Backrow Leaders: 2026 Libero Watchlist

The 2026 Libero/DS Watchlist showcases senior defensive specialists and liberos who are anchors in the back row and are ready to take their game to the college level. These athletes bring consistency in serve receive, scrappy defense, and the ability to read hitters at a high level.   👉 Be sure to follow me on social media for more player spotlights (X or IG @coachmadib), and share these features on your own socials to help these athletes gain exposure! If you're interested in being written about, message me on Instagram @coachmadib.    [player_tooltip player_id='663339' first='Bryleigh' last='Wallace'] is a strong libero whose drive and never-give-up attitude would make her an asset to any college program. She reads hitters extremely well and stays disciplined by being stopped on defense, which allows her to cover the court with consistency and confidence. Her impact at Boyd High School has been historic — breaking the school's all-time dig record with 2,297 digs so far in her four years on varsity, with more still to come. She also proves to be a strong serve receiver, taking up a large portion of the back row in serve receive, while being equally effective at the service line. Bryleigh's combination of grit, defensive skill, serve receive consistency, and proven production makes her one of the most reliable and competitive liberos in her class.     Avery Woods, a 5'5” libero/DS from Willis High School, makes her presence known as a relentless defender who seems to be everywhere on the court. She consistently hustles to keep plays alive and reads hitters well, allowing her to be in the right spot at the right time. Beyond her defense, Avery also proves to be effective in out-of-system situations, delivering quality sets that give her hitters strong opportunities to score. She is equally strong at the service line, earning many aces with her tough serve. With her steady energy and versatility, Avery is a player college coaches should strongly consider adding to their roster.     “[player_tooltip player_id='409082' first='Ariana' last='Williams'], a 5'5” libero committed to Rhodes College, proves herself to be a strong defensive presence in the back row as she consistently stays disciplined and stopped on defense. She also shows smooth hands when setting out of system, creating opportunities for her hitters to score. Her work ethic stands out as she continues to push herself and make an impact every time she steps on the court. Ariana's consistency and determination make her a reliable addition to the Rhodes program.     [player_tooltip player_id='571941' first='Chelsea' last='Webb'], a 2026 DS/Libero with MoCo Juniors, proves herself to be a strong defensive player who is always disciplined and stopped on contact. She consistently reads the game well, getting herself in position to make tough plays look easy. In serve receive, she shows the same consistency, delivering clean passes that keep her team in system. Now in her senior year, Chelsea is ready to take the next step and would positively contribute to any college program with her reliability and defensive presence.

The 2026 Libero/DS Watchlist showcases senior defensive specialists and liberos who are anchors in the back row and are ready to take their game to the college level. These athletes bring consistency in serve receive, scrappy defense, and the ability to read hitters at a high level.