6-foot-6 Colorado State volleyball player Kirstie Hillyer embraces height on record-chasing journey

Kirstie Hillyer has personal business cards available when the inevitable questions get asked.

She doesn’t really hand them out often, they’re more of a joke.

Still, they properly describe the mentality of the Colorado State volleyball player.

“Yes, I do know I’m tall.

As a matter of fact I’m 6’6.

No, I don’t play basketball.

I play volleyball which is better.

Yes, I do wear heels.

The weather is the same up here.”

It’s perfect. A funny, snarky way to embrace her height and tease those who ask her on a daily basis how tall she is or if she plays basketball (she gets that one about three times a day, she estimates).

“I love every part about it. I absolutely love being tall, it’s such a blessing,” Hillyer said. “From a young age I was told that my height is beautiful, my height is a blessing. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It's something unique to me.”

Mailbag:How can CSU soccer make NCAA tournament?

The redshirt senior from Bayfield, Colorado, is as tall or taller than all but three players on the CSU men’s basketball team.

She’s from a basketball family and it seemed pre-ordained that she would be another hoopster, but she just didn’t really enjoy the sport. The first time she tried volleyball, she loved it.

“My family was super supportive when I was like, ‘I don’t think I really like basketball,’ ” she says with a laugh.

You could say it's worked out all right.

Hillyer is putting her name all over CSU’s record books.

She recently became just the fourth Ram volleyball player to surpass 1,000 career kills and 500 career blocks, joining legends Mekana Barnes, Megan Plourde and Angela Knopf.

Entering Thursday’s 7 p.m. home match against San Jose State, Hillyer has 1,036 career kills. That number is fourth in program history under the modern scoring format (which started in 2008). Her 516 blocks is fourth all-time at CSU.

“She gets better every year,” CSU coach Tom Hilbert said. “She’s way more versatile in what she can hit, a way smarter blocker. She’s improved blocking this year more than she’s improved hitting. She’s racking up really big numbers as far as what she can get out of a game.”

Get CSU sports in your inbox: From the latest coverage of late-night games to can't-miss sports reads, find it all in our NoCo Sports Update newsletter. Sign up today!

Hillyer is 6-foot-6 but also quick in lateral movement and jumping. She’s always been able to physically dominate but has grown technically through her time at CSU.

Hilbert says early on she actually had the problem of attacks going under her block attempt. She’s learned to get her hands over the net early to block and her attacks can be fired from so high it almost looks like a dunk.

“She’s just so athletic. Trying to capitalize on that athleticism is kind of a fun challenge. How high can 'Stie jump today?” setter Katie Oleksak said. “I haven’t had a middle (hitter) who is that tall and physical.”

The numbers will keep going up. CSU is ranked No. 14 in the nation and leading the Mountain West. There are 11 regular-season matches left as the Rams try to earn the right to host NCAA tournament matches.

Hillyer could conceivably end up among the top two in both kills and blocks in CSU history.

Sorry, basketball. Hillyer was made to be a volleyball player.

“Coming in, I knew one of my biggest goals was to leave a mark on the program and leave my name in the history books if I could,” Hillyer said. “Knowing that it’s getting there and those things are happening is one of the coolest things that I could have imagined.”

Follow Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle. If you don't already, please consider supporting local journalism at Coloradoan.com/subscribe. Coloradoan Sports can also be followed on Twitter and Facebook.