November 29, 2008 — Area boys volleyball coaches were asked at the conclusion of the 2007 season if a libero could warrant player of the year consideration. The overwhelming response was no.

“They can’t score points,” many answered.

“They are limited in how they can contribute,” others responded.

Well, according to Penn State-Behrend women’s volleyball coach Phil Pisano, the libero is one of the two most important positions in volleyball.

And if that player just so happens to be the best player then “that is what matters,” he said. “I don’t see any reason why a libero should be disqualified from being considered or winning (player of the year honors) based on her position.”

Several area girls volleyball coaches agreed. Of course, few could argue that the best player in the Meadville Tribune coverage area this year was in fact a libero. So without further ado, this year’s Meadville Tribune Girls Volleyball Player of the Year is Cochranton senior libero Katy Sheehan.

“What an honor,” Cochranton head coach Marci Malliard said. “She’s definitely deserving. Very deserving.”

Sheehan was the glue that held everything together for the Cardinals this season as they captured their fifth region title in as many years. Not only did Sheehan showcase outstanding skills at her position, she also stepped into the role of a leader following the graduation of seven seniors.

But it’s her play on the court that earns her the most praise. Few can put a ball past Sheehan regardless of whether they are pounding away at her or trying to avoid her with a tip at the net.

She always seems to find herself in the right place at the right time.

“She is all over the place,” Saegertown coach Amanda Scott said. “She reads the hitter and is in the right place 99 percent of the time. And she doesn’t just get to it and make a play, she passes the ball on the money almost every time.”

That allows the Cardinals to run their offense at will. After all, a good pass leads to a good set, which leads to a good attack.

It can be quite frustrating for the opposition.

“You try to tip the ball away from her, but she always seemed to be there,” Scott said. “How is that possible?

“Without her … Wow.”

“She’s a hustler,” Cambridge Springs coach Rob Schmidt said. “She’s always flying around to get the ball. She’s the epitome of a libero. She’s a valuable member of that team.”

For Sheehan, it all comes from the heart.

“You want to have the ball,” she said. “That’s what the key to defense is. You have to have the desire to not let the ball hit the floor. Any person can be a great defensive player, if they just have the heart to want to do that.”

But can they be as good as Sheehan? In 20 years of coaching, Malliard has never seen one better.

“I’ve never had anyone or seen anyone play defense the way she plays,” Malliard said. “She just plays with instinct. And that’s how you have to play. She’s there before it happens.”

Sheehan attributes her drive and determination for her success.

“I have a lot of drive,” said Sheehan, who played hockey in fourth, fifth and sixth grades. “I’m not really afraid of anything really. I mean I have fears … spiders. But not in sports so much.

“I did quit hockey because of the boys getting bigger and checking me, but other than that I’m not really afraid of anything.”

For Pisano, that is one of the traits he looks for when recruiting a libero. He looks for a player with confidence. He also looks for a player with a take charge attitude, a high level of energy and hustle and a good vocal communicator, all traits owned by Sheehan.

“One of the questions I always ask when I think about player of the year is how would their team survive without them on the floor,” Maplewood coach Sheila Bancroft said. “(Sheehan) was a team leader. She was the glue that held that team together.”

And she did all of that as a libero.

“I believe the setter and libero are probably the two most important positions, because those players potentially touch the ball more than any others,” Pisano said. “I think it is very hard to win if either of the players you have at those positions do not perform well.

“On the other hand, I think if you have one hitter who isn’t having a great night, you can still find a way to win. At least on my teams, though, it is awfully hard for us to win if our setter or libero play poorly.”

That isn’t something Cochranton had to worry about this season and that’s thanks to Sheehan.

Sheehan, who said she is not sure of her collegiate plans, finished the season with 459 digs and 36 service aces.