Sept. 11, 2006

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - If not for a rule change six years ago, the collegiate volleyball career of Western Washington University volleyball player Courtney Schneider might be very different.

As it is, early in her junior campaign, Schneider is nearing the school's career record for digs after already setting marks in that category for a match and season.

In 2001, the libero position was introduced to college volleyball. It was intended to keep a player who specialized in back-row defense and serve reception on the floor longer, instead of splitting time with a front-row player.

"It made it so that rather than just being in for just three rotations as a back-row specialist, a player could now be on the floor nearly all the time," said Western coach Diane Flick.

Schneider, a 5-foot-9 graduate of Snohomish High School, has made the most of the opportunity. She enters this week's play with a three-year total of 1,396 digs, and needs 40 more to break the school record of 1.435 set by Nicola Parker from 2000-03.

"Coming in, I didn't even know what the record was, didn't even think I would even come close, I was just playing," said Schneider. "When I break a record, usually I have no idea, I'm just playing the game."

Last year, Schneider established school and league marks for digs in a season with 646, and her 6.59 per game average ranked fourth nationally in NCAA Division II. And she had a school-record 46 digs in a match against Central Washington.

That earned her third-team Daktronics, Inc., and honorable mention American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America recognition as well as first-team Daktronics Pacific Region and Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-star honors.

But when she first arrived at Western, Schneider wasn't sure what position she was going to play.

"I had played (libero) in club volleyball, but not in high school," she said. "I knew that at the college level it gets more competitive, and I didn't think that I would get too much playing time in the front row. So, whenever I got a chance to play in the back, I really worked hard at that position."

That first season, Schneider was named GNAC Freshman of the Year, leading the league in digs with 532, even though she spent almost half the season rotation out as a defensive specialist.

What does Schneider think makes her what Flick terms "the prototype libero."

"It's a lot of hard work and effort because you're on the floor as much as you are on your feet," Schneider said. "You're the last line of defense. You have to be quick, not necessarily fast because I'm not, and anticipate well. I think that's my biggest advantage, being able to read the hitters and make adjustments."

Flick agrees, saying, "Courtney is great at reading situations so her range doesn't have to be the entire court, plus she has a very good first step.

"But what makes Courtney so good is that she doesn't know she is good. That mentality keeps her driven to get better with each opportunity because she is not satisfied. And, she is as competitive as they come." With no seniors on this year's team, Schneider is being counted on for leadership as one of the team's "veterans".

"My role has changed," she said. "Instead of learning and looking for help from upperclassmen, I'm now looked upon to teach and mentor. It's a lot more responsibility, but it has helped me because I have to pay more attention to the game and details so that I can relay that information. So, I'm learning a lot and improving just having to help my teammates."