Prep volleyball adopts new position

Aug. 20, 2006

By Darrell L. Breese/ Frontiersman

MAT-SU - High school volleyball in Alaska may look a little different this year. It will look a bit more like college and international volleyball.

The Alaska Scholastic Activities Association approved the use of a libero player during regular season play.

The libero (LEE-bah-ro) position has been used in international since 1998, and women's college and club play volleyball since 2002. The rule has been slowly making it into high school volleyball across the nation and has reached Alaska.

Last season ASAA allowed teams to use the libero during the regular season, but not during conference or state championship play. But few teams took advantage of the special designation.

&#8220I don't know of any teams that used it last year,” ASAA executive director Gary Matthews said. &#8220But there has been a lot of interest in the position this season.”

The rule change came as exciting news to Wasilla volleyball coach Marge Johnson.

&#8220I love the rule,” Johnson said. &#8220It gives you the opportunity to have your best defensive player on the court, regardless how many times you substitute. And I've been using it for years in club play.”

The libero is played by a defensive specialist. The player is allowed to replace any player on the back row and does not count as a substitution.

What sets the libero apart from other players is that they wear a uniform that is in contrast with her team and is not limited to the number of times they can enter and leave the court. The use of a libero does not count against a team's total number of allowed substitutions.

The libero must play on the back row and cannot complete an attack from anywhere on the court if the ball is entirely above the net. She cannot block or serve. She may not set the ball with her fingers while in the attack zone.

Most coaches are ready for the change as many of the area players participate in local club volleyball and are accustomed to the libero, having used it for several years.

&#8220I've been playing the position for three years with the Midnight Sun Volleyball Club,” Colony captain and libero Katie Enloe said. &#8220Last year I was called a defensive specialist during the high school season, this year I'm actually a libero.”

It is the general feeling among area coaches that the libero will enhance the game by increasing the level of play. Colony coach Amy Carter agrees.

&#8220(With a libero) we will see improved defenses making for more exciting rallies,” Carter said. &#8220A solid defense and passer enables the team to run their offense. The use of a libero will help teams accomplish that.”

Like Carter, who has designated Enloe to be the libero for the Knights, most coaches will base their decision on whether or not to use a libero according to the personnel of their particular team.

Coach Johnson has already chosen her libero. Senior Chelsea ??? is well suited for the job.

&#8220Chelsea is one of the scrappiest players I've ever coached.” Coach Johnson said. &#8220She is an excellent passer. She has a lot of pressure on her this year with this new position, but she welcomes that. She is our best passer and can pass with extreme accuracy.”

Johnson added that the libero allows the skills of some kids who are very good passers and defensive players to be utilized and recognized in a different manner than ever before.

&#8220The libero is a highly recruited position at the college level,” Johnson explained. &#8220Part of our job as coaches is to prepare the athletes for the next level of play and finally having the libero position allows us to do that.”

Palmer coach Steve Reynolds may have put his finger on something else the libero will do for volleyball this season.

&#8220It will get lots of questions from fans wondering why someone has a different jersey on.” Reynolds said, &#8220Anything that will peak the interest of fans is good.”

No matter who you ask there is a feeling that the libero is going to bring a new excitement to the game this year.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.