VU Volleyball adds Jasper setter Libby Mehringer to 2023 recruiting class

VINCENNES, Ind. – The two-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University Volleyball team picked up their second member of the 2023 recruiting class in preferred walk-on Libby Mehringer.

Mehringer is a five-foot 10 setter from Jasper High School and joins Metro Club Teammate Dylan DeCoursey in the Trailblazer recruiting class.

Before being forced to sit out her senior season with an injury, Mehringer led the Wildcats to a 21-12 record her junior year.

In 92 sets played as a junior, Mehringer ended the season with 481 set assists, 228 digs, 205 kills, 46 aces and 32 blocks.

Mehringer was a four-year member of the varsity volleyball team at Jasper and was named second team All-Southern Indiana Athletic Conference (SIAC) and won her team's Setting Award and Serving Award as a Junior.

Before her senior year, Mehringer was listed on the 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American watchlist.

Mehringer also received the Amanda Rees Heart of a Champion Award from her team after her senior season.

"Libby has put in a lot of time and effort to become the player and leader she is today," Jasper HS Volleyball Coach Jennifer Hohl said. "She has dedicated many hours to honing her skills for a sport she dearly loves. She was a vital part of our team's success and I look forward to seeing her succeed at the next level.

"Out of the three setters that we had last year we are only bringing back one," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "So we have signed Dylan DeCoursey already and now add Libby. Libby is a good friend and club teammate of Dylan's, so they have played together for some time now."

"Libby is another setter who can potentially play front row for us," Sien added. "And she's a lefty, so that's another thing that I like about her. She is a pretty experienced setter, she gives us some good size on the front row if we need it. She is just a nice all-around player that can also set and play defense too. Those are the things we typically look for in a setter. Dylan, Maecy Johnson who is returning as well as Hannah Graber and Joie Mulligan, that's the type of setter we like to get."

"She should get a chance to compete for some playing time next year," Sien said. "We are bringing back a lot of offense and still looking to add to it. More than likely we will use a 6 – 2, two setter offense so we will need a second setter. But the nice thing we had last year with three setters was we had that backup incase of injuries and Maecy was able to step in a few times and we didn't miss a beat on offense."

Libby is the daughter of Kurt and Jessica Mehringer and plans to be a member of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Vincennes University.

"As I always say, our goal every year is to recruit high level players," Sien said. "That way all of our players are competing for playing time. Even if you are returning from last year, you start all over and have to work to get that playing time. When we start back up in August, everybody starts back at square one and its open competition for playing time. So the returning players are going to have to look at it that way and they need to work hard because nothing is going to be guaranteed."

"We are still looking to add some more offense and round out some more hitters for next year," Sien added. "But the players we have so far that have committed are a nice group of setters and back row players. This class is starting to shape up a little bit. We are being a little more deliberate in recruiting our next set of hitters. We are just looking at who we can bring in and see what we can bring in to build upon what we have returning. The good thing about having so many returners this year is that we are able to do that. There are times when we have a lot of holes to fill our schedule for recruiting is really accelerated. But really, for us, we are looking for just a few more."

"We always want this next class to be better than the previous class," Sien said. "That's a challenge because last year was a pretty good class. But if we want to do more and go further in our season that has to be the case and everybody has to understand that. No one should be settled on anything right now."

The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to welcome Libby Mehringer to the 2023 recruiting class and wish her well as she finishes her senior year of high school this spring.