Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Djamila Grossman Outside hitter turned libero Alanna Resch crouches for a dig during practice yesterday in McKale Center. The 5-foot-9 sophomore played her first game as a libero against Kentucky last weekend, tallying 15 digs.

Her teammates call her "Lonibons," but you can call her diverse.

Arizona volleyball player Alanna Resch was an outside hitter her entire career until last weekend when she was switched to libero in the Regency Suites Classic in Atlanta. The Wildcats won all three of their matches, thanks in part to Resch at her new position.

"It was something that I've been expecting to happen, but I didn't know when," Resch said. "I absolutely love hitting the ball, and I felt like I was getting better at it (as an opposite hitter), but I'm happy with the change."

Resch was given the color-contrasting jersey to play libero and led the team with 3.10 digs per game in the series, including a career-high 15 digs against Kentucky on Friday.

Meanwhile, the two regular liberos, Katie Jackels and Brittany Leonard, played in the tournament as defensive specialists in the back row. Jackels and Leonard replaced outside hitters Tiffany Owens and Brooke Buringrud, respectively, each time the outside hitters rotated to the back row, creating an enhanced defense.

"It's tough when you have to compete with your good friends," said Jackels, who has set three school records in digs this season. "But I feel really comfortable playing next to (Alanna) whether she's libero or anything else. She's someone I love to play with."

The switch came at the same time that the team's two middle blockers, Dominique Lamb and Jacy Norton, traded places as well to set up better shots for

each player.

UA head coach Dave Rubio said he did not move Resch to libero at the beginning of the season because he needed her as a backup on the left side with Whitney Dosty out indefinitely with a knee injury and the freshman Owens still getting a feel for the college game.

With Owens showing why she was a national top-50 recruit in recent weeks, and Dosty anticipated to return soon, Rubio said the modifications on the court were due.

Continued...

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