Liberos Run the Show at Lincoln Pius X Invite
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We’ve already covered a stellar group of pin hitters from Saturday’s Lincoln Pius X Invitational. But, as we know, the success of these attackers wouldn’t be possible without the defenders holding the line in the back row. This event had…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve already covered a stellar group of pin hitters from Saturday’s Lincoln Pius X Invitational. But, as we know, the success of these attackers wouldn’t be possible without the defenders holding the line in the back row.
This event had an astounding blend of libero quality and quantity for just a six-team field. It’s enough to craft a feature focused solely on the defensive specialist position.
Let’s bring out the stars of the backcourt.
We previously covered Alivia Hausmann Alivia Hausmann 5’5″ | DS/L Norris | 2024 State NE and Grayson Piening Grayson Piening 5’8″ | DS/L Norris | 2024 State NE in a senior feature, but there’s so much more libero talent on the Norris roster. Guthard is another seasoned veteran who showcased her defensive prowess last weekend. The senior was not afraid to stand in the line of fire and dig some heat, particularly in the championship bout with Elkhorn North.
Borer wears the contrasting jersey for Norris and makes the most of her time in the backcourt. We’ve already seen Borer shine on the club side with Premier Nebraska, but this year has been a brilliant opportunity to see what she can do with a Class B frontrunner. Borer is already making her mark as the Titans chase championship glory.
This is not Wolf’s first rodeo. The senior libero has been in big matches throughout her prep career, so the electric environment at Pius was nothing new. Wolf’s floor defense was dialed in throughout the tournament, and she also produced clutch passes when the Wolves needed it most. We were also reminded of Wolf’s valuable role as an emotional leader who can inject energy into her team at any time
It’s tough to come off the bench and immediately serve dimes, but that’s what Christo has brought for Elkhorn North. The Wolves were more than willing to spend a couple of subs to get their veteran defender on the service line. Christo delivered with a few service runs throughout the event and defended her position well, too.
It’s hard to miss the kind of impact that Kucks has on the Millard North lineup. She can pass a large chunk of the court in serve receive and is particularly comfortable in the middle-back area. That Zone 6 confidence might have something to do with Kucks’ background as an outside hitter, but the Lipscomb commit has more than proven her worth at libero, too. What a leader for this rising Mustang crew.
Hailey Whitmarsh
Hailey Whitmarsh
It’s upperclassmen galore in the Millard North backcourt with Whitmarsh also making outstanding defensive contributions. Whitmarsh, like Kucks, has plenty of prior experience at the outside hitter spot. The senior is able to apply that knowledge into her defensive work and is adept at reading opposing attackers. Excellent defense and serve receive can keep Millard North in the hunt against some of Class A’s best.
Emilia Reiling
Emilia Reiling
Lincoln Pius X has been no stranger to high-impact liberos over the years, and Reiling has been able to show her potential as the next in line at that position. The junior worked well with her fellow passers, many of whom were outside hitters looking to perform multiple duties at once. Reiling was able to take the passing burden off those attackers and allowed Pius X to run that efficient offense that makes the Bolts successful.
Mayer is another name that pops up over and over in these libero conversations. It’s no coincidence that ball control has been a cornerstone of Omaha Marian’s recent resurgence, and Mayer has had a steady hand in that phase. Her on-court effort and enthusiasm is a staple of the Crusader lineup and won’t be going away anytime soon.
Madison Weitzel
Madison Weitzel
Weitzel is part of a large group of emerging defenders on the Lincoln High roster. Her range in the back row made her a perfect fit for the Links’ contrasting jersey. Players like Weitzel represent the growing foundation at Lincoln High, and the high-level competition at Pius will help this group develop their skills further.