Growing up, third-year Bisons right side Laura Hill didn't have to look far for athletic advice.

First off, there was her older sister Rachel, a three-year member of the Winnipeg Wesmen who was a jack-of-all-trades on the court. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from the U of W in 2017 and has also been a volleyball coach.

"I think I definitely got into volleyball because of my sister," Laura says.

"I would always go to her games when I was younger and we would always play in the backyard. Even now, she's not playing any more but we still have so much in common in that aspect where we can relate to each other as student athletes."

Then there's her dad Rod, a two-time Grey Cup champion with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who continues to give back to the football community today as a volunteer coach for the Oak Park Raiders.

"My family is pretty competitive. We're really into sports," added Hill.

"With my dad he'd always be giving me tips and stuff and my mom and sister too have always been there to support me. Being so busy with sports it's nice to have people that understand and are there for you."

With a solid support system, Hill excelled on the court.

As a middle in 2015 she helped the St. Mary's Flames win the Manitoba high school girls' 4A volleyball championship. The following season she was voted as the top high school girls' volleyball player in the province.

Perhaps Hill's greatest achievement on home court however, occurred during the 2017 Canada Summer Games as Team Manitoba took home gold, knocking off a previously undefeated Alberta squad in four sets in the final.

"We weren't overthinking things. We just wanted to go in there and leave it all on the court," Hill says regarding the gold medal match.

"I think we really played like that. Even if we were down, we weren't freaking out. It was a really good experience. Looking back on it now it's probably one of the coolest experiences that I'll probably ever have."

Having prior relationships with players such as U of W middle blocker Taylor Boughton and University of Saskatchewan setter Averie Allard certainly helped as well.

"I think the main reason why we did so well is because we had played together before and we all had good relationships. I think that helped us to bond as a team and to perform in the final game. Even the coaches too, we all knew each other, so there was a good foundation as a team."

Hill's versatility was on full display during the Canada Games, as she shifted from her high school position of middle to right side. She's gone through a similar progression with the Bisons.

Originally a middle, Hill offered a taste of what she could as a rookie in 2017-18, recording nine total blocks in a five-set victory over Thompson Rivers during the first half of the season. Last year she flashed her quick release abilities on the attack, recording an impressive 26 kills in the opening weekend of play and 53 overall.

With ten rookies on the roster in 2019-20, Hill has seen her role increase significantly as a well-rounded right side. She's currently second on the team in kills with 59 through six games while also displaying her back row defence with 53 digs, also good for second.

"I liked middle a lot when I was younger in high school. I just thought all the different hits you could do were very cool and it was very entertaining. It never got dull on the court," she says.

"Now that I'm older I appreciate more of the technical aspects, in the back row especially. Switching from middle to right side, I've definitely had to pick up my game in the back row and I've really enjoyed being involved defensively. I've enjoyed the process of taking time to focus on my technique for defending. I like both positions. I probably think now I prefer right side just because I like playing front row and back row."

Another major asset of Hill's game is her ability to do the little things right. She understands her weaknesses and where she needs to improve, but does so with a team-first attitude.

"I'm a pretty outgoing person, but on the court sometimes I can be quieter or more energetic and hyper. I need to learn how to stay even and level and now get too excited or too low. I'm definitely still trying to manage that," she noted.

"Each year I've realized that there's so much more that I can learn. Now it's more about being consistent and trying to help the team in whichever way I can."