High Schools with Top Liberos to Watch

Liberos are a tough group to evaluate. Coaches try to avoid serving them because they are usually the best passers on the team. You can watch them play defense, but a good libero appears as if she is playing pepper with the opposing hitter because she is standing right in the spot the hitter is attacking.   I like to watch their feet. They must be quick for passing and for playing defense. A libero who stands straight up and still, who waits for the hitter to attack is not going to be very effective. For passing I like to see very little movement in the platform once they make proper contact with the ball, with the proper angle of the platform directed at the setter's position.   Libero's are getting more appreciated in the game. As coaches emphasize tough serves, finding those players who can pass is critical. These are some of the high schools that have liberos to watch.    I watched her play in the USAV Nationals at Indianapolis with American 16 and came away impressed. Paula almost made my Chesapeake 16 all tournament team but there were just too many talented liberos to consider. The now junior was voted to the first team 6B All Region team last year, the only sophomore to make the team and led Colgan to a State championship with her stellar back row play. She was born in Puerto Rico, which always seems to develop top notch liberos.    Haley was voted to the All Dulles District first team. She is our number one ranked libero for the class of 2023. The Holy Cross commit played for Paramount at the USAV Nationals in Indianapolis, and her back row play was instrumental in getting the team to the gold medal bracket, where they finished fifth. If the ball has still not hit the floor on her side of the net she will hustle to keep that ball alive.   Payton Delean (Freedom) - The now senior was voted to the first team in the Cedar Run District last year. She was also voted to the 6B All Regional second team. Freedom made it to the Class 5 State championship game for the first time in school history but lost in three to Hickory. Payton moves her feet well in the back row as she reacts to the offense on the other side of the net. She played for Virginia Juniors this last club season.   Dilara Vural, [player_tooltip player_id='181279' first='Kadi' last='Pynchon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212883' first='Evie' last='Huang'] (Flint Hill) - Three talented back row players. Dilara is the more experienced and appears to be a transfer from Oakton. She is a junior who played for Paramount this last club season. Kadi will be a sophomore and played for Virginia Elite. She is our number one libero for the class of 2025. Evie will be a frosh from Metro but has the talent to seize the job. Flint Hill has a libero opening and one of these three could win it while the other earns a defensive specialist role. Flint Hill is developing a lot of depth at this position so there could be others in the mix.   [player_tooltip player_id='209183' first='Caitlin' last='O'Brien'] (Stonebridge) - The senior was selected to the Class 5 All Region second team. Her libero play helped Stonebridge win their second State championship last year. Their first was in 2015. Caitlin also played for Vienna Elite 17-F with her libero play critical to them winning a bid in the USAV 18 Nationals. I can remember her playing libero when she was still under 5 feet, going back to serve and powering it over the net. She still has that bullet serve.   [player_tooltip player_id='209185' first='Carly' last='Zimmet'] (Loudoun Valley) - [player_tooltip player_id='209185' first='Carly' last='Zimmet'] was voted to the Dulles District first team. She played for Paramount but was used mainly as a defensive specialist in the games I saw. She has excellent quickness that allowed her to make some amazing plays deserving of a libero. Carly will be playing college volleyball for Division III Christopher Newport University.   [player_tooltip player_id='209184' first='Sakura' last='Shimozono'] (South Lakes) - She played well in the Chesapeake Regional bid match against Metro 17. She dug some hard hit balls that kept rallies alive. Metro also stopped serving her when her passes sailed crisply to the setter. Sakura plays with a lot of confidence. Getting South Lake into the playoffs could help her get on a Regional team.   Sadee Gedse (Annandale) - Her libero play for St. James 16 team was impressive. She also augments her game with some beach play during the summer. She will play in obscurity with Annandale since historically they have not competed well. It is also possible that you will see her 5'4" frame hitting outside, not the best position suited for her. Needless to say, if she plays outside she will be a six rotation player.   [player_tooltip player_id='209182' first='Sofia' last='Hardy'] (Independence) - Sofia played libero for Virginia Jrs 17 last year. She was voted to my Chesapeake 17 Nationals All Star team as a libero for her consistent passing and hustling defense. Virginia Jrs got within one game of making it to the gold bracket in the Freedom Division. Sofia shared back row duties with Payton Delean, the third player mentioned on this list.   [player_tooltip player_id='209800' first='Sydney' last='Pham'] (Madison) - The junior was voted to the Concorde District first team as the libero. She also played libero for Vienna Elite 17 - F team. Her strong passing is her more consistent quality. The Warhawks should do well with her return.

Liberos are a tough group to evaluate. Coaches try to avoid serving them because they are usually the best passers on the team. You can watch them play defense, but a good libero appears as if she is playing pepper with the opposing hitter because she is standing right in the spot the hitter is attacking.