ROBERTSDALE, Ala. - Head coach Renee Crotts and the Central Christian School Saints volleyball team head into the 2013 season with a history of success.

The Saints ended the 2012 season with an invite to the NAC National tournament after winning their regional in the regular season.

This season Crotts and the Saints have a brand new roster that sees the Saints bring back only four players that played a year ago.

On the roster the Saints have six sophomores, three juniors, and two seniors.

“We are very young; I have only four players returning to my squad this year. It’s a little bit of a rebuilding year,” Crotts said. “I have only one senior that played on the team a year ago and another senior that did not play last year.”

Returning senior Shaley Decker heads up the returning class for the Saints, along with Juniors Becky Shelton, and Cheyenne Adams. Sophomore Teresa Sullivan is the lone sophomore returning to the roster.

With a lot of new faces joining the varsity ranks for the Saints, Crotts will lean on the veterans to set the tone along with a good example.

“All four of those girls are such good leaders on and off the court. So it’s going to be a little easier just because they can help bring up the girls in a lot of ways like court maturity,” Crotts said. “I have a lot of girls that played junior varsity last year that have to jump to varsity this season. The girls just need to learn a more advanced game than the one they played in JV.”

One of the new players Crotts will be counting on is new setter Nikki Gibbs who has changed positions heading into the upcoming season.

“She is learning a new position but she is doing a great job at it. I am just really pleased with her work ethic and her desire to get better.” Coach Crotts said. “I was concerned with that; this is the first year we haven’t had a setter lined up and ready to go.”

Even with a big turnover in the roster, the game plan that has led to great success for the Saints will remain intact heading into 2013.

“The tried and true works pretty well. I’m not trying to do anything fancy with them,” Crotts said. “I am just trying to get them to understand the basics and to learn the fundamentals. They have to really learn to pass the ball. The girls that played JV last year have to get used to a different offensive structure as well as seeing a different level of competition.”

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN KICKS OFF FALL SOCCER SEASON: Central Christian School’s soccer team has three seniors this season including Wesley Savery, Nathan Atwell and Jesse McCarty.

The Saints, coached by Dan Crotts, have a home match Aug. 29 against Calvary Christian at 4:30 p.m. and return home Sept. 3 against East Hill Christian at 4:30 p.m.