Nebraska Volleyball 2024 Position Preview: Libero
Nebraska Volleyball’s 2024 season is around the corner. The Huskers are coming off an incredible 2023 season, which ended with heartbreak in the national title match. NU had four players leave the program but added two very experienced and two freshmen.
HuskerOnline dives into each position group in this annual position preview series. Next in the series, we look at an incredibly strong libero/defensive specialists group.
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What we know right now: Huskers have an elite group
Nebraska has a top-tier group of back-row defenders. Libero Lexi Rodriguez has one more season to win a national title and become NU’s all-time career digs leader. But the former is at the very top of her list.
Rodriguez is statistically the best passer in college volleyball. Over three seasons as a Husker, she has improved her passing and digging skills. Her serve is also becoming stronger but needs to go up another level.
Laney Choboy is coming off an incredible freshman season. She and Rodriguez teamed up for one of the best defensive duos in the nation. Choboy’s dedication to getting any ball up captured Husker Nation and sports fans. NU has two libero-caliber players, with her and Rodriguez in the back row.
The Huskers added another excellent defensive specialist, freshman Olivia Mauch. Mauch stood out this spring during the spring exhibition match. She led Bennington (Neb.) High School to its two best records in school history. The 5-foot-7 libero holds the school record with 2,595 career digs.
After the exhibition, Husker Head Coach John Cook said that Mauch is too good of a passer to keep her off the court.
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Key stats and numbers from 2023:
| Name | Sets | Digs | Digs per set | Aces | Assists | Assists per set |
| Lexi Rodriguez | 121 | 436 | 3.60 | 15 | 150 | 1.24 |
| Laney Choboy | 117 | 213 | 1.82 | 14 | 37 | 0.32 |
| Maisie Boesiger | 36 | 18 | 0.50 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 |
Biggest Question: How does Nebraska utilize all three?
The Huskers have two elite defensive backs and one well on her way. NU’s back row could be the best in the country again. They also have walk-on Maisie Boesiger, who has experience and a solid serve.
Cook has run into a very familiar problem. How can he get all of his best players on the court?
Rodriguez will continue to be the libero. No one in the country could beat her out. Choboy and Mauch will battle it out for defensive and serving specialist duties. I’ll give Choboy the edge, but don’t count out Mauch.
During the spring match, Mauch and Choboy switched as the defensive specialists every six rotations. That would get them more opportunities. The NCAA passed a rule allowing each team to have two liberos (one of the court). However, Cook said that he was not interested in two liberos.
The Huskers have the luxury of another lights-out defender ready to roll if someone is unavailable or isn’t passing/serving up to standard.
Projected Lineup:
- Lexi Rodriguez
- Laney Choboy
- Olivia Mauch
- Maisie Boesiger
