Life without volleyball’s versatile defensive player, the libero, surely was interesting.

There was a lot more planning and strategizing when a weaker defensive player had to play in the front row. Teams are allowed only 18 substitutions in a game, but before the libero was introduced in 2005 to Arizona high schools, teams often ran out of substitutions, especially if you ran a two setter rotation.

“Back then there was a lot more stress,” Xavier coach Tim McHale said. “You would have to let your weaker defensive player play all the way through or run out of substitutions.”

What the libero did to Arizona was elevate the role of defensive players and give teams more freedom.

Teams can freely substitute a libero, the only player on a team with a different colored jersey. Teams now worry about other things instead of how many substitutions they have left.

“It (the libero) really adds to the defensive part of the game,” Horizon coach Valorie McKenzie said. “The athletes are so strong now and can hit the ball a ton harder. Having a libero helps and makes it more exciting. You can have your front row players stay up front. It comes down to specialization in volleyball now.”

Fans might see two liberos for each team on the floor and a substitution change in the future.

Club teams already are talking about the use of two liberos on a team. Since the 18 substitutions per-game rule is generous, that rule also might change.

Throughout the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years aia365.com will celebrate the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s 100th anniversary by unveiling 100 of the top moments and people who helped shape the landscape of high school sports in Arizona. If you would like to recommend a story idea for this project, you can e-mail it to me or post it on our Facebook page.