HELENA — It's 363 miles between Boise, Idaho and Missoula, Montana. But for Paige and Dani Bartsch, the distance doesn't even matter. Paige Bartsch, a volleyball player for Boise State, and Dani Bartsch, a basketball player for the Lady Griz, are identical twins.
After spending nearly all their time together growing up, the Helena natives and sisters who boast a laundry list of athletic achievements, now see each other for maybe a week — the entire year. Christmas is the only holiday the twins are guaranteed to spend together. Distance is a factor, but a bigger impediment than the miles are schedules that overlap and conflict.
Yet, the time apart hasn't been all bad. "I love the time that we get to see each other," Dani said. "But I definitely think the space apart — in the life aspect and sports — allowed both of us to grow in both areas.
" "It was perfectly what we needed," Paige added. "We did everything together growing up. It was really nice for us to find out who we are individually, not just together.
We text all the time, each day and definitely stay in contact." Dani Bartsch, left, is pictured next to her twin sister Paige at one of their rare chances to see each other over the past three seasons as college athletes. The twins are as close as ever, but their relationship is different and the way others see them is different, too.
"It was good for us but it's weird when I say I'm a twin and people don't know that," Paige said. "I just forget people don't know." "My teammates didn't know for a year," Dani chimed in.
"They were like 'What? You have a twin?'" Paige said her teammates didn't know for a "long time." "I liked it a lot," Dani said. "And for like the first two years of college Paige missed me a lot, and then the last two years, I have missed Paige more.
" One thing that's never changed is their success on the court. The sisters were part of five state championship teams at Helena Capital (three volleyball, two basketball) and both won Gatorade Player of the Year for Montana in their preferred sport. Paige and Dani were each talented enough in basketball and volleyball to play either at the NCAA Division I level, but after three years it's clear they made the right choice.
Paige missed the first month of her collegiate career with an injury, but that didn't stop her from winning Mountain West Freshman of the Year. She also made the Mountain West All-Tournament team after helping the Broncos win the championship, earning an NCAA tournament berth. As a sophomore, despite switching positions, she led Boise State in kills and ranked fourth in the Mountain West with 419 in addition to leading the conference with 3.
95 kills per set. Helena native and Boise State standout Paige Bartsch attacks a ball during a match for the Broncos against Utah State. Paige earned All-Mountain West honors in 2022 — the first of two straight selections — on her way to being named Co-Mountain West Player of the Year in 2023 after leading the league in eight different categories, including points per set (5.
85) which ranked second in the NCAA. "I care about that stuff in the sense that it's really cool and I'm honored," Paige said. "But I honestly don't know how it happened.
Every time I think about it, I'm surprised. It doesn't feel real." The 6-foot-3 Capital legend was even invited to tryouts for the US Women's Collegiate National Team and spent part of her summer in Croatia playing for a Mountain West all-star team.
"(The transition) was easier than I expected," she said. "My parents prepared us for it. I went in knowing it wasn't going to be super easy, but I have played middle, outside and right side.
So the adjustment to playing middle was the most difficult for me. With each position I played, it helped me learn more about the game and with each new skill, it just became easier for me." Dani came to the Lady Griz during a transition under new head coach Brian Holsinger.
It's not always easy to win the favor of a coach who didn't recruit you. But the 6-foot-2 forward did just that. "I didn't think I was going to play at all," she said.
"My rebounding got me in games and then down the stretch, I just wasn't as good as some of the other post players on my team. I wasn't big enough. I wasn't fast enough.
I didn't have the IQ I have now. "The two games that Carmen Gfeller went out with foul trouble, I had a double-double and almost a double-double. That really boosted my confidence and gave me reassurance that I could play at that level, when I came in a little unsure of that.
" Soon enough, that reassurance wasn't needed. After playing in 29 of 30 games (an average of 14.5 minutes) as a true freshman, Dani didn't miss any games in the 2022-23 season.
She started 14 games and led the Lady Griz in rebounds (7.9). That was a precursor to 2023-24, when Dani emerged as a second-team All-Big Sky selection.
She also led the league in rebounds, making her the first Lady Griz player to do that in 28 years. Her 342 boards (10.4 per game) set a program single-season record.
Montana forward Dani Bartsch (40) grabs the rebound against Idaho guard Asha Phillips (23) during the Big Sky Conference women’s basketball tournament game between Montana and Idaho at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho on Monday, March 11, 2024. "I rebound to help my team," she said. "I'm mad if I get under 10 rebounds because I know I can do better than that.
I'm not doing it for personal reasons — I don't keep track of how many rebounds I get during the season." Dani can do more than defend and rebound, though, making 40 percent of her 3-point attempts last season while starting all 33 games and averaging 7.7 points.
She also led the Lady Griz in steals (46), finished second in blocks (37) and third in assists (83). The twins have garnered so much attention for their play on the court they are getting attention off of it, in the way of NIL deals. Paige has been able to drive a Ford Bronco, leased to her for free the past two years (outside of insurance and gas), as part of an NIL agreement.
Dani teased that she might have a similar arrangement soon. The interest in Paige and Dani goes beyond their name, image and likeness, though. Agents and others connected to professional leagues have approached both about the prospect of playing professionally.
"When I was in Croatia, I had some pro coaches reach out to me," Paige said. "Air Force's old coach is now a recruiter for the US League but, I don't think I want to play after (Boise State). College sports are hard on our bodies.
My shoulder is falling apart on me. I have already had a surgery on it this offseason that didn't even fix it. It was more of a feel-good surgery.
"So that's still going to affect me this year and I think I'm ready — I'm not ready yet I have one season to go — but I will be ready to hang up the shoes and try something new with my life. More than anything it's the break part. It never feels like we get a break.
Our sister was supposed to get married this fall and changed it to the next fall, because we wouldn't be able to go. "I want to have that flexibility and do some stuff that I really enjoy doing again without being fearful of an injury like skiing or whatever." At some point, the cost becomes too high, especially when the reward, in terms of salary in professional volleyball, is much lower than other sports.
"A lot of people think why wouldn't you go pro?' You'd make so much money.' But that's not how it is," Paige said. "It's a lot of wear and tear on your body.
I want to be able to move when I have kids when I'm 30 or whatever. I want to be able to do stuff. I don't want to use up all my health at 21 for a minimal paycheck.
" It's a choice Dani is weighing, too. "My coach has talked to me and I've had some agents reach out (about professional basketball) but I told them no," she said. "Just because of my body.
I've had two surgeries in two years. I can't sit on my knees anymore. My ankles get so stiff in the wintertime, just in the cold.
"It's just a lot. I haven't skied since eighth grade." That doesn't mean either has regrets, even with the constant pressure to perform.
"It's been a privilege and it has taught me a lot in life," Dani said. "I'd rather be in that position than others. I like being dependable and having other people count on me.
I don't mind (the pressure) as much. I think it has set me up pretty well." Montana’s Dani Bartsch (40) takes the court during the college women’s basketball game between the Lady Griz and Saint Martin’s at Robin Selvig Court, Wednesday, Nov.
1, 2023. For the first time in a long time, the sisters face unknown futures. "It's hard and it's a commitment," Paige said.
"But (playing volleyball) is easy in the sense you don't have much responsibility. There's always people to help us with anything we need help with. In the real world, I'm going to miss that — everybody we have and all the resources.
" Dani has been working toward a career in accounting. Paige earned her degree in education and aims to be a teacher just like her mom. Other things could come first, though, such as a long-term relationship, which like most things in her life, has been impacted by sports.
"My boyfriend (Caleb Rillos) is playing (football) for Florida right now," Paige said. "He was at Air Force and is doing his grad years at Florida. That's another reason I don't want to play pro.
We have been doing distance for a long time and I don't want to do that anymore. "I don't know if I'll do teaching quite yet but we'll see. I'm playing it by ear.
" That's a luxury Paige and Dani aren't accustomed to. But as they get set to embark of their final seasons of college athletics, hoping to win conference titles and reach NCAA tournaments, there is something exciting about the unknown. "I think it will be good for me," Dani said.
"I'm pumped to have a summer and to be able to travel outside a two-week period — having more than three days for Christmas. I had one Thanksgiving in college. Just in general doing fun things.
I am always worried about tearing something or getting hurt and not being able to play. "Reckless Dani is coming out." For tips, email: chris.
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