If fans attend a UW volleyball game anytime this season, they may become a little confused as to why one member of the Badger team is wearing a different color jersey.

The reason that one player is wearing red, while the rest of the team is sporting white, is because of the new libero rule that has gone into effect this season.

Many have become confused at the mention of this word and have been left without much of an explanation as to what this new rule entails.

The libero player must be designated before a match and must wear the opposite color jersey that the team is wearing, so that it is obvious who is playing the libero position.

When playing libero, that player is a designated back row player who is allowed to replace any player in the back row without counting as a substitution. However, that player is not allowed to serve or attempt to block or attack a ball.

The number of times a libero is allowed to enter the game is unlimited, which is different then the rest of the team, which is allowed only 12 total substitutions.

Another special rule for the libero position is that that player does not have to check in with the referees, she may just run onto the court between points to replace another player.

This new position is unique because some teams are playing with this special player and some teams are not. It really depends if the team can find someone to fit within that role.

This past weekend was the first time the Badgers actually utilized the libero.

“We were looking for somebody to step up in that position and use it for us,” Waite said. “We hadn’t found it in the first week, and now I think we just did.”

Waite is referring to freshman Beth Haberli, who was given the nod at playing libero this past weekend.

Haberli, ranked the 50th best high school player in the country last year, came in for Badger tri-captain Lori Rittenhouse when she rotated around to the back row. Rittenhouse served and, once her serve was lost, Haberli came in to replace her. Once Haberli reached the front row, Rittenhouse re-entered.

“It’s going to help us a lot in substitutions so we don’t lose our subs late in a tight game,” Waite said. “She (Haberli) just came in and really was able to [relieve] ‘House’ (Rittenhouse) and let her rest a little bit on the sidelines, and then she could come in and be even stronger.”

Haberli recognizes how important this new position can be to the team.
“The subbing is really an issue,” Haberli said. “I have been in a lot of matches where you are at the end and you have to have a defensive specialist play front row because there are no subs. This enables us to have more people play in their position and not have to just be at a loss.”
It looks as though UW will continue to use the new libero position after trying it out in the InnTowner Invitational and finding success.
“If the position is here in the future, it may be a scholarship position, because you need that person on the court all the time. . . So you need someone who can pass the ball, off-serve receive really well, dig a lot of balls, off-serve attack, and just really swarm the court. So it’s going to be more important than it’s ever been,” Waite said.