Helen Boyle got the news right about the time her heartbeat returned to normal.

Boyle, a junior outside hitter for the St. Joseph's Academy volleyball team, was basking in the glow of her team's thrilling Class 4 quarterfinal victory over Cor Jesu last Saturday. She was finishing up the last of the questions from reporters when her dad came to her and said, "Your sister's going too."

At that moment, the 2009 state volleyball tournament became a true family affair for the Boyles.

While Helen and her St. Joe's teammates advanced through the sectional and quarterfinals at Kirkwood, Helen's little sister Bridget was doing the same with her Villa Duchesne teammates in the Class 3 sectionals and quarterfinals at Warrenton.

"I was really surprised and happy to see that her team was able to do that," Helen said.

For Bridget, a sophomore, the experience was better than last year, when Borgia beat Villa in the sectional. Bridget and her mom were then able to drive from Warrenton and get to Kirkwood in time to watch Helen and St. Joe's beat Lafayette to go to state.

This year, Bridget and Villa beat Borgia in the quarters to go to state themselves.

"I think that was a big motivator," Bridget said. "It made me work harder this year so we could accomplish what they accomplished."

St. Joe's and Villa enter the state tournament on total opposite ends of the experience spectrum. St. Joe's, the defending Class 4 state champion, has seven state titles and is in its 15th final four. This is Villa's first time at state.

Helen has last year's experience to fall back on and she's trying to help Bridget.

"I just told her to stay calm," Helen said. "She still doesn't believe she's going to state. I told her it would kick in soon."

Helen said she felt the same way last year and reality didn't set in until she boarded the bus for Kansas City.

Helen could have easily been making the trip with Villa. Helen's and Bridget's older sister, Frannie, played for Villa and it was actually Helen's first choice of high schools. But something "just felt right" about St. Joe's.

The decision created some logistical issues for the girls' parents. On Saturday, dad followed Helen at Kirkwood, while mom followed Bridget at Warrenton.

But this weekend mom and dad can sit together.

"I know it's going to be tough competition and we're going to have to work really hard," Bridget said, "but it will be worth it."