“She’s got what some of the players call `the rage’. although she’s really not very full of rage,” exclaimed volleyball head coach Marilyn Nolen.
The “rage” that her teammates may see in her is the ability to smash volleyballs harder and faster than most opponents would care to witness. However, senior outside hitter Cristal Leonard isn’t full of rage at all.
Before coming to Saint Louis University, the Germantown, Ill. native led the Breese Central Community High School volleyball team to a top eight finish in the Illinois state tournament.
Leonard was also an integral part of the success of the Untouchable Emeralds Club Team and the Gameface Untouchables volleyball clubs.
“Playing club volleyball helped me a lot,” Leonard said. “I think it was very crucial in getting a scholarship here at SLU.”
In addition to SLU, Leonard was recruited by long-time Billiken rivals DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
As a freshman on the Billiken squad, Leonard turned heads early in the season.
“Cristal stunned everyone. She stepped into a starting role as a freshman against Eastern Illinois. Everyone who saw her play kept asking who she was because they were so impressed,” Nolen commented.
During her freshman year, Leonard appeared in 25 matches as an outside hitter on the right side. Leonard notched an impressive 178 kills and finished the season with a SLU career high hitting percentage of .269.
Leonard’s sophomore season was one for the highlight films. She more than doubled her number of kills from her freshman year, connecting on 389 out of 984 attempts.
Leonard earned the spot as the number-three hitter for the Billikens, and was the team leader in service aces with 35 aces in her 33 matches.
Leonard notched 269 digs, posted double-doubles 10 times throughout the season and just missed a triple-double in the match against Eastern Illinois with 17 kills, 11 digs and nine blocks.
“Over the years I got better defensively and started going for things I never would have gone for,” Leonard said.
Last season, Leonard became a more versatile player for the Bills, becoming a stronger defender and often leading back row attacks.
Last season Leonard had especially strong showings in crucial Conference-USA matches.
In the final match with C-USA champ South Florida Leonard notched nine kills. She contributed 12 kills and five digs against DePaul, and posted a double-double against Marquette with 11 kills and 11 digs. Against C-USA rival Louisville, Leonard tied her season high with 15 kills.
Leonard hit .175 last year, making good on 191 of 525 attempts, and also contributed 150 digs and 18 service aces.
This season Leonard has the opportunity to have her best season yet, according to Nolen. Leonard has already nailed down 36 kills in just seven matches, as well as 21 digs and seven service aces.
“Cristal has been a big factor for us over the last three years, and she has the ability to be one of the leaders in getting us into the NCAA tournament,” Nolen said.
This year, Leonard is committed to contributing toward the team’s goals of improving, winning the conference crown, and competing in the NCAA tournament.
“We want to do better this year,” Leonard said. “Our defense is picking up, and we’re blocking better, although our serving is still a little shaky. The team’s chemistry is very good this year. We’re getting along very well and we have a strong focus on the court.”
For the remainder of the season Leonard is expected to be a strong contributor for the Bills.
Leonard is currently recovering from a slight ankle injury earlier this week and is expected to return to the Billiken lineup this weekend when the Bills begin conference play against TCU at 2 p.m. at the Bauman-Eberhardt Athletic Center.
After graduation, Leonard plans to pursue a career in social work, specifically in the geriatrics field.
Leonard changed her academic focus in the beginning of her junior year when she declared social work as her major.
