VINCENNES, Ind. – The four-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball program picked up another four-year signee earlier this week as All-Region 24 sophomore setter Libby Mehringer (Jasper, Ind.) signed her letter of intent to play next season at NAIA Oakland City University.
“I liked that Oakland City University was close to home, as well as that the coaching staff seemed like a good fit for me,” Mehringer said. “I met with some of the athletes, who were all very welcoming. My mom also played basketball at OCU and taught and coached there as well. So it felt like the right decision for me to make OCU my home for the rest of my college career.”
“I want to take a moment to talk about Libby’s offensive abilities, over her two years at VU she didn’t really have that many opportunities to attack that much but she was able to hit some both years due to injuries,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “She’s got the ability to fire the ball and put it away and she might get that opportunity at OCU. If they are able to run a six-two offense and give her a chance to hit, they will definitely not be sorry. She’s a left-handed hitter and like in most sports, but definitely volleyball, you just don’t see too many left-handed hitters.”
“She’s always had that hitting ability and when I was watching her in high school before bringing her here, that was one of the things that stood out,” Sien added. “In regards to her as a setter, she really has a good concept of the position. Her mindset and the choices that she makes and delivering the ball with accuracy, have certainly improved in her two years here. She’s got a really good understanding of who to set and where the hot hitter is and where they are at. She understands how to hold the middle blocker and she’s got good vision, she’s able to see the blocker and set away from them. She has all of those ideals and concepts of what a next level setter needs to run the type of offense that we typically have.”
“Even more importantly than her volleyball abilities, Libby has really grown these two years in being a really good teammate,” Sien said. “She has helped our other setters, especially Rylee Edwards. They both share the same major (Physical Therapy Assistant), so she was able to help Rylee on the court and academically. Oakland City is getting someone who is going to be very selfless, a real leader and someone who won’t hesitate to step up. I would like to think that anyone recruiting our athletes would get an exceptional person like that.”
Mehringer spent most of her sophomore seasons as the Trailblazers top setter and number one server.
Mehringer finished the season ranked 17th in the Nation with 829 set assists, while also finishing her sophomore campaign with 286 digs, 114 kills, second in the Nation with 91 aces and 27 blocks.
Mehringer had 20 matches this past season with 20 or more set assists, including six matches of 30 or more assists.
