Role of libero brings unique opportunities

Junior defensive specialist Caitlin Hansen was named the volleyball team’s libero earlier this season, a role IU Coach Sherry Dunbar said Hansen was not simply given.

“She earned it,” Dunbar said. “It was wide open in the preseason, and four players were going after it, and consistently she dug more balls, passed a higher percentage and was leading by example.”

In collegiate volleyball, the libero wears a different colored jersey from the rest of the team.

A defensive specialist, the position was created in 1998 to improve defensive play.

Normally, a team is allowed 15 substitutions per set, but the libero can come in and out of play during the match without substitutions counting against the team’s allotted 15.

“I think it’s the most fun position,” Hansen said. “You’re always all over the place, and you’re never in one space so, yeah, I love it.”

The 5-foot-4-inch Hansen was the libero at Roncalli High School in
Indianapolis.

By coming to IU, she turned down offers from Cincinnati, Ball State and Middle Tennessee State.

Hansen said she liked everything IU had to offer in terms of volleyball and academics.

“(I loved) the opportunities, all the resources, the coaching and the players,” Hansen said. “I met (the coaching staff) first, and that’s really what sold me. And everyone’s work ethic and how determined everyone is. ...Everybody is on the same page and has the same goal. They don’t just settle for anything.”

Hansen is not in the game for just her defensive abilities, as she is the offensive starter in most matches.

“Actually, she starts our offense,” Dunbar said. “She passes 60 to 70 percent of the balls. She starts everything that begins with our offense.”

Hansen is one of the top Hoosiers in terms of serving. She has tallied six aces on the season, tying for second on the team.

She has only one service error, making her the only team member with more service aces than errors.

When Hansen serves the ball, she is often seven to 10 feet behind the service line. This strategy is to make the return more difficult for her opponents.

“The deeper I am, the more weight on the ball I have,” Hansen said. “I want to get more float on it, so the farther back I am, the more velocity I can have, and my trajectory is higher. Hopefully, by the time it gets over the net, it will drop and make it harder for the passers.”    

Since her time as a freshman, her teammates said, they have seen a change in her leadership capabilities.

“I think this year I’ve just seen a huge leadership and taking ownership and taking lead of the back court,” junior outside hitter Jade Henderson said. “It’s just awesome to see.”

Dunbar said throughout the last few years, she’s watched Hansen grow not just as a player but as a leader.

“I think the confidence has really changed in her,” Dunbar said. “Her expectations are much higher for her then they ever were.”