Backcourt Ballers: 2028 and 2029 Liberos on our Radar

The libero position continues to evolve, and the graduating classes of 2028 and 2029 are already showing just how impactful elite backcourt play can be. Today’s liberos are no longer defined solely by hustle and toughness. They are organizers, tone-setters, and often the heartbeat of their team’s defense. From controlling serve receive and managing space defensively to stepping in as secondary setters when systems break down, these athletes are asked to do more than ever before.

What stands out most about this group is how advanced many of them are for their age. There is a clear emphasis on fundamentals, posture, footwork, and reading the game, paired with high motors and competitive edge. Whether it’s a rock-solid passer anchoring serve receive, a defender with elite range and instincts, or a glue player who elevates everyone around her, the liberos in the 2028 and 2029 classes are already impacting matches in meaningful ways. And this is only the beginning of their development curve.

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2028s

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Bella Desensi, KiVA - Elite Orange level

Bella is a KiVA-trained libero, and it shows clearly in her fundamentals and overall mechanics. She plays with strong posture and consistently creates clean angles in serve receive, giving her a dependable, repeatable first contact. Her movements are efficient and under control, reflecting a solid technical foundation. She brings a steady, no-drama presence to the backcourt and does a lot of things right without needing to stand out in flashy ways. Bella’s reliability and discipline make her a rock-solid player, the type of libero coaches trust to anchor serve receive and bring stability to the floor at a high level.

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Audrianna Granatelli - Sports Academy - Elite Orange level

Audrianna stands out immediately with the quality of her platform and her technical consistency in serve receive. She does a nice job holding posture and keeping her hips back through contact, which allows her to control the ball and create reliable angles even under pressure. Defensively, she brings a high motor and plays with intent, consistently controlling her digs rather than simply keeping the ball alive. Her ability to put up a quality out-of-system ball adds real value, extending rallies and giving her team a chance to transition. 

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Rachel Nemee - Rage VBC - Elite Orange level

Rachel is an extremely active defender who finds ways to get a touch on a lot of balls through effort and anticipation. She covers ground well and plays with urgency, giving her team extra chances by extending rallies and disrupting attackers. She’s a good athlete with solid length for the libero position, which shows up in her range and ability to make plays outside her immediate area. Her out-of-system ball setting is pretty consistent giving her pin hitters good opportunities to score.

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2029s

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Grace Hengler, Madfrog - Elite Red level

Grace is the definition of a true volleyball player. She impacts the game in every phase and does so at a high level. Passing, digging, setting, hitting, and serving are all parts of her skill set. Her all-around ability gives her coaches flexibility and adds real value. She plays with a relentless motor and a “hair-on-fire” mentality, exactly what you want from a defender setting the tone in the backcourt. Grace is the ultimate glue player, the kind every team needs. Bringing energy, versatility, and consistency while making everyone around her better.

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Ava Cooper, A5 Gwinnett - Elite Red level

Ava stands out for more than just her bright pink shoes. She shows strong defensive instincts and consistently makes good reads, clearly serving as the quarterback of the back row for her team. She takes charge of the defense, communicates well, and leads her teams defensive efforts. In serve receive she brings a clean platform with good touch, allowing her to keep her team in system more often than not. Her combination of leadership, awareness, and ball control makes her a steady and confident backcourt presence, and her ability to direct traffic defensively adds another layer of value to her overall profile.

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Lila Jenson, Alliance - Elite Orange level

Lila immediately stands out with how smooth she is as an athlete. She glides to her spots with very little wasted movement, covering ground efficiently and staying balanced throughout the play. That efficiency, paired with her good size, allows her to expand her range and get to balls many defenders can’t. In serve receive, she shows good footwork and composure, consistently putting herself in strong positions to pass. Her out-of-system setting is particularly impressive, as she delivers hittable balls that give her attackers legitimate scoring opportunities. With her movement quality, range, and secondary setting ability, Lila brings a high-level, well-rounded skill set to the libero position.

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Makinley Ramsey, VCN - Elite Orange level

Makinley is a great example of how an undersized libero can still be highly effective when there are no gaps in the game. She plays with a quick, explosive first step and shows excellent instincts, allowing her to read plays early and get to balls that many defenders can’t reach. Her feisty, competitive nature shows up every rally and fuels her defensive presence. In serve receive, she’s equally impressive, showing quick feet, strong anticipation, and a steady, reliable platform. Servers often look to avoid her, knowing she consistently puts her team in system. Makinley’s combination of speed, awareness, and technical soundness makes her a high-impact backcourt defender despite lacking prototypical size.

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Newly evaluated Liberos we are tracking:

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2028s

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Bella Turcios, Tstreet - Initial PPV 161- Orange level

Bella shows a mature defensive profile for her age, built on excellent balance and control through her lower half. She consistently creates clean angles in serve receive and does a nice job reading the server and hitter, allowing her to arrive early and stay composed through contact. Her movements are efficient and under control, which translates to a high level of passing consistency.

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Carsyn Chitty, Mintonette - Initial PPV 189 - Elite Orange level

Carsyn stands out immediately with the way she moves on the court. She’s an athletic defender with a strong, stable base, allowing her to stay balanced while covering ground efficiently. Her defensive instincts show up most clearly on hard-driven balls, where she does an excellent job cushioning contact and controlling the ball. Physically, she has good size for the libero position, which shows up in her range and ability to take up space in the backcourt.

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Stella Hamood, Circle City - Initial PPV - 168 - Orange level

Stella brings a relentless motor to the backcourt and plays every rally with urgency. She refuses to give up on plays, consistently extending rallies and chasing down balls that many defenders would abandon. Her ability to read the game stands out, particularly in her willingness to cover for teammates when others are late or misread an attacker.That combination of effort, awareness, and control makes her a stabilizing presence defensively.

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2029s

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Stella Smith, Legacy - Initial PPV - 190 -Elite Orange level

Stella shows an advanced level of polish for her age, particularly in serve receive where her posture and footwork are consistently clean. She creates strong passing angles and stays calm through contact, giving her setters a reliable first touch even under pressure. Her discipline and composure stand out, traits that are often seen in older, more experienced liberos. Defensively, she takes care of her responsibilities and plays within system.

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Miranda Ludwick, Elevation - Initial PPV - 164 - Orange level

Miranda brings a calm, steady presence in serve receive, consistently holding her angles and keeping the ball on her platform. Defensively, she plays with discipline, staying outside the block and making solid reads on attackers. Her athleticism and good size give her the ability to cover space effectively and hold her ground in the backcourt. 

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Collins Alonzo, Skyline Jrs - Initial PPV - 170 - Elite Orange level

Collins is a steady, reliable presence in serve receive, showing good touch and a consistent platform that keeps the offense in rhythm. Defensively, she moves smoothly and does a nice job playing low to the ground, allowing her to stay balanced and react cleanly to hard-driven balls. 

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