Outside hitter finds niche at new position

Nicole Hill was a three-time all-state middle blocker at Muncie Central High School. \nTurns out, she was playing the wrong position. \nShe's been playing middle blocker since elementary school. So why tweak her already successful game? \nHill is 5-feet, 11-inches tall. Not tall enough to continue playing the same position she played while leading the Bearcats to three consecutive state championships. Not tall enough to play middle blocker at IU. \nThe solution? Move the subdued, dark-haired freshman to outside hitter, where she can show off her spring-laden legs and powerful attacking and killing skills. \nIt worked.\nHill, who has seen action in every IU game, earned all-tournament team honors at last weekend's Hoosier Invitational by leading the club in kills and hitting percentage in wins over Duke and Marquette. Her .212 hitting percentage and 3.21 kills per game are both good for third on the team. She also tallies 2.71 digs per contest, also third on the 9-1 Hoosier squad. \n"It was unexpected," Hill said of being named to the all-tournament team along with fellow outside hitter senior Amanda Welter. "But, it was a great honor."\nThe Hoosiers open the Big Ten season Friday, but Hill's solid numbers aren't among the top ten in the conference in any category. But that shouldn't overshadow her success, as she plays alongside Welter and sophomore Hillary Toivonen, who both rank near the top in several offensive categories, including kills. \nHill followed the lead of Welter and Toivonen, who play the same position and seem to mask Hill's abilities. After spending years as the focus of her teammates and counterparts, Hill said she enjoys lurking in the shadows.\n"She's explosive," said Toivonen, a Muncie Burris graduate who played by Hill's side for the Munciana Volleyball Club team. "She's stepped in and done exactly what she's needed to do. Last weekend was a great example."\nHill polished her new skills as an outside hitter against the Blue Devils and Golden Eagles after weeks of tough preparation and a sharp learning curve. A five-game Hoosier win at Indiana State last week exemplified Hill's typical freshman sluggish start. She recorded nine kills, but hit only .167 and had trouble handling serves from the Sycamores as well as ribbing from the ISU-partisan crowd. \n"At first, I was tentative. The first day (of practice) was horrible." Hill said. "I was working on getting new footwork down. High school and college volleyball are so different, but now, it's all starting to make sense. I think this is the perfect offense for me." \nCoach Katie Weismiller runs an intricate, complicated offense that takes some getting used to. Though Hill has apparently overcome the early jitters and adjustment period, Weismiller doesn't expect MVP-type performances every time Hill slips on the cream and crimson. \nAfter all, the team rates Hill third on the depth chart as outside hitter.\n"We just want her to be a role player," Weismiller said. "She was out of position in high school, and it's a different world (playing) outside (hitter). But, she's a great blocker, so it's made the transition easier."\nHill fills the spot voided when Ryann Conners, one of three seniors on last year's squad, graduated. Conners led the 1999 Hoosiers in kills in 10 matches and finished second on the team in kills behind Welter. \nHill said she doesn't necessarily see herself as a replacement for Conners, but she is chipping in what she can. She's come to the forefront out of a group of seven freshmen who began their IU careers last month.\n"I expected to play, but not to start right away," Hill said. "I don't see myself as standing out at all"