Key Returners – Liberos

This is the second of four articles on the key returners to the West Region and today I focus on those much needed but often underappreciated liberos. You can find my first article on the setters/right sides here. As a reminder, my process remains the same in that I scoured the 2018 Awards page for non-seniors and then reviewed the NCAA statistical leaders for anyone I may have missed. Note that in some cases what the NCAA has for statistics differs from what the schools have on their sites. There were a few key returners that I don’t list simply because I’ve learned they will not be returning to their school. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to catch all of these instances but I did the best I could. I also guarantee that I overlooked some players and for that I apologize; my system, like myself, is imperfect. Without further ado, here are your key returning liberos.

Ally Busch (Redlands – Libero – Junior)

I haven’t done my conference preview work but I just feel like Redlands has a chance at a breakout season. It will be interesting to see if my research backs up my spidey senses. If the Bulldogs have any chance at a breakout one of the reasons will be Ally Busch. Busch took over the libero position her sophomore year and banked 464 digs (159^th nationally) and averaged 4.78 Digs/Set (124^th nationally). With just one senior graduating and their service receive intact behind Busch, the Bulldogs have a great foundation to build on. Of course, their main problem will be that deep tough SCIAC conference.

Jaci Chambers (TLU – Libero – Senior)

Jaci Chambers is a four-year starter (third at libero) that puts up video game numbers as a libero. She was first in the West Region in both Digs/Set and Total Digs. She had 681 digs, which was good for 9^th nationally, and had a 6.03 digs/set mark good for 11^th nationally. Chambers was named the SCAC Backrow Player of the Year and was 2^nd Team All-SCAC. Chambers was also an Honorable Mention selection to my D3VbWest All-Region Team. TLU looks to bounce back from a down season and it will start on the back line with Chambers leading the way. If the Bulldogs can return to the SCAC Tournament and put up more wins in 2019 then expect even more love to come Chambers way when awards are announced at the end of the season.

Rylee Davis (Concordia – Libero – Junior)

Rylee Davis earned the libero spot last year on her way to a 470 dig season good for 147^th nationally. She also finished 204^th nationally in Digs/Set. Concordia was an underappreciated team last year with 19 wins and looked to be getting stronger going into this season before losing a couple of their top hitters. This just means Davis will be relied on even more to keep their rallies going and to anchor the service receive. I expect Davis and Haleigh Evans to be the top liberos in the ASC next season.

Haleigh Evans (UMHB – Libero – Senior)

Haleigh Evans heads into her fourth year at UMHB, which marks the 6 consecutive year they’ve had an Evans sister on the team. Evans has played all three years and quickly found her way into the libero spot her freshman year and never relinquished it. She’s improved her dig totals all three years ending last year with 536, which was good for 82^nd nationally. Evans was also 167^th nationally in Digs/Set. The Cru are set for a special season with everyone returning and coming off a Regional Finals appearance. Expect more of the same from Evans in 2019.

Sophia Lawrence (George Fox – Libero – Junior)

Sophia Lawrence is a two year starter at libero for the Bruins increasing her digs by almost a hundred to 448 last season. She was third in the West Region with a mark of 5.15 Digs/Set (70^th nationally) and was 176^th in Total Digs. Lawrence was a 2^nd Team All-NWC selection last year as they started fast but stumbled a little bit in conference play. I’ll keep saying that I think the NWC is going to be pretty open this year but the Bruins have to overcome the loss of their two best hitters in Dupray and Burch. Knowing they will get strong play from Lawrence will help and it will just be a matter of who else steps up.

Mari Prazak (Austin College – Libero – Sophomore)

Austin College had close to 72 players on the roster last year (small exaggeration) and a freshman took up the reins on the libero position. Mari Prazak had to prove herself early but the coaching staff quickly realized they had something special. Prazak finished 5^th in the West Region in Total Digs with 559 (61^st nationally) and was 154^th in Digs/Set. It will be neat to watch the mini-battle between Prazak, Jaci Chambers and others to see who will lead the SCAC in digs this season.

Krystyn Pua (Dallas – Libero – Senior)

Krystyn Pua took over the libero spot last season on her way to 495 digs, which was good for 118^th nationally. In the process Dallas had one of their best seasons ever as they look to improve on that in 2019. Pua averaged 4.63 Digs/Set (153^rd nationally) but was also one of the better servers in the West Region with 51 Service Aces last season (4^th in the West Region and 120^th nationally). Dallas has improved their schedule this season but they are returning their hitting and their service receive remains relatively intact so another good season from Pua is expected.

Elora Reyes (Schreiner – Libero – Sophomore)

Joining that digs battle between Jaci Chambers, Mari Prazak and Krystyn Pua in the SCAC will be Elora Reyes. As a freshman she took over the libero position and finished with 459 digs on a team where every extended rally is important. Reyes is one of the talented young-ins on the Mountaineers that looked to improve on their 3 win total of 2018. Her dig total was good for 165^th nationally while her 4.83 Digs/Set number was good for 118^th nationally. Playing in the tough SCAC conference will be an issue but this team is getting better so Reyes’ opportunities will increase.

Taylor Souza (Linfield – Libero – Senior)

No question Linfield struggled in 2018 winning just 6 matches which also meant their matches typically only went 3 sets. Regardless, Souza still average 4.92 Digs/Set; this placed her 98th nationally and was only behind Sophia Lawrence for the NWC lead. She was named Honorable Mention All-NWC for her efforts. Linfield is one of the few NWC schools to be playing a full schedule over the first three weeks, which will increase her opportunities in addition to Linfield being better on the court. I expect a big jump in Souza’s statistics in 2019.

Sarah Tritschler (CMS – Libero – Senior)

Sarah Tritschler is the most decorated libero returning in 2019 as she was named Honorable Mention All-American, West AVCA All-Region and 2^nd Team All-SCIAC. She was 2^nd in the West Region in Total Digs at 612 (24^th nationally) and 4^th in the West Region in Digs/Set at 5.14. Tritschler will be a key member of the CMS anticipated run at a national championship this season. The Athenas attack needs to improve this season and it starts with the service receive led by Tritschler. So, when you see Amanda Walker or Melanie Moore pound the ball down after a beautiful set by Phoebe Madsen, make sure you give an appreciative nod to the player that likely started the play.

Haley Walz (Pacific – Libero – Sophomore)

Haley Walz was one of the best freshmen liberos in 2018 as was evident by her NWC Freshman of the Year award. Walz was also named Honorable Mention All-NWC. Walz finished with a 4.86 Digs/Set mark to rank 108^th nationally as well as finishing 184^th in Total Digs. It’s rare for a coaching staff to have a successful team and then hand the libero job over to a freshman but Walz didn’t disappoint. Looking forward, Walz should only get better in her upcoming three years with more awards to follow as she headlines the next wave of liberos in the West Region.

Megan Wang (Caltech – Libero – Sophomore)

I have a policy I live by when it comes to vending machines and that is to thank the one’s that talk to you when dispensing items. I mean when our robot overlords take over, I believe these vending machines will let them know how nice I was to them and I’ll be spared to work in some death camp. In the same vein I believe it’s important to highlight as many Caltech athletes because, let’s face it, these ladies are going to be ruling the world prior to the robot overlords taking over. With Megan Wang, however, you only have to look at her 4.78 Digs/Set last season to know she belongs in this article. That mark was good for 126^th nationally while finishing 218^th in Total Digs. She’s another freshman that took over a libero spot for their team and assuming she doesn’t get distracted curing cancer in the next three years, she’s going to have a great career. (I mean if she cures cancer I guess her career would be okay, too.)