Once again, you have to tip your hat to the Colorado State University volleyball machine.
After winning the Mountain West Conference title (their eighth in nine seasons) with a 17-1 record during the 2017 regular season, the Rams advanced as far as the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championships' second round before a 14-25, 15-25, 9-25 loss. Their fourth defeat of the season - against Stanford University - brought about an early ending to it all. CSU had 29 wins this year.
Ranked 23rd at the time, Colorado State got a team-best nine kills on .286 hitting from Bayfield High School alumna Kirstie Hillyer, who assisted on two blocks defensively as well. True freshman Maddi Foutz's first collegiate season after graduating BHS ended relatively quietly with two digs against the #4 Cardinals.
CSU had eliminated Michigan in the first round before falling victim inside Maples Pavilion, as Stanford eventually fought into the Final Four before falling to Florida in five. Nebraska, however, then defeated the Gators in four (25-22, 25-17, 18-25, 25-16) on Dec. 16 to grab the grand prize.
In advancing to the tournament's second round for the 14th time in program history and 13th time under Coach Tom Hilbert, the Rams ousted Michigan 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 26-24. Foutz came up with three digs and registered a set assist, while Hillyer, a redshirt sophomore in '17, bashed 13 kills - against only one error - in 25 total attacks (.480) and recorded six assisted blocks.
"I was beyond excited when we found out we were going to be playing Michigan again," she'd commented in a CSU press release. "Not getting to play against them earlier this season really pumped me and the team up for it." Colorado State defeated Michigan 25-21, 25-22, 25-18, Sept. 8 in Fort Collins. Hillyer did not play in the first match of the season against Michigan due to a knee injury that benched her for six non-conference matches earlier in 2017.
"Michigan didn't know who she was, won't know exactly who she is until they play against her," Hilbert said. "She did a really good job tonight consistently hitting to gaps that were open. I thought a lot of people played well, but Kirstie was very good."
After all was said and done, Colorado State finished No. 24 in the final AVCA Division I Coaches' Poll, released Monday, Dec. 18. Including Hillyer, six Rams in all earned All-Mountain West honors, both a program and conference record.
Hillyer closed out her second season on the squad smashing 256 kills at 2.88 per game and at an excellent .383 clip. Defensively, she posted 14 solo blocks and helped on 116 more, totaling 130 at 1.46 per game.
Foutz, meanwhile, started 12 matches, utilized by conference Coach-of-the-Year Hilbert primarily as a defensive specialist. She finished 2017 averaging 1.59 digs per game and totaled 178 (13 coming in her CSU debut, Aug. 25 against Duke - in which Hillyer coincidentally spiked her season-best 19 kills). Foutz also logged one kill (Sept. 10 against Idaho State), 16 service aces and 35 assists offensively.
