Texas Tech University Athletics
The Odd One Out
October 04, 2002 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 4, 2002
When attending this year's Texas Tech volleyball games, it is not hard to miss the one player from each team who stands out. You wonder if that person did not get the memo and is wearing the wrong uniform. As a matter of fact, college teams around the nation are experiencing this same dilemma. But to the fans, it's not a problem with communication but actually a rule enforced by the NCAA for a new position added to game of volleyball.
The new position is called the libero (lee-bro) position. Though the libero position was once known as a defensive specialist, it now encompasses more responsibility.
The official rules for this position are as follows: the libero may replace any player in a back row position; the libero may not serve, block or attempt to block; the libero may not complete an attack-hit from anywhere if at the moment of contact the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net; a teammate may not complete an attack-hit on a ball coming from an overhead pass using the fingers by the libero if the libero sets while in the front zone, but the ball may be freely attacked if the libero makes the same set from behind the front zone; when the Libero replaces a player in the back zone, it is not counted as a substitution, and these replacements are unlimited; only the player whom she replaced may replace the libero; and after the libero is replaced, she must stay out one rally before replacing another player in the back zone. But this is the NCAA's rulebook's definition.
When it comes to its effect on the court, Tech looks to its own libero Jessy Herrera and Texas Tech head volleyball coach Jeff Nelson to explain its true impact to the game.
Herrera, a second-year letterman feels she is a "spark plug for the team," explains Nelson. Her duties are to "be defensive, have good ball control and pass well, and most of all be quick on defense."
Her playing time, as well as her impact on the game, has drastically changed from last year.
"I'm on the court more, and it helps me to stay focused," said the New Braunfels native. "It allows me to be a bigger part of the game."
The libero position now allows Herrera to showcase the talents that she has been grooming since her high school years when she was honored with Female Athlete of the Year at Canyon High School in 1999 and the High Wired Sports Top Defensive Player in 2000, just to name a couple.
Yet Herrera attributes her success on Tech's back line to her teammates.
"Ann (Romjue) and Melissa (McGehee) could easily be the libero," Herrera said. "But it is a good thing that they can also hit and put the ball down. We all just work really hard together, and help each other out."
Entering his eighth year at the helm of the Texas Tech volleyball team, coach Jeff Nelson comments that the libero position "creates the opportunity to raise the level of the college game through good passing, which in turn brings better swings on the front row."
Nelson looks to Herrera for more than just a defensive presence on the court.
"Her role is to pass well and elevate the level of play through her defense, and make big plays, bringing energy to the court," coach Nelson said.
Not only is the addition of the libero affecting the way the game is being played on the court, it also changes the way recruiting is handled as well. With an emphasis on defense being placed on this position, recruits for the back line will not just be walk-ons but now candidates for scholarships.
"With the addition of the libero position," notes Nelson. "Colleges are having to look differently at the way they give out their scholarships. It changes the dynamic of recruiting."
Even if the libero looks like the odd one out, her place as the "spark-plug" for the team and a defensive specialist brings more attention to her than the uniform.
Whether it is at the recruiting table or on the floor of the court, it seems the libero position is going to change the look of the back row, one rotation at a time.
