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Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball Preview: Libero/Defense
8/21/2015 9:57:00 AM | Volleyball
LAFAYETTE – The spot in the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns volleyball team's lineup with the most competition in preseason camp has been libero as head coach Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot seeks to replace the production of departed four-year starter Caitlyn Auxilien.
The libero position is the second-most important position on the floor behind the setter. The individual is on the floor for six rotations and they run the defense.
"You want the ball in their hands as often as possible," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "They control the tempo of the game and direct traffic."
Auxilien, who finished her career third all-time in program history with 1,784 digs, performed the duties well in her tenure (2011-14). Good news for Mazeitis-Fontenot is the list of candidates for Auxilien's successor is plentiful.
"We have some great athletes and volleyball players that are now competing for that spot," Mazeitis-Fontenot noted. "It's exciting to see them to compete, fighting to get on the floor and perfecting different areas of their game."
Sophomore Shelby Romero and freshmen Sydney Davis, Hannah Henry and Danni Duck are vying for the libero jersey. Junior transfer McKenzie John could also enter the mix.
"Defense is not the only thing that makes a libero," Mazeitis-Fontenot explained. "Serve receive and defense make a great libero. We're trying to find a player that has the combination of both and is the most consistent."
Romero has a season in the Cajuns system to her credit. The Hutto, Texas, native took the floor in a pair of matches in 2014 and worked with Auxilien. "She's been training in this position for a year and she's really coming along," Mazeitis-Fontenot said.
Davis was a first team all-district selection her final two seasons at St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge. An explosive outside hitter, she may begin her collegiate journey with a role on defense.
"We brought her in to train as a libero, but also at outside hitter," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "Right now defense is coming a little bit easier for her so we've been having her work there and she's becoming confident and comfortable."
Henry joined the Cajuns knowing the libero spot would be up for grabs. The San Diego area native played at La Costa Canyon High School, a school consistently ranked among the top 100 high school programs in the country.
"She is super aggressive on defense, has no fear at all," Mazeitis-Fontenot explained. "She has been able to set the tone, defensively, where you notice her in practice every single day."
Duck, a two-time all state and five-time all district selection at nearby Ascension Episcopal School in Youngsville, should factor into the race once she recovers from a recent surgery.
"She has speed and tremendous determination on defense," Mazeitis-Fontenot stated. "She is our most-skilled defender."
Then there's John, a Lafayette native who transferred from Dominican (N.Y.) College. The Lafayette High product has tremendous power on the attack playing outside hitter, but could use her strong defensive skills to enter the race.
"She has great ball control and could easily spend time at libero as well," Mazeitis-Fontenot noted. "She's super aggressive on defense and can pass lights out."
While only one can wear the libero jersey in a match, Mazeitis-Fontenot feels having several candidates can be a positive for the team in the overall defensive scheme.
"Because we have so many capable kids, defensively and in serve receive, I think that it's only going to bode well for us in the future," Mazeitis-Fontenot explained. "Defensively we could see a whole different level of play than we've seen in my entire eight years here."
The Ragin' Cajuns, entering the eighth season under Mazeitis-Fontenot's direction, seek to build upon a 20-13 showing in 2014, the program's first 20-win season since 1990.
Louisiana opens the 2015 season Aug. 28-29 in Lubbock, Texas, participating in the Texas Tech Invitational. The home portion of the schedule opens Sept. 4-5 with Sawyer Camillo Memorial Volleyball Classic.
2015 Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball Preview Schedule
August 20 - Setters
August 21 - Libero/Defense
August 22 - Outside Hitters
August 23 - Middle Blockers
The libero position is the second-most important position on the floor behind the setter. The individual is on the floor for six rotations and they run the defense.
"You want the ball in their hands as often as possible," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "They control the tempo of the game and direct traffic."
Auxilien, who finished her career third all-time in program history with 1,784 digs, performed the duties well in her tenure (2011-14). Good news for Mazeitis-Fontenot is the list of candidates for Auxilien's successor is plentiful.
"We have some great athletes and volleyball players that are now competing for that spot," Mazeitis-Fontenot noted. "It's exciting to see them to compete, fighting to get on the floor and perfecting different areas of their game."
Sophomore Shelby Romero and freshmen Sydney Davis, Hannah Henry and Danni Duck are vying for the libero jersey. Junior transfer McKenzie John could also enter the mix.
"Defense is not the only thing that makes a libero," Mazeitis-Fontenot explained. "Serve receive and defense make a great libero. We're trying to find a player that has the combination of both and is the most consistent."
Romero has a season in the Cajuns system to her credit. The Hutto, Texas, native took the floor in a pair of matches in 2014 and worked with Auxilien. "She's been training in this position for a year and she's really coming along," Mazeitis-Fontenot said.
Davis was a first team all-district selection her final two seasons at St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge. An explosive outside hitter, she may begin her collegiate journey with a role on defense.
"We brought her in to train as a libero, but also at outside hitter," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "Right now defense is coming a little bit easier for her so we've been having her work there and she's becoming confident and comfortable."
Henry joined the Cajuns knowing the libero spot would be up for grabs. The San Diego area native played at La Costa Canyon High School, a school consistently ranked among the top 100 high school programs in the country.
"She is super aggressive on defense, has no fear at all," Mazeitis-Fontenot explained. "She has been able to set the tone, defensively, where you notice her in practice every single day."
Duck, a two-time all state and five-time all district selection at nearby Ascension Episcopal School in Youngsville, should factor into the race once she recovers from a recent surgery.
"She has speed and tremendous determination on defense," Mazeitis-Fontenot stated. "She is our most-skilled defender."
Then there's John, a Lafayette native who transferred from Dominican (N.Y.) College. The Lafayette High product has tremendous power on the attack playing outside hitter, but could use her strong defensive skills to enter the race.
"She has great ball control and could easily spend time at libero as well," Mazeitis-Fontenot noted. "She's super aggressive on defense and can pass lights out."
While only one can wear the libero jersey in a match, Mazeitis-Fontenot feels having several candidates can be a positive for the team in the overall defensive scheme.
"Because we have so many capable kids, defensively and in serve receive, I think that it's only going to bode well for us in the future," Mazeitis-Fontenot explained. "Defensively we could see a whole different level of play than we've seen in my entire eight years here."
The Ragin' Cajuns, entering the eighth season under Mazeitis-Fontenot's direction, seek to build upon a 20-13 showing in 2014, the program's first 20-win season since 1990.
Louisiana opens the 2015 season Aug. 28-29 in Lubbock, Texas, participating in the Texas Tech Invitational. The home portion of the schedule opens Sept. 4-5 with Sawyer Camillo Memorial Volleyball Classic.
2015 Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball Preview Schedule
August 20 - Setters
August 21 - Libero/Defense
August 22 - Outside Hitters
August 23 - Middle Blockers
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