Head volleyball coach Dave Boos has zeroed in on who will start as his libero to open Ball State University's women's volleyball season. Alyssa Rio, a true freshman, has secured the position over sophomore Madison Monk.
"We do a lot of extensive stating and analysis in our practices everyday, and right now she is the top in the stating we do," Boos said.
Rio will take over the position Amanda McCormick, the 2006 Collegiate National Update Libero of the Year, held last season before graduating in May. Despite filling the large hole left by McCormick, Rio said she limited how much she thought about it.
"I tried not to think about who's place I was taking," Rio said. "I knew she had done a really good job. I just wanted to come in with a open mind and play as good as I could."
Boos said Rio had earned the position prior to last Saturday's alumni match. The Cardinals won all four games in the match, and Rio played the entire time. Rio's performance in the match solidified her as the starting libero, Boos said.
"As a freshman she has come in and stepped into our system very well," Boos said. "Every day she has come in and gotten better. Every day she has come in and improved her numbers."
A lot is expected of a libero, Boos said. Traditionally and ideally, the libero will be touching the ball more than any other player, except the team's setter, he said.
"It's a full time back row person," Boos said. "They are in there for all the rotations."
Boos said he needs his libero to have great ball skills.
"In that position you want someone who is going to give you consistent output all the time," Boos said. "You want someone you can rely on. That position touches the ball so much you want to make sure you have someone who will get a good hit on the ball every time."
Rio said to be successful she is expected to pass well, play good defense and have a strong serve. She said she's confident in her defense and passing because she has been a libero since she was 16 years old but said she still needs work on her serve.
"I'm just starting to learn how to jump serve," Rio said. "Hopefully that will get better as the season goes on."
Along with the emphasis on passing, defense and serving, Boos also said Rio's ability to communicate with her teammates will be a factor in the team's success.
"The most underrated part of that position is their communication skills -- their ability to direct traffic," Boos said.
Even though Monk lost the libero competition to begin the season, Boos said it's not a knock on Monk's ability to play.
"I don't see it has a negative for Madison," Boos said. "In fact, Madison will be on the floor as a defensive player, and those two being on the court together will really help our team."
Just because Rio is the starter right now doesn't mean the door has been completely shut on Monk as the Cardinals' libero.
"We always encourage competition in practices," Boos said. "If Madison begins to outperform [Alyssa] then she has a chance to be put in there, certainly."
Whoever ends up playing a majority of the time as the Cardinals' libero this season, one thing is certain to Boos: The play of his libero will be a big factor in how successful of a season the team has.
"It will be very important," Boos said. "Our defensive play will be the backbone of what we do. The defensive system we are using, the system I used in the past, is known for great libero play."
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