UCLA, USC SETTERS FIND COMMON LINK ANDI COLLINS AWARD WINNERS SPICER, CARICO PAY HOMAGE TO FALLEN STANDOUT.

Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News

Nellie Spicer couldn't recall ever competing against Andi Collins.

Taylor Carico never had the opportunity to meet the former girls' volleyball standout at Mater Dei High of Santa Ana.

Yet the standout setters for the UCLA and USC women's volleyball teams, along with Stanford junior Bryn Kehoe, will forever be linked to Collins, not only for their efficient setting and exceptional athleticism, but for their competitive spirit and unwavering commitment to the sport.

Collins might have joined Carico, Kehoe and Spicer as one of the Pacific-10 Conference's elite setters. But Collins, 16, lost her battle with inflammatory breast cancer Sept. 4, 2003.

As a tribute to one of the sport's ambassadors, PrepVolleyball.com editor John Tawa created the Andi Collins award to not only honor the top senior high school setter in the country, but to keep alive the memory of John and Patty Collins' daughter for years to come.

Kehoe, who led Cincinnati's St. Ursula Academy to the 2003 national high school championship, was the inaugural recipient of the award. UCLA's Spicer, a product of Barrington High in Illinois, was the 2004 honoree and Carico capped an impressive senior year at Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach by receiving recognition as the nation's top setter prior to her arrival at USC.

``It's not just about winning the award or about the way we play, it's about life itself,'' said the 19-year-old Spicer, who leads No. 4 UCLA (20-1, 7-1) into tonight's Pac-10 match against Carico and the No. 5 Women of Troy (18-1, 7-1) at 7 p.m. at the Lyon Center.

Carico and Spicer have both received awards as the top high school player in their states. They've both been selected most valuable player of the 18-under Open Division at the U.S. Junior Olympic Championships after leading their teams to titles. And they've both competed on the U.S. junior national team.

But no volleyball honor has meant more to them than the Andi Collins award.

``It's a huge deal. Just knowing how many great setters there are out there tells me what an honor this is,'' said Carico, 18, who is joined on the USC campus by Andi's brother, Will Collins, a long snapper on the Trojans football team. ``It meant so much more to receive an award like that.''

Said Spicer: ``It's easily the best award I've ever received. To have her in my life is such an honor.''

Carico and Spicer, who last looked across the net from each other at the 2005 U.S. Junior Olympics in Salt Lake City, will honor Collins' memory again tonight when they square off for the first time at the college level.

``I had the opportunity to meet the Collins family when we played USC last year, and that was one of the best experiences I've had,'' said Spicer, a sophomore who ranks fourth nationally with 13.7 assists per game.

``Just knowing how strong the Pac-10 is and that this award has been received by three of the girls (in the conference), it's a great feeling.''

Said UCLA coach Andy Banachowski: ``We have great setting in this conference. Having proven setters really makes the (flashy) hitters do what they do out there. I know I'm biased, but I think we've got the best one in Nellie.''

Spicer, who led Illinois' Sports Performance to a victory over Carico's Team Complete Athlete -- an Orange County-based club -- en route to capturing the Junior Olympics 18-under Open Division title 15 months ago, hopes she can deliver another victory tonight.

``I was going to UCLA and I think she had decided she was going to USC, so that made it a more important match,'' said Spicer, a Pac-10 first-team selection last season.

``But such a big deal is made about this (match). I didn't realize how big it was (last year) until I stepped on the court.''

Carico received MVP honors at the 17-under Junior Olympics in 2004 and again this summer at the 18-under Open Division tournament in Atlanta after leading TCA to championships.

She is now looking to lead the Women of Troy to their 12th consecutive victory over the Bruins.

``I hear it's intense. I hear UCLA fans are pretty involved,'' she said. ``But every year is a new year and a new battle.''

For Carico and Spicer, the significance of matches like tonight is about much more than the USC-UCLA rivalry.

``It's really sentimental,'' Carico said. ``(The Andi Collins award) has a lot of value.''

Said Spicer: ``You just realize how important it is to play every time like it's your last time. I play for her every time I step out on the court.''

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) SPICER

(2 -- color) CARICO

Box:

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL