Saints spikers face tough test in Columbia

October 08, 2009

By the Independent Record

The Carroll College volleyball team will put its recently acquired top 25 ranking to the test as it faces No. 4 Columbia College (Mo.) today in its first match of the Hannnibal-LaGrange Tournament.

The match will mark the first for the No. 19 Saints (15-5 overall, 6-1 Frontier Conference), who will play four matches in two days, beginning with the host Cougars (15-1, 7-0 America Midwest Conference).

The Saints defeated reigning Frontier champ Lewis-Clark State on Saturday to take the outright conference lead and swing them into the first top 25 ranking of head coach Moe Boyle's five-year tenure.

Columbia, meanwhile, brings with it size and another new look.

"There's quite a bit of international flavor," Boyle said.

With teammembers from across the world, it's 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) Cate Eckhardt who leads the squad with 3.8 kills per game.

She isn't the only one hammering away as the Cougars lead the NAIA in kills per game (14.76).

Brazilian Tally Mattos leads the Cougars with 0.6 aces and 3.2 digs per game. Kenyan Maria Omondi averages 1.2 blocks while Paula Ferreira gets 11 assists per game.

"They're going to put up a big front line just like LC did," Boyle said.

The Saints defense, meanwhile, ranks No. 21 in blocks per game (2.47), led by senior Christina Smetana's 1.2 per game.

"One of the things we really harped on, is we have to play our game," Boyle said. "Defensively, just be disciplined. And that's easier said than done."

Smetana also leads the squad with 3.5 kills per game and ranks 14th in kill percentage. Sophomore Caitlin Tocci leads in assists (5.3 apg) and aces (0.4 apg) while Maureen Fraunholtz's 4.0 digs per game also leads the squad.

 

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