MINE: How Choboy Took the Bro spot and Wouldn't Give it Up

First of all, I have no problem admitting when I am wrong, and Laney Choboy, you proved me wrong, big time.  When DBK took over as HC and the graduation of The Goat, it left a void in the Husker locker room and, most importantly, the Libero Jersey.  Immediately, the chat room battle began, "Who takes Lexi's spot at 'Bro, Laney, or Liv (Mauch)?"  For some reason, I thought from the start it was Mauch's job, no question.

**(Also, I want to state this article is in NO WAY a rip on Mauch, rather my way of giving credit to an athlete I probably haven't given enough to the past two years.)

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Even Friday night, as the Huskers took the court for Match 1 and a raucous Pinnacle Bank Arena, I was still a bit stunned when it was Choboy with the 'bro jersey for the match.   Nebraska went out and did their thing at home as they should, and Laney did hers (play with fire and all over the court), shoving her extremely valuable mates as if they were rag dolls a couple of times following key rallies right in the middle of every big celebration, bringing the energy.  Mauch played her solid match as well, coming in for her rotations and doing her thing quietly and steadily just as Liv Mauch will do night in and night out at a VERY high level (and no, I won't break down stats and haven't looked at whose were better).  Sunday, another packed house, another top 10 opponent, and another Big Red Blowout with Choboy getting to everything and being every bit the energy and effort player she needs to be, Set 1 until Match Point.

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So on the drive home, it started to settle in that DBK has unleashed the thoroughbred, and she has this squad of amazing athletes playing and not looking over their shoulders, and I should probably trust her that she knows what she's doing and figure out WHY CHOBOY? 

1. No Stat Advantage: DBK had her staff stat everything, every day at Louisville, so you know the 'bros were being charted probably since the Kelly Family crossed the Lincoln City Limits last winter.  Now no one sees those except the staff and players, but they were close enough that either Choboy led Mauch or there wasn't a significant enough advantage that said Mauch had to hold down the spot, which some suggested may be the case earlier in the Spring.
2. Choboy Has Shown Confidence: Everyone knows the Libero spot at Nebraska is a recognizable position, and the bro at a Natty-contending team is difficult anyway.  You must be confident and shake off mistakes, right now.  Choboy has shown the confidence in herself to do that and "has been there before".  Mauch has played a smaller role and hasn't been tested in the same ways yet.
3. Choboy EXPECTED to be the Bro: Listen, I think Laney has made it pretty well-known by her play, demeanor, and confidence, etc. that she expected to be the Next Libero of Nebraska Volleyball.  She backed up Lexi Rodriguez for two years, she's put in her time, she is pretty damn talented, and it's her time.  Not in an arrogant or bully type way, but a CONFIDENT way.  A top assistant in the sport told me something about recruting liberos last season.  "listen they have to defend that knarliest serves in the game and they have to sit back and sometimes get touches on 55 mph balls with no protection in front of them vs the best attackers in the world, so yeah we might not always look for choir girls every year to fill the spot."  You can decipher.
4. Did She Go ALL IN: Everyone knows that Choboy is a huge social media star and that takes time to be famous.  One thing I openly questioned last Spring was that DBK wouldn't play a libero that she didn't have complete trust in.  That is simply from my study and knowledge of her from her Louisville program, and talking with people about her relationship with All-American Elena Scott (the early years).   Also I do not know Laney at all so I don't know her VB Prep the last two years, but if she is all-in to be locked in with DBK and have her court nastiness and fire and effort (and ability to take certain other Huskers up a notch) then this job was bound to be hers because she is a Top 2 libero in the NCAA at 100%.
5. This JOB IS MINE: I truly just feel like she attacked this off-season with the attitude of "I'm the libero you are going to have to come and take the job and jersey from and tell me I'm not". Where I think Mauch may have been more of a "I'll do whatever you need me to do for the team". In the end, you're the coach and captains for a HUNGRY TEAM that is #1 in the country, and you need to win it all.  What attitude do you want back there?  Now I also have zero clue what the plan is for the position, and I could be dead wrong, and maybe they are splitting matches like the Opposite and L2?  However, I still see that leadership and swagger from Choboy in a positive, "Hop on, ladies, nothing is stopping us this year" kind of way that convinced even me to become a fan.

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No matter where she plays, Laney Choboy has that mentality that SHE IS NEBRASKA's LIBERO, and as the Captain of that back row, she takes it personally to have that jersey on, she's worked a long dang time for it.