Colleges

Skills translate no matter court, country

By JOE SMITH
Published September 19, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Adriana Vianna dos Santos heads for her regular post-practice hideout.

The St. Petersburg College middle hitter ducks into a tiny room adjacent to the gymnasium, where she raids the ice machine. Santos fills two plastic bags before plopping one on her right shoulder and another on her propped-up left ankle.

When you're a 29-year-old sophomore, self-preservation, and patience, play a pivotal role.

"I've played volleyball for 18 years," she says. "Some girls on the team are 18 years old ...

"But sometimes I don't feel so much different in age."

Santos' skills speak for themselves, making any attempted "over-the-hill" joke about as accurate as a Chris Simms' pass.

Santos, the defending Suncoast Conference Player of the Year, is the team leader in kills as the Titans (11-1, 2-0) host Hillsborough Community College tonight at 7.

The 6-foot-1, 148-pound sophomore blends size, strength and speed. Equally as unique is Santos' side story. Santos, a Sao Paulo, Brazil, native, said she arrived on the St. Pete campus the summer of 2005 "by accident." Back in her home country, Santos had been teaching an elementary school class by day before boarding a bus for 90 minutes to play for a club volleyball team at night.

But when a friend invited her along to a tryout, run by an international recruiting service, it wasn't long before Santos ' skills and savvy sent her on the fast track to America. Here, Santos thought, she could pursue her pro volleyball dreams while getting a degree to fall back on.

It didn't come easy. Santos came to St. Pete knowing little English; she became frazzled on the plane ride over when she failed to understand the flight attendants' instructions. Things came easier on the court, however, as Santos earned NJCAA All-America honorable mention as the Titans were nationally ranked for just the second time.

Santos owed the success to simplicity.

"All I knew was if the ball was up," she said. "I slam it down."

WALKING WOUNDED: Eckerd star middle blocker Keisha Carter is no stranger to stars.

Carter, a Tallahassee native, once played for the North Florida Volleyball Academy under coach Rita Crockett, a member of the 1984 USA Volleyball team that won the Silver medal. Carter and Crockett's daughter, Marita, became fast friends in high school, which led to a lot more informal time at the house with Crockett, nicknamed "The Rocket" for her 42-inch vertical leap and 100-mph kills.

"She's such a sweetheart," Carter said of Crockett. "I learned so much from her - and still do. We talk from time to time."

Recently, Carter has had bad news to share, as she freakishly injured her right ankle and left knee simultaneously last Thursday. She said she is out at least a week.

BACKUP STEPS UP: Eckerd junior goalkeeper Jim Lebonitte, thrust into the starting role three weeks ago when Chris Howe broke his pinky finger, recently earned his second Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Week award of the season. Lebonitte, a Moorestown, N.J., native, collected 21 saves in two double-overtime matches last week.

COMING UP: The St. Pete College volleyball team will host fellow conference power Pasco-Hernando Community College on Sept. 26. ...The Eckerd men's soccer team hosts Florida Tech tonight at 7.

Joe Smith can be reached at 893-8129 or at joesmith@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 19, 2006, 01:24:32]