Memorable Moments #8 -- Birth of the Wolverine Libero
7/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
#8 - THE BIRTH OF THE WOLVERINE LIBERO
Selsky Becomes Michigan's Libero in Comeback Win (November 6, 2004)
Michigan found itself near the end of the 2004 regular season, on the road in West Lafayette, Ind., and needing a big win over Purdue to build a case for inclusion in the NCAA Tournament field. But trailing 2-0 (22-30, 21-30) to Purdue with nothing going right, a long plane ride home appeared to be in the Wolverines' future.
"We were down and nothing was going right," reminisced head coach Mark Rosen. "The crowd was against us, we lost all the big points, and nothing seemed to be clicking. Then our libero gets hurt right before we go into the locker room."
Michigan jogged back to its locker room trailing two games to none with fifth-year senior libero Sarah Allen out for the match with a knee injury. Allen collided with a teammate at the end of game two, crumpling to the ground in pain with what turned out to be a career-ending injury.
The team looked to freshman defensive specialist Stesha Selsky to assume the libero jersey. Selsky had seen action in every match through the season and was among the top three on the team in digs, but the freshman had never been asked to play the role of libero before. The switch proved to be a pivotal one for U-M, and the Wolverines' most prolific digger showed the nation what she was capable of.
"I don't know that I've ever seen one person change a match as dramatically," Rosen reflected. "We came out of the locker room and the match changed. Purdue's coaches looked shell shocked. They had it in the bag and we took over."
Selsky averaged five digs a game over the last three games, finishing with a then career-best 24, while freeing up Michigan's outside hitters to punish Purdue with kill after kill. Fellow freshman Katie Bruzdzinski was one beneficiary, nailing her then career-best 23 kills.
Michigan took game three, 30-25, thanks to a resurgent offensive effort from senior outside hitter Jennifer Gandolph, who led the way with six kills and the dominating defense of Selsky. Selsky's defense allowed Michigan's attackers to take more liberties, knowing that their elastic libero would cover their tracks.
The Wolverines won game four handily, 30-19, and then eked out the fifth and deciding game, 15-13, clinching the match on a Bruzdzinski ace.
Selsky's defense turned on Michigan's attack down the stretch and allowed the Wolverines to power through the rest of the regular season and into the NCAA Tournament, where U-M advanced to the second round for the fourth time in six years.
Selsky started at libero for the next 37 matches until she assumed the starting setter position her junior season. She went on to break the single-season digs record in her sophomore season, recording the ninth-most digs in Big Ten volleyball history.
"So much of that win can be attributed to Stesha," reminisced Rosen. "I remember their coaches coming up to me after the match and asking me 'Who IS that kid'"
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