Top 5A Liberos Owning the Back Row

In today's volleyball landscape, where offensive systems are faster and more complex than ever, the libero is no longer just a defensive role: they are a tactical asset. For coaches building a program around consistency, serve-receive efficiency, and in-system play, the libero is often the difference between surviving a rally and taking control of it. The best liberos don't just dig balls; they own the seams, stabilize first contact, and have the confidence to own the back row.   Let's take a look at some of the top liberos in Colorado's 5A high school volleyball scene:    Breslyn Rarog's stat line (228 digs on the season, and about 17.5 digs per match) isn't the most impressive thing about her. In addition to her defensive prowess, the calmness and control that she brings to her team is what makes her a standout libero. Whether that's hustling to pass a free ball so her attackers can transition smoothly or setting beautiful out of system balls, Rarog is one of the most disciplined and consistent libs in the state.     [player_tooltip player_id='532676' first='Toryn' last='Dempsey'] is only a sophomore, but the poise she has on the court and her platform control says otherwise. Dempsey, along with Breslyn Rarog, leads all of 5A with 228 digs, racking up about 7.1 digs per set. It's also one thing to simply get touches on the ball, but it's a whole 'nother thing to dig a ball and keep it in play well enough for your offense to transition and attack and that's precisely what makes Dempsey so good in the back row.     Currently number three in the state in 5A with 222 digs, [player_tooltip player_id='800385' first='Gabriella' last='Melecio'] is a defensive highlight reel. It doesn't matter if an attecker is hitting straight down, at her face, or if it touches the block and is 60 feet off the court, you can count on Melecio to track it down and get it up. As scrappy as she is defensively, her serve receive is where Melecio shines. Her footwork, platform angles, and body control is as calm as any, showing why opposing servers don't even try to serve her way.     Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='809221' first='Sofia' last='Posada'] has been one of the most impressive liberos this season, especially from a serve receive standpoint. She covers a ton of court and, what's more imperative, is that her passes still end up to target. Defensively, Posada reads opposing attackers well and picks up quite a bit of would-be kills and handles the hard driven ball well. One of the faster libs on this list, she's one to keep an eye on in this next few years.     The feisty leader of her high school squad, four year varsity player [player_tooltip player_id='800571' first='Tatianna' last='Staab'] has a proven track record of excelling in all phases of the game as a libero. Over the course of her high school career, Staab has racked up 1,183 digs, 294 assists, 113 aces, and 1,537 successful receptions. It is clear to any viewer watching that she is the one in charge in the back row and she brings an intangible competitive consistency that is hard to find.

In today's volleyball landscape, where offensive systems are faster and more complex than ever, the libero is no longer just a defensive role: they are a tactical asset. For coaches building a program around consistency, serve-receive efficiency, and in-system play, the libero is often the difference between surviving a rally and taking control of it. The best liberos don't just dig balls; they own the seams, stabilize first contact, and have the confidence to own the back row.