ROBERTSDALE, Alabama - The Central Christian volleyball team has gotten off to a roaring start in the 2012 season. With six games left to go in the volleyball regular season the Saints have a record of 21-5 including a 6-0 start in conference play, which puts them atop of the Panhandle Christian Conference.

Not only have the Saints played well in their matches this season they have also played well in their first three tournaments. In the West Florida Baptist Invitational the Saints walked away with a first place victory.

They also finished second in the Kingwood Tournament and in a tournament in Montgomery.

“The girls are doing really well,” Saints head coach Renee Crotts said. “Overall we are playing really well. I anticipate a very strong finish.”

Big players have stepped up in the first few months of the season and that has contributed to the success so far.

Crotts said senior members including Libero Fallen Williams and senior Center Deidra McCarty has also stepped up big for the Saints this season.

It’s not only the seniors on the team that are making plays. Freshman outside hitter Teresa Sullivan has also turned some heads. In a match on Sept. 8, while down in third set Sullivan scored on five aces in a row to help the Saints back to victory.

“I have so many that do so well in their positions,” Crotts said. “I have a pretty solid set of girls we are not big we don’t have big hitters that are really putting the ball on the floor. But defensively we are very consistent. We have been able to do some things other than maybe run a huge strong offense.”

The Saints have one big tournament left in the regular season. They will travel to play in the East Hill Tournament located in Pensacola, a tournament that could tell Crotts and the Saints a lot heading to post season play.

“It will be very encouraging going into our conference tournament to be able to win a week prior,” Crotts said. “It’s a long tournament. It’s going to be tough. I think it will be a true test for them to see what they can do.”

In the end the main goal for the Saints volleyball team is to make the national tournament at the end of the season.

“As a coach you always want to go,” Crotts said. “Realistically they have to not only improve record wise but mentally they need to show me on the court that they should be going to the tournament. They need to show me they can handle the competition.”

With the regular season ending on Oct. 9 one of the main focuses for the Saints will be to remain focused.

“We need to maintain that intensity all the time no matter who they are playing or if their tuff or not so tough,” Crotts said. “They need to be able to continue their high level play no matter who they play.”

The main goal for the Saints from now to the end of the season will be to win out the remainder of the regular season and to be undefeated in conference. A goal that coach Crotts believes can be attainable.

“They are doing so well this year,” Crotts said. “They want to achieve their goals; they want to win regionals and the final four and go to nationals. They just have to do a little more on the court to do these things and they are really close. I can’t see this team not achieving”

The Saints will close the season on Oct. 9 when they play West Florida Baptist in a “Dig Pink Match” to raise money for breast cancer research.