In college volleyball, it’s the big hard hitters or big passers that get the most attention.
But some coaches can see potential in all sizes, and they saw it in Olivia Mauch, a future junior at Bennington who is 5-foot-6 and plays the libero.
Nebraska did. Mauch announced his commitment to the Huskers on Wednesday after telling coaches earlier in the week.
June 15 was the first day college coaches were able to issue recruiting calls for players in the Class of 2024.
Shannon Smolinski, performance director of the Premier club’s volleyball program in Omaha, knew what awaited Mauch. She had already heard some college coaches identify Mauch as the only Libero they were interested in for this class.
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“We knew it was going to be a busy day for her, so we told her to turn off her phone at 12:00 a.m. because you’ll have coaches contacting you at 12:01 a.m.,” Smolinski said. “We try to tell our kids to put your phone on silent and go to sleep, then wake up and get your calls.”
Around 70 schools have contacted Mauch – emails, text messages, social media. His other finalists were Creighton and Pittsburgh.
Last summer, Mauch attended Nebraska’s Dream Team camp, where she got to play with some of Nebraska’s current players and other rookies.
Buzz around his recruiting stock had increased during the club circuit last winter. Still, Mauch was a bit surprised that Nebraska had reached out on the first possible day and offered her a spot on the team.
“I didn’t expect it, so I enjoyed it,” Mauch said.
Barely a week into this recruiting cycle, Nebraska already has two commitments. Mauch follows a commitment last weekend from Skyler Pierce, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Lenexa, Kansas, who is the No. 1 rookie in the nation according to Prep Dig.
Mauch is the No. 48 rookie in the class by Prepvolleyball.com and the No. 3 in his position. Of the 20 players chosen to make the United States Junior National Team later this summer, Mauch is one of only two Liberos.
Mauch plays in an age group at Premier, playing on a team that already has several NCAA Division I rookies.
Sometimes in high school, a player is good at ground defense or serving-receiving. Mauch does both at a high level.
“It’s very similar to your Justine Wong-Orantes or Lexi Rodriguez,” Smolinski said of the former and current Husker Libero. “There’s just this touch they have on the ball, and once you see that you kind of put yourself in a different category. And that’s (Olivia).
Mauch has been Bennington’s starting libero since his freshman year.
She’s only 5-6, so playing defense is her ticket to top-flight college volleyball. But she loves it.
“I love the feeling when you dig a big hitter, and I love hearing the reaction from the crowd,” she said.
Mauch also plays beach volleyball, which helps him develop his skills. She’s been around volleyball all her life.
“I grew up watching my cousins play,” Mauch said. “I went to my first volleyball game when I was 2 days old (for his cousin). My parents were playing coed, so we were always in the gym watching. I started doing camps when I was 5 and wanted to play club but my mum told me I couldn’t try club until I could serve the ball over the line so I ended up by making my first club team when I was 7. And then I couldn’t stay out of the gym.
Photos: Nebraska volleyball officially opens 2022 season with spring game at Grand Island

Nebraska players celebrate after a penalty kill against Kansas during a spring exhibition game on April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska’s Madi Kubik tries to block a hit from Kansas’ Rachel Langs during a spring exhibition game April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

The Huskers line up for the national anthem before a spring exhibition game against Kansas on April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska players watch a highlight reel on the video board before a spring exhibition game against Kansas on April 23, 2022, at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska assistant coach Kelly Hunter leads a warm-up drill before the Huskers face Kansas in a spring exhibition game April 23, 2022, at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Kansas celebrates after scoring a point against Nebraska in a spring exhibition game on April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska’s Nicklin Hames kicks the ball during a spring exhibition game against Kansas on April 23, 2022, at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska assistant coaches Jaylen Reyes (left) and Kelly Hunter help with drills before a spring exhibition game April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez passes the ball during a spring exhibition game against Kansas on April 23, 2022, at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Fans enter the Heartland Events Center before Nebraska plays Kansas in a spring exhibition game on April 23, 2022 in Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska defensive specialist Keonilei Akana dives for a short Kansas serve during a spring exhibition game April 23, 2022, at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

The Huskers celebrate during a spring exhibition game against Kansas on April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska freshman outside forward Hayden Kubik (center) celebrates with teammates after saving the deciding game in a spring exhibition game against Kansas on April 23, 2022, at the Heartland Events Center of Grand Island. The Huskers won 3-1.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska’s Madi Kubik (right) celebrates after recording a kill against Kansas during a spring exhibition game April 23, 2022, at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska’s Madi Kubik hits the ball over the net during a spring exhibition game against Kansas on April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes shouts instructions to players during a spring exhibition game against Kansas on April 23, 2022, at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska’s Madi Kubik kicks the ball over Kansas’ Gracie Van Driel during a spring exhibition game April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Nebraska’s Whitney Lauenstein kicks the ball against Kansas’ Karli Schmidt (left) during a spring exhibition game April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star

Callie Schwarzenbach hits the ball against Kansas in a spring exhibition game against Kansas at Grand Island. Schwarzenbach will play for Long Beach State next season, but she helped the Huskers with depth in that April 23, 2022 scrimmage.
KENNETH FERRIERA Star Diary

Nebraska’s Kenzie Knuckles hits the ball against Kansas’ Lauren Dooley (second from left) and Anezka Szabo during a spring exhibition game April 23, 2022 at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA Star Diary

Fans watch the first set of an April 23, 2022 spring exhibition game between Nebraska and Kansas at the Heartland Events Center on Grand Island.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
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