Kelsey Kinley saw the writing on the wall, right near the mark indicating her height.

Kinley was a good enough volleyball player to make the A&M Consolidated varsity team as a sophomore, but she rightly figured that she wasn't likely to grow much taller than 5 feet, 9 inches.

That is a little bit short to be a big-time outside hitter at the Class 5A level, so Kinley gladly accepted her coaches' suggestion to become a libero. The move has paid off for Kinley and the Lady Tigers, who are hoping to make their second consecutive deep postseason run as they prepare to play Richardson at 6 p.m. Saturday at Fairfield in the second round of the playoffs.

Kinley is in her second season as Consol's libero, a defensive specialist who can rotate onto the court for any player on the back line. Liberos wear a jersey color different from their teammates, and they are not allowed to hit or block the ball above the net.

There is no perfect correlation to the libero position in other sports. The libero does dirty work without getting much glory, like offensive linemen in football, but a lineman can pick up a fumble and rumble for a touchdown. The libero is restricted to defense similar to the way a designated hitter plays only offense in baseball, but a DH doesn't wear a different jersey or face limits on how and where they can hit the ball.

"It is a hard role because there's no glory behind it," Consol coach Cydryce McMillian said. "I think Kelsey's done a very good job of embracing it. I feel like she's the type of player who recognizes that role and finds glory in it within herself."

Kinley almost always leads the Lady Tigers in digs, the difficult plays that keep spikes from being kills. But when Kinley makes a big dig, the point continues. There is no time to stomp the floor, raise arms and shout the way Consol players celebrate after a kill or a block.

"When you get that great dig and they get the kill off it, you know you did something good," Kinley said. "When you make a good pass, you know it set them up for the kill. You have to think like that.

"The other players appreciate it. They always compliment me for a good dig. It's hard for people in the stands who don't know the game that well to understand, but my teammates know."

Former Consol coach Adam Cornell told Kinley after her sophomore season that she could help the Lady Tigers by moving to libero. McMillian saw the same thing the next fall when she took over.

Eager to help the team, Kinley made the position switch that worked so well for former Texas A&M outside hitter Stacy Sykora, who became the libero for the United States national team.

"We need Kelsey as far as ball control goes, whether it's passing or digging," McMillian said. "We talk about ball control being the most important part of the game, because it sets us up for offense.

"Even last year, I was so impressed with her. It was like she was the foundation for the team. That position is such a key in my mind, and she does it very, very well."

CONSOL VOLLEYBALL

* Saturday's match: A&M Consolidated vs. Richardson, Class 5A area playoffs, 6 p.m. at Fairfield

KELSEY KINLEY UP CLOSE

* Favorite TV show: Grey's Anatomy

* Favorite class: Calculus, taught by Sara Wendt

* People I most admire: My parents, Janyce and Allen Kinley

* Favorite movie: The Notebook

* Game that made me cry: 2008 regional semifinal loss to Round Rock