CLEARWATER, Fla. — State championships are good. National championships are better.

Emma Kile has plenty of experience winning the latter.

A graduate of Calvary Academy last spring, the Butler resident was part of three Christian school national volleyball championships there.

Kile began her collegiate volleyball career this fall at Clearwater (Fla.)Christian College and started for a Cougars team that wound up winning its third consecutive National Christian College Athletic Association championship.

A 6-foot middle hitter, the freshman Kile started alongside five seniors.

"I didn't know what to expect going down there,"Kile admitted. "I figured I'd get a little bit of playing time. But starting for a defending national champion with so many players coming back?I didn't count on that."

As it turned out, Clearwater counted on Kile.

Suffering a slight tendon tear in her foot, Kile was out of action for nearly three weeks during the regular season. Three of the Cougars' five losses occurred during her absence.

The team finished the year 43-5.

"That shows right there what she meant to this team,"Clearwater coach Vickie Denny said. "It didn't take Emma long to become a vital part of the team."

Kile had 464 kills and easily would have surpassed 500 if not for the injury. She averaged 3.5 kills per game and scored points on 39 percent of her hitting up front.

"She's an efficient player, a smart player,"Denny said. "And she was going against much bigger blockers than she saw in high school."

Denny has a won-loss record of 753-241 in 20 years as Clearwater Christian College volleyball coach, including eight NCCAA championships.

She's seen plenty of stellar talent come and go, and the coach said Kile will wind up along the best.

"If Emma stays healthy for four years here, she'll appear in our record book quite a bit,"the coach said.

During the season, Kile was named NCCAAStudent Athlete of the Week, was selected to several all-tournament teams, made NCCAAAll-American and the all-tournament team at nationals.

With the fifth and deciding game of the national finals against Lincoln (Ill.)Christian College tied at 10, Kile made some brilliant back-row defensive plays to help the Cougars come up with a 15-11 win.

"While her strength is in the front row, Emma never comes out of the rotation because she's such a versatile player,"Denny said.

Kile found her way to Clearwater by way of Point Park University. She was recruited by the Pioneers, but when coach Mike Bruno saw that his school and Kile weren't a good fit, he called Denny.

"Point Park comes to our tournament every year. That's how I got to know Coach Bruno,"Denny said.

"My dad and I went down there to check it out," Kile said. "I really liked the coach. She's really nice. I felt like God wanted me to go down there."

Majoring in English education, Kile said her goal is to "just do my best, play as hard as I can and whatever happens, happens.

"We're losing five seniors now, so we're going to have a different feel to the team next year. Still, we're so unified. We'll come together no matter how we do on the court."

Denny is hopeful of another way to continue winning.

"I hope I get another call from Mike Bruno," she said.