Omaha Specialty Camp Day 1: A Look at the Liberos

OMAHA – Some of the top uncommitted talent in Nebraska and in the Midwest has arrived at Sapp Fieldhouse at the University of Omaha for the Mavericks’ advanced specialty camp for high school players. 

The two-day camp started Wednesday with players spending most of their time working on position-specific courts, which was a great opportunity to see some of the top players side-by-side.

Here is a look at some of the top liberos – listed alphabetically by graduation year – that looked really good on Wednesday.

Erin Williams – 2019 – Lincoln Lutheran

The all-state libero from Lincoln Lutheran is going to be a Maverick starting next fall, so in many ways she was the leader of a young pack of talented defenders on the day. Williams showed her usual tenacity and ability to absorb bullets while sending them softly back to her target. 

Lauren Justessen – 2020 – Elmwood-Murdock

Justesen is a little bit of a “tweener” is that if she wants to play college volleyball, she will likely have to do it in the back row, although she is certainly capable of being an all-around player at a smaller NAIA or Division III school. Justesen isn’t quite as polished as some of the other liberos in the group, but she is definitely a gamer and competitor and is solid fundamentally. 

Kenedy Schaecher – 2020 – Gretna

Schaecher has a chance to be one of the best liberos in Class A this season and was impressive earlier this month at the Wayne State team camp with her Gretna teammates. She’s a smooth and fluid defender with a knack for keeping her team in system. She’s slight in stature but plays big in the back row.

Holly Oschner – 2021 – Lincoln Southwest

Oschner, who is now at Lincoln Southwest after starting at Lincoln Northeast as a freshman, is one of the top 2021 liberos in the state and had a really strong showing on Wednesday. She can hold her own with pretty much any libero in the state and showed good quickness and instinct. 

Olivia Rouw – 2021 – Skutt Catholic

Rouw saw limited court time as a freshman at Skutt Catholic last year, but that says more about the talent in the Skutt program than anything else. Rouw can play back row at the Division I level and performed really well on the first day of camp. Her platform and technique is sound. 

Bre Skala – 2021 – Skutt Catholic

Skala was one of the more interesting players on Wednesday, as she came in and tore it up. She brings a more physical presence to the back row and her platform and ability to deaden a ball is outstanding. She definitely has all the potential to be an all-state player during her career and a big-time recruit.

Becca Vala – 2021 – Elkhorn 

Another in the group of really talented 2021 liberos in the state, Vala did well cutting her chops at the high school level as a freshman for the Antlers last season and was hanging tough with the top liberos at camp. Vala is a little smaller in stature and isn’t quite at the level of the top performers, but she’s close.