July 28, 2004

By Jim Carberry BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- They are both seniors, both middle blockers, both taller than 6-foot. They are both undefeated in league matches, both ranked high in several career statistics and both are all-stars. And they both are goofy. Goofy? "Kristy is more outgoing at first," said Evoy, the "serious" one. "But we're both goofy." "I try to laugh about things and have fun, while Meghan is laid back," said Carstensen, the "outgoing" one. "But she's funny, and you don't expect her to be. We do a lot of laughing together." Western coach Diane Flick, someone whose own wit is about as quick as a middle blocker's smash, chooses her words carefully when describing her two senior stars. "They are very similar and very different," she said. "When they are in the moment, they work really hard. When they are out of the moment ... they are out of it. They both have a great sense of humor. And they keep things in perspective." Considering their accomplishments, it would be easy to paint a picture of Evoy and Carstensen using a pallet filled with colorful athletic images such as kills, attack percentages and blocks. And such a picture would be accurate. Going into their senior season, Evoy and Carstensen are among the Western career leaders in the three key statistics for middle blockers.

Kristy Carstensen

Evoy is eighth in kills (993), third in attack percentage (.308) and ninth in blocks (227). Carstensen, who transferred to Western as a sophomore, is 15th in kills (618), ninth in attack percentage (.246) and 11th in blocks (181). Last year, Carstensen led the team in kills (338), blocks (99) and, with her new jump serve, in service aces (34). Evoy was just behind with 322 kills, 67 blocks and a league-leading attack percentage of .332. For their efforts, the two were named second-team all-region and first-team all-league. Along with fellow senior Brianna Murray, Evoy and Carstensen have been -- pardon the pun -- important blocks in the dynasty that Flick has built. In Flick's four years at Western, the Vikings are an amazing 95-19 (.833 winning percentage), and have reached the NCAA Division II national tournament the past three years. Not coincidentally, Evoy and Murray were Flick's first recruits. "The seniors are good leaders," said Flick. "The expectations and skill level are very high. I don't think they accept anything less than their best. They have done a lot for this program." But to see a clear portrait of Evoy and Carstensen, one has to delve a little deeper than simple stats and awards, and enjoy their personalities and spirit. After all, they do. "It helps to be different personalities," said Carstensen. "If I make a good play, I throw my arms up and celebrate. Meghan just goes, `Oh, yeah.' But nobody can get into her head. I'm learning to play more like her." Evoy is just as complimentary. "Bree (Brianna) and Kristy are our captains and they are perfect," she said. "They are outgoing, hilarious. Our team will be young this year, and there will be times when they are freaking out. And we'll just need to make them relax." Part of the reason that Evoy and Carstensen can keep their teammates relaxed is because, as Flick accurately observed, the pair keep things in perspective. On the one hand, the two are determined to do their best to win; on the other hand, they understand that there is more to life than winning. For example: What about all the career stats the women are piling up? "The stats are nice," said Evoy, "but I don't focus on them. I don't care about my kills as much as us winning." What about being singled out for all-star honors? "Every day in practice we play the best players in the conference," said Carstensen. "We were helped by (former Western all-stars) Liz Bishop, Nicola Parker and Shannon Rowland. And now we need to teach the young ones so they'll learn and teach others after us." What about Western's incredible 54-match conference winning streak, the fourth longest in NCAA Division II history? "I don't even think of the streak," said Evoy. "It's obviously good to win and it's great to be part of. But our ultimate goal is always going to nationals." What about the pressure of playing for such a successful program? "I love this program so much," said Carstensen. "It's intense, and we work hard for each other, but we have fun. We'll even laugh on the court." But what about the crushing disappointment the Vikings suffered the past two seasons when they took sparkling records and high hopes into regionals only to lose their first matches, one in the first round and the other in a semifinal? "The last two years were disappointing because we didn't perform our best," said Evoy. "But when you step back, you realize what great seasons we had." While the two women share many of the same achievements the past two seasons, do not think of them as two clones. Evoy seemed destined to be a Viking, even while starring at Olympia's Capital High School. Her sister attended Western, and her high school coach, April Lindsey, was a standout volleyball player at Western, playing on the 1990 team that placed third at the NAIA national tournament. She liked the campus, the emphasis on the "student" part of student-athlete (she has earned all-academic honors, too) and Flick. And the admiration was reciprocated. Evoy earned a starting spot as a freshman and has started ever since. "She was consistent from the first time she stepped on the court," marveled Flick. "She doesn't get too high or too low. She's so reliable. She just gets the job done and smiles." Carstensen marveled at her friend's mental ability even more than her physical talent. "I hit the ball as hard as I can, but Meghan is smarter and very good at reading what the other team is doing," she said. While Evoy's journey to Bellingham was smooth, Carstensen's started a little bumpier. After starring in both volleyball and basketball at Puyallup High School, she choose to play volleyball at Western Oregon, and quickly regretted her decision. "It wasn't what I expected," she said. "I just didn't fit down there. I knew I wanted to come to Bellingham, and would have come (to Western) even if I hadn't played volleyball." So she contacted Flick and told the coach she wanted to turn out. Unfortunately, the roster was already full. Fortunately, Flick encouraged her to come. "She made me look like I was smart," said Flick of her "great" recruiting strategy. "She contacted me." When she started at Western, Carstensen also shed 40 pounds through hard work and the Weight Watchers program. Her determination and commitment -- not to mention her success -- motivated several members of the athletic staff to go on the same program. "It was a confidence builder for her," said Flick. "It's a big thing for someone 18 or 19 to have the determination to do that." That determination helped her get through a difficult sophomore season as she learned the Western system, and helped her master the difficult art of the jump serve last year, making her an even more dangerous player. "Kristy has always been a good athlete," said Evoy. "She is so quick, and now she's more confident." And now the two seniors will take their final shot at getting the Vikings to the national finals, something that has eluded them the past three years. "It's been frustrating, but very challenging," said Carstensen. "I can't change it (the past disappointments), but we know what we need to do to make it. We just need to step up." And keep things in perspective. Seriously.