Staff writer
Volleyball is a sport of bad bounces and momentum — luck can play a major role in a match.
On Saturday, during the Marion Spikefest Tournament, luck worked against Marion sophomore libero JayDee Schafers.
In the Warriors first match Saturday, Schafers went flying out of bounds to save a ball. The Marion defenders were able to hit the ball back onto the Halstead side of the court, but were unable to handle the return.
In the second game against the Dragons, Schafers had the ball hit to her feet but she popped it up to a Marion setter. The ball found its way to Schafers again on Halstead’s return; she was able to handle the hit and pop the ball up. For a third time, Schafers fielded a Halstead return and bumped the ball to a Marion setter. Eventually, the point went to Halstead, 8-12, and the Dragons won the match, 11-25 and 16-25.
After the Warriors defeated Centre, 25-13 and 25-20, they faced Sedgwick, the top team in the tournament.
Schafers had more luck contributing passes for points against the Cardinals. Before the Warriors made the score 12-15, Schafers was able to tip a pass that was careening sideways with only her right hand up to the safety of a Warrior hitter who bumped the ball over the net.
The Marion libero had two solid passes on a point scored by Annie Whitaker to make the score 13-18. However, the Warriors lost the match, 20-25 and 13-25.
“The bright spot of the day was our back row play and JayDee,” coach Jim Versch said. “She’s really matured in that position and understands that role.”
To Schafers, a libero’s role is about constant effort.
“You have the choice of making that good pass or not,” she said. “All your effort goes into it.”
She said part of that effort is about hitting the floor with zeal, sacrificing her body to make a good pass or a saving play.
She hit the hardwood on two separate plays against Sedgwick. When a ball was hit between Schafers and a Warrior front-line player, she slid on her kneepads and tried to bump the ball twice to save the Warrior possession.
On another play, Schafers dropped to her knees and passed the ball to Katey Ehrlich. Neither play scored points for the Warriors on Saturday.
As an example of her willingness to sacrifice her safety, Schafers talked about a play in one of the Warriors earlier matches on the road. Chasing after a ball, she ran into the stands and was able to knock the ball back into Marion territory.
“I had audience members underneath me,” she said. “The team feeds off that energy.”
A libero is a background player even when a team wins — they do not deliver crushing hits or artful sets. They do the volleyball dirty work, something Schafers relishes.
“I love being a libero,” she said. “As long as I’m on the court, I’m happy.”
Centre
The Centre High School volleyball team lost all three of its matches Saturday at the Marion Spikefest Tournament.
The Cougars were defeated by Halstead, 11-25 and 9-25, Marion, 14-25 and 20-25, and Sedgwick, 13-25 and 20-25.