Hiler key to Cats’ clutch wins

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By T.J. Walker

Blaire Hiler might not start for the No. 12 UK volleyball team, but you can count on her finishing for the Cats in a close match.

Hiler is a reserve for the Cats (20-2, 10-1 Southeastern Conference), but seeing how she tends to take over games, one would think she had been playing and controlling the entire match.

“She has no fear,” UK head coach Craig Skinner said. “She is very confident in herself and she wants the ball in close game situations.”

Hiler didn’t lead the Cats in any statistical category over the weekend, but what she did against Louisiana State might go a long way for UK.

In a losing effort against Tennessee, Hiler had 12 kills. She upped that number to 13 against LSU, flipping the script in favor of the Cats and helping the team regain possession of first place in the league. UK beat LSU in five sets, and Hiler led the way with five kills in the deciding set. Hiler entered the LSU game early, when the Cats were down, but wasn’t successful and found herself back on the sideline. But later in the match, Skinner went back to Hiler.

“She struggled early, had a few errors, then usually at the end of games when pressure is on the line Blaire steps up and performs,” Skinner said. “LSU was just another example.”

Many reserve players would enter a pressure-packed match and be unwilling to step up. Hiler is an exception. She plays smart yet isn’t afraid to take a gutsy hit.

“I just think when it’s your time to go in you have to go,” Hiler said. “You have to have the mentality that you have nothing to lose. It’s always good to have confidence, but I know I am going to get blocked but I trust my teammates to be there to back me and they give me confidence.”

Hiler is not only a key part to the team because of her athletic ability, but also her demeanor. After every kill she parades around her teammates and has a positive attitude, motivating the team. Hiler insists she’s just doing whatever the team needs.

“Whatever my role is, whatever coach wants me to do, I am there to do it for the team,” Hiler said. “If it is coming off the bench and having to produce, that’s fine with me. Whatever gets the team the win.”

Having so much depth comes from productive practices, Skinner said. The better competition in practice, the better everyone on the team will get, and that might be why UK is ranked so highly.

“It starts with talent,” Skinner said. “It’s very competitive in our gym and that translates over to being successful in matches.”