NCAA Adds Libero Position for 2002

April 22, 2002

Coral Gables,Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – The NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules Committee approvedseveral rule changes for the 2002 women’s volleyball season, including the useof the libero player with 12 substitutions, at its Feb. 18-21 meeting in Scottsdale,Ariz.

After gathering information from a variety of junior, collegiate and internationalvolleyball coaches and experts, the committee adopted the libero as a designatedback row player who cannot serve, attack or set inside the attack line.

The libero (pronounced LEE-bah-ro) rule, which is currently used in internationalcompetition, allows coaches to better utilize a defensive specialist. For example,when the libero leaves the match, she only has to sit out for one rally beforere-entering. She can replace any player in the back row, allowing her to playnearly the entire match. When the libero enters or leaves the match, it is notcounted against a team’s 12 substitutions.

The libero made its debut in Olympic play at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia.For more information on the libero position, go to the American Volleyball CoachesAssociation website at www.avca.org.

Miami currently lists sophomore Ashley Youngs (West Palm Beach, Fla.), sophomoreJamie Grass (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and freshman Margie Young (Santa Monica,Calif.) as possibilities at the libero position.

The Hurricanes open the regular season on the road at the Wichita State Tournamentin Wichita, Kansas on August 30 against New Mexico at 9:00 AM. Miami’s home openeris against Howard on September 6 at 12:30 PM at the 2002 Hurricane Invitational.

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