Casual viewers of women’s volleyball often ask why a single player on each team wears a jersey that doesn’t match their teammates.

This player is called the “libero” and they are,  for the most part, restricted to defensive play and not allowed on the front line.

The NCAA introduced this concept in 2002 and modified it slightly in 2004 to allow the libero to serve the ball, but only in a specific rotation.

Only one person can be the libero per set in a match, but that person can change at the beginning of every set.

The libero is normally thought to be the best defensive player on a team.