Christina Smetana didn't even realize she had accomplished the feat until days after.

As the Saints volleyball team gathered for practice on Tuesday, head coach Moe Boyle and assistants gathered the young women together to let them know the news.

Smetana, a senior middle hitter, had surpassed the 1,000 kill mark during the Hannibal-LaGrange Tournament in Columbia, Mo., last weekend.

"I had no idea. I didn't even think about it," Smetana said. "I never really thought about it. Coach just kind of said that it was an amazing milestone, and for me it's definitely a privilege, it's so cool to hit that."

With only Boyle accompanying the team to the tournament because of cost, and because the event didn't staff someone to take statistics, it was unclear during which match the Capital High graduate reached the millenium hit. But, after taking statistics off of video, the coaches surprised the Saint during practice and let them know it came in Saturday's match with the host team, Hannibal-LaGrange.

Smetana, who leads the Frontier Conference with 3.5 kills and 1.2 blocks per game, has been a constant for the Carroll volleyball team since starting her freshman year.

After being named to the conference all-freshman team and averaging 2.0 kills per game in 2006, Smetana has been an all-conference selection and led the squad the last two seasons with averages of 2.6 and 2.7 kpg, respectively.

During rough patches over those years, she's been the player to turn to when the players needed a leader the most.

The Saints went 22-10 Smetana's freshman year, but in 2007 dropped to a 9-18 record and just one place from the bottom of the conference.

Last season they went 19-10 after a heavy turnover rate, and this year they're seeing unparalleled success, getting their first national ranking in Boyle's five-year tenure - the 20-6 Saints are currently No. 19 in the nation - and are leading the Frontier as the teams head into the second half of the season.

"She's a big rock for us and we count on her more than anyone else on this team," said sophomore setter Caitlin Tocci. "Not only what she is on the court for us, but she is a big emotional leader."

Securing her emotions is something that has taken Smetana time.

"I think her maturity over the last four years has really gotten her to a place of confidence," Boyle said.

Smetana wasn't even sure she wanted to play volleyball in college until her future teammates and Boyle convinced the 12-letter winner in high school she would be a good fit.

After that, Boyle said, Smetana often took too many mistakes personally and would feel like she let the team down if she made an error.

Now, Smetana is powering through every game with an enthusiasm that can be felt with all her compatriots. Much of her comfort, she said, comes from playing with the women around her.

"The chemistry is there, we're so comfortable with each other it all flows," she said.

No one connects with her more on the floor than Tocci. Having just joined the Saints last season, Tocci instantly felt comfortable passing to Smetana, who is as competitive as herself.

"I didn't know how to feel her out right away, because she was basically the exact same person I was," Tocci said. "I got to know her pretty quick and she welcomed me with open arms."

Smetana pushed her during workouts over the summer, and the two began perfecting their timing at the net.

With senior Haylee Otteson sitting out the early part of the season, the Saints moved to a triangle offense. That meant Smetana and Tocci would rotate on and off the floor at the same time, constantly linking them together.

The result has made for an incredible matchup that allows Smetana to make a low-set spike just as Tocci pops the ball inches above the net.

Boyle said the key to that incredibly quick play: "Trust."

The players have to be in tune with each other, and Tocci has to know that Smetana will always be ready.

With the 5-foot-10 hitter's incredible ability to suspend herself in the air, the two are causing massive damage to the other teams.

Though shorter than many middle hitters - and leaders on their teams - in the NAIA, Smetana has used her athleticism and her much-improved ability to find the opening on the floor to surprise a number of her opponents.

"I think a lot of teams look at her and say 'She's their middle?' " Boyle said with a smile. "And we say, 'Yep ... good luck.' "

Jeff Windmueller: 447-4065 or jeff.windmueller@helenair.com

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