The Carroll College volleyball team was back on track Friday as it downed the University of Montana Western on the road 25-20, 25-18, 25-21.

The No. 23 Saints (22-7 overall, 8-2 Frontier Conference), who struggled after dropping their first two games against Montana Tech on Thursday before rallying for a five-game win, had little trouble with Western (4-13, 0-10), the worst team in the conference.

Carroll takes the top spot in the conference after Lewis-Clark State lost to the University of Great Falls on Friday. UGF is one-half a game behind the Saints with a 7-2 record.

"I think they played a little bit lighter tonight. It's great to see them have some fun," said Saints head coach Moe Boyle. "You never know how they're going to get off the bus, the two hours here they knew they were getting off the bus to play."

Christina Smetana and Sammy Priddy led the Saints with 10 kills apiece, while Smetana also led with nine blocks.

Caitlin Tocci had 16 assists and Katie St. John 14. Maureen Frauenholtz had three of the team's four aces.

On defense, "Frauenholtz, Priddy and Ashley Lupfer are playing really, really well in the back row," Boyle said. "Our blocks are guiding them one way, and our defense is digging them up."