Three Central McLean Cougars volleyball teams win local matches
By ALLAN TINKER
Fans roared their cheers, teams played hard, coaches led well, and the Central McLean Cougars added winning game notches at all three levels: C-Squad, Junior Varsity, and Varsity. Of note, were the athletes who played libero position. By their role’s definition, they are in the back row, with flexibility and limits to their play. According to a referee
rule book, a libero (in indoor volleyball is a back-row defensive specialist. Since they only play in the back row, those players are often shorter than the front-row blockers
and hitters but have impeccable ball-control skills. The position was created to promote ball-control. The use of the libero player is a coaching strategy, therefore it’s use is optional, only one may be used per game. Those in the position this past Thursday night in McClusky were each team’s player #5, with a different color shirt to distinguish them easily
for the referees. The addition of this position, unfamiliar to many volleyball fans, heightens ball control and the pace for all games was dead serious and players at their best.
With two of three games won in the C-Squad and Junior Varsity in the first games, they went on to play to 15 and ahead by two to finish their games. Varsity with winning
games evenly divided for the first two matches, then played the third to determine how they would continue, with the fourth game played until 15 and ahead by two points,
which made the Cougars Varsity victorious for three of five games officially.
