ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Central Christian Saints enter this upcoming volleyball season with a lot to look forward to. Not only do they have two national championships in the last five seasons but they also have a lot of players coming back.

“We have everyone coming back this season,” Central Christian head coach Renee Crotts said. “I only graduated one senior a year ago. I have a very strong lineup coming back again.”

Being part of the Panhandles Christian Conference the Saints play teams that range from Gulfport, Miss. to Dothan all the way to Fort Walton Beach.

The saints have made it to numerous Final Fours over the last few seasons. Coach Crotts expects this season to be very competitive with the other teams in the region.

Every year the team expects to play in the tournaments at the end of the season and this one is no different for coach Crotts and the Saints.

“In conference I expect them to play very well,” Crotts said. “I typically don’t like to put expectations on them but I think they should finish very strong.”

The season ending tournaments include a conference tournament where the east and west divisions play for the right to play in the conference Final Four. The Saints have played really well in regional play. The Saints have won eight straight tournaments but only tasting victory in the Final Four twice. Expecting to win regionals is one thing going out and doing it is something else.

“The girls have to continue with what they’re doing. They’re going to have to work on their fundamentals and really communicate.” Crotts said. “We don’t have a lot of height so they have to make up for that with other skills. A lot of that is going to be with defense when we play some big hitting teams.”

Success this season according to coach Crotts goes beyond the volleyball court. It involves friendship and leadership off the court as well.

“They are great friends on and off the court which is a great foundation for a team. We have a lot of fun and that’s my goal.” Crotts said. “You do have more fun when you are winning but that’s not our main focus hear.”

As of any other successful team you need good strong leadership and the Saints have that in their seniors. Those seniors are setter Deidre McCarty, middle Perrin Mabry, right side Brittany Arndt, utility Talen Roberts, outside hitter Hannah McCarthy, defensive specialist Katie Smelley and libero Fallon Williams.

“We have great senior leadership . My setter has been playing varsity for many years and she has been a starter for two years and she is the floor captain,” Crotts said.

Young players like Teresa Sullivan will also need to step up to see their winning ways continue not only this season but next year as well.

“She is a freshman this year and I pulled her up to varsity camp and it looks like she will start this year.” Crotts said. “I am also pushing my junior varsity a little bit, to get them ready for varsity next season.

Sophomore Becky Shelton is back in the middle and Crotts hopes Cheyenne Adams can take the other outside hitter position.

At the conclusion of this season the Saints will graduate seven players leaving way for the young players to make their mark.

This season the Saints will match up against everyone in their division twice as well as traveling to 3 different tournaments to play some tougher competition as well. Pensacola, Montgomery, and Birmingham will be the locations of the three tournaments. The Saints play Escambia County as well.

“We have teams that have pushed us in the past and we have a reputation and they want to succeed and to continue that reputation,” Crotts said.

Saints open the season with three wins in Evangel Christian Family Academy tournament: The Saints won three of four matches in a preseason tournament at Evangel Christian Family Academy in Montgomery last week.

Deidre McCarty had 37 assists, while Perrin Mabry had 18 kills and Becky Shelton 15 kills for Central Christian in the tournament.

The Saints defeated host Evangel Christian twice and beat Tuscaloosa Christian, but fell to Atlanta’s Trinity Christian.

The Saints host Lighthouse Academy on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. then host East Hill Academy on Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m.