The Saint Louis University men’s club volleyball team could be the best-kept secret on campus.

With a 16-0 match record in pre-season play and a 32-1 game record, the Billiken’s have snuggled themselves among the top collegiate club teams in the nation. Led by senior setter Brian Black, sophomore outside hitter Will Hand and junior middle back Will Curran the Bills have taken their pre-season schedule by storm. They have racked up three pre-season tournament championships including victories at the Bearfest 2000 Tournament at Washington University in St. Louis, the Indiana University Fall Tournament and the University of Notre Dame Fall Tournament.

“I am really impressed with our team’s play so far this year. We certainly have high hopes this year. We’ve lost some key players to graduation, but we have a good group and that has shown so far. We are heading in the right direction,” Curran said.

SLU is coming off a strong season and final ranking of ninth in the national polls last year. The squad hopes to improve on last year’s success.

“Our main goal is to finish first in the nation this year. We won’t be satisfied with anything else. We want to win it all; I know we have it in us to do it,” Curran said.

The Billikens seem to be on the right track with victories over such schools as University of Missouri, Miami of Ohio, Indiana University, Ball State, Kentucky, Tennessee, Bowling Green State and Ohio State in pre-season play.

Their regular-season schedule begins in January with the University of DePaul Tournament. The Bills then travel to the University of Tennessee where they will take part in the Smokey Mountain Classic on Jan. 20-21. The next weekend they play in the University of Michigan Tournament. On Feb. 3, SLU will play in the Iowa State Tournament. The Bills then finish out their regular season tournament play with tournaments at Miami of Ohio and Indiana University.

The Bills will also play 10 conference games within the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball Association before entering the MCVA conference tournament. The Billiken’s hope to repeat as conference champions at this year’s tournament, which will be hosted by the University of Chicago in late March.

SLU’s final destination is Kansas City, Mo. on April 11-14 for the national club volleyball tournament. The team has high hopes to improve on their finish at this year’s tournament.

According to Curran, Hand is the Bill’s go-to player and the team’s overall leader. He was voted to the all-tournament team at last year’s nationals and has put the Bills in a great position to succeed.

What would be many team’s weakness is the Bill’s strong point. They have four freshmen on the roster. Matt Cary, Nate Hornung, Pat Lodes and Joe Duchek are the teams four newcomers, but they have done nothing but improve the team, according to Hand.

“We are starting at least three freshmen. We are getting used to it. We are gelling as a team. We have had no problem adjusting to a younger team. They have been playing club for a long time. They are pretty solid and very advanced. These guys really add to our squad,” Hand said.

The Billikens hope to play this year’s conference home games at the West Pine Gym. They would move from last year’s venue, the Simon Recreational Center. Frank Buggs, a well-known volleyball coach around the St. Louis area, is in his third year as head coach of the Bills.