Hiller keeps her roots in Missoula

Tennisen Hiller always knew she wanted to be a Grizzly. The only question was if there would be a spot for her.

She was a local player, born and raised in Missoula, who understood the history and tradition of Montana volleyball. But she also played setter, a position the Grizzlies already had two spots filled with.

Head coach Allison Lawrence always knew she wanted Hiller to be a Grizzly. The only question was if there would be a spot for her.

Lawrence enjoyed everything about Hiller, from her roots to the area and passion for the program to her competitive nature on the court and the success she's been around.

But again, Montana already had an established setter in Carly Anderson – who led the Big Sky for assists in 2021 – and a backup in Paige Clark, who just completed her freshman season in Missoula and had been committed to the program far before talks with Hiller became serious.

"Tenni was someone we were always impressed with and someone I always thought would add a ton of value to our program and that I would love to coach," Lawrence said. "When you have that understanding of what it means to be a Grizzly from the time you're an infant, that means a lot and I think that translates in the biggest moments."

Hiller, it seemed, was the perfect piece to the puzzle with no room for it.

That changed in mid-October, when Clark – who came to Missoula to be a part-time hitter and eventually take over for Anderson as a full-time setter – was moved to the L1 spot, the Grizzlies' top attacker position. The move potentially was a temporary filler, but the versatile player never let go of the spot, going on to earn All-Big Sky Conference honors as a freshman, despite not becoming an attacker until October.

"That move created a need, and I think Tenni had followed our program and knew that if there was a possibility, she was willing to wait and see what happened even though she had a lot of other offers and situations she could have pursued.

"I'm thankful for that, because once there was a need for another setter, it was obvious to me that she was the perfect fit."

Our Griz family continues to grow! We're excited to welcome setter Tennisen Hiller to Missoula!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/66oc8YPFvz
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) December 8, 2021

The ties to Montana are lengthy. She was born and spent most of her childhood in Missoula, where both of her parents, Nancy and Patrick Hiller, graduated from UM. Patrick threw javelin for the Griz, while one aunt, Natalie Hiller, was a standout goalkeeper, and another, Tara Hiller played volleyball at Carroll College.

Hiller played both volleyball and track at C.M. Russell High School in Great Falls. On the volleyball court, she was a four-time first-team All-Eastern Conference selection, earning league player-of-the-year honors this fall, as a senior. She was also a four-time all-state selection, the last three years on the first team, as she helped the Rustlers to three consecutive conference championships (2019-21), culminating with a Montana state AA title in 2021.

"She has been one of the best athletes in our state since she was very young, so watching her compete at the highest level over the years, she's seen a lot of success, she's played with and against a lot of athletes who are playing at the Division-I level, and she knows what it takes," Lawrence said.

Hiller, who was coached by her father at C.M. Russell, said that winning a state title was the perfect way to cap off her high-school career.

"With my dad being my coach, there were challenges that not every kid has, but there were also super-great perks," she said. "Every bad moment is twice as bad, but every good moment is twice as good. There is nothing better than giving your dad a big hug after you won a state championship together."

Volleyball has been part of Hiller's life since she can remember.

Before her dad was her coach at C.M. Russell, he spent more than 20 years coaching at Sentinel High School in Missoula.

"I'd sit in a car seat in Sentinel's gym while he was coaching," Hiller reflected. "I would watch and watch and watch until I got old enough to play. I grew up playing other sports, as well, but when volleyball has always been part of your family and you grow up in a gym, it's kind of what you always know."

It's all of those hours in the gym – even before she began playing – that Hiller believes sets her apart. She has physical gifts, but at 5-9, she knows she won't be the biggest player on the court. But that's where her knowledge of the game comes in handy.

"I try to use my volleyball IQ to my advantage," she said. "Volleyball is way more than just a physical game, and I love the mental side to it. I can sit down and watch film for hours and pick apart things. I love to sit down with my dad and critique games with him."

Added her future coach: "She's very tactical and studies the game at an extremely high level. She's really outstanding at thinking while she's competing, and as a setter, to be able to be tactical while also being competitive in the moment, is a rare skill."

Now, the talented player – who has also earned academic all-state honors every season and wants to study computer science at Montana – is set to begin her final semester of high school before turning her focus to the Grizzlies. It's something she is so excited for, especially considering her roots.

"We went to the homecoming parade and we went to the games when I was growing up," Hiller, who has spent 15 years of her life in Missoula, reflected. "It was always my school that I would cheer for, so it felt natural to come here for college. Dana (Hallisey) and Allison (Lawrence), they're amazing, and you can definitely feel the family vibe coming from them and the team.

"It was comforting and it felt like it could be home again."

Hiller joins November signees Olivia Boulding and Maddie Pyles, and recent addition Alexis Batezel, as part of Montana's incoming volleyball class so far.

University of Montana Athletics

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