Valparaiso senior finds home in new role as libero
Valparaiso senior shifts to libero, says bruises from diving to floor are ‘worth it’
It’s not volleyball’s most glamorous position, but Valparaiso senior Riley Stanley embraces every aspect of playing libero.
“There are moments when you get a great dig or a great pass off of serve-receive and you’re looked past because everyone watches the kill,” she said. “But it feels really good when you’re facing a great hitter and you’re the one who dives and gets the ball up and everyone’s shocked that you were able to get there.”
A product of a volleyball family, Stanley spent the previous two seasons as a setter for the Vikings before switching to libero this season.
Stanley’s mother, Amy, played volleyball at Valparaiso, and her father, Glen, still holds the school record at Kouts for career kill percentage. Although her brother, Dane, opted for other sports, Stanley said there was no shortage of volleyball matches at home, where a net in the backyard became a summer staple.
“I was always surrounded by volleyball,” she said. “It was our favorite thing to do.”
Stanley joined organized volleyball teams in middle school, playing on a local Boys & Girls Club team that included current teammates Megan Gatz and Talyn Watkins.
After one year on the junior varsity team, Stanley made the leap to varsity as a sophomore and led the Vikings in assists with 366 in 2018. After sharing the setter responsibilities with then-freshman Camryn Kreul in 2019, Stanley shifted to libero this season and is second on the Vikings (15-9) with 187 digs.
Coach Katie Lenard said the defensive-minded libero position is a perfect fit for Stanley’s personality.
“Throughout the time she’s been here, she wants to do the defensive stuff,” Lenard said. “She’s always one of the first ones to volunteer for drills and always asking to have the ball hit harder at her.”
Stanley’s combination of physical tools and fearless nature help her flourish in that role. She brushes off any bruises from diving for digs as “battle scars.”
“You just take them because you can look back and know it was worth it,” Stanley said.
Stanley said her focus will be on her speed and agility for the rest of the season, allowing her to cover more ground from her spot in the middle of Valparaiso’s back row.
“I have the whole back line to defend,” she said. “For me, it’s about reading balls that come off the block or the deep tips from setters, reading where they’re going to put the ball so I can get there in time to make the save.”
Future plans: Michigan City senior setter Alexa Sparks committed to St. Francis last week.
Sparks had narrowed her choices to Indiana Tech and St. Francis, both in Fort Wayne.
Continuing her volleyball career was important to her, but Sparks said the ability to pursue a pre-med major — offered at St. Francis but not at Indiana Tech — was the deciding factor.
“It’s going to be a change, but I’m excited to see where it takes me,” Sparks said.
From the polls: Three local teams were featured in the state coaches poll on Monday. Munster was ranked No. 3 in Class 4A, with Crown Point at No. 4. In Class 2A, Andrean was ranked No. 4.