2027 Liberos Colleges Programs Need to See

<p>These junior liberos are ready to make any college program's gym better immediately upon arrival. The libero position is always going to be picked up late in the recruiting cycle, and walk-on offers, "2 for 4," and partials are sometimes part of the calculation in decision-making. We expect the five 2027 players we cover here to earn their way into a college gym through hard work and their high-level skills on the court. </p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Stevenson will always give everything she has in the tank on each and every point. The 2027 defender competes hard, and her quickness and agility let her make acrobatic saves and digs. She is playing in the back row for Dakine 17 Pink, and her squad is having an excellent start to the season. Stevenson is controlling tempo and height with her passing, helping her setters run a fast attack. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/TLqo4vRD_pw?si=6zFUZW8Zoy1nkLgu </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Walker has a strong beach game, and her ball control and setting put that experience on display. Her greatest strength is her calm, precise passing in serve receive- she has great range and can cover for a teammate who may not be as suited to take on a tough serve. Walker can turn and burn and run down off-speed and covers, then still get under control and put the "up" right on her setter for a transition opportunity. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/b3RqSqQEpfM?si=eP7H3MhdHHPti_3V </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Strong is a terrific basketball player, but we have loved her tough, gritty play at libero since she burst on the scene as a freshman at West Valley Yakima. She can hang in against the biggest swings and has the speed and hands to cover the corner or handle a hard, high shot overhand. Strong will always give her team her best effort; she knows how to make winning plays and has the mental makeup you want to see in a high-level libero. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Kot is playing with SIVBC 18 Wave. The Issaquah prospect has outstanding quickness, doesn't get caught playing defense behind her block, and gives her attackers confidence to swing with her ability to cover the hitters. Kot has a feel for slowing down a hard swing off her platform and keeping her setters from being too tight to the net. The 2027 defender gets into the right spot on the floor defensively; she is rarely out of position. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Dakine 17 Navy has a great group of backrow defenders, and Lind is right in the middle of the action. The Timberline standout is an outstanding athlete who flows to the ball and makes all the right reads when she sets up defensively. She vacuums up swings and serves outside her area, and she is always willing to take a swing and deliver a "libero" kill when she has the chance. </p>

These junior liberos are ready to make any college program's gym better immediately upon arrival. The libero position is always going to be picked up late in the recruiting cycle, and walk-on offers, "2 for 4," and partials are sometimes part of the calculation in decision-making. We expect the five 2027 players we cover here to earn their way into a college gym through hard work and their high-level skills on the court.