym. It was really nice to have our fans cheering them on. It was really nice having that support.”

NIC will try for a fourth straight trip to nationals next year.

“The coaches have been great and really bought into what we’re trying to teach,” said Gregorak, in her second year as NIC coach. “The girls all get along really well and if we stick together, this could be us next year. We’ve got the players to get there next year and now we’ve got to get a few other players to play with them next year.”

AND THERE will be a next year for Gregorak at NIC — at least for now.

“I don’t plan on leaving,” said Gregorak, who is married to Ty Gregorak, the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach of the Montana Grizzlies football team. “Obviously, I’m not going to be married and living in a different place forever, and my husband knows it. We’ve looked into options closer, but positions need to come available. I love everyone I work with at NIC and can’t say anything negative about it. We’re trying to figure it out. I love the people and the team, but everyone understands I can’t be married and live somewhere else.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com.