College volleyball has been changed forever thanks to a newly named position with new rules.

The position that used to be called the defensive specialist was changed to the libero in 2002.

The word “libero” is an Italian word meaning “free.”

“The libero is basically just a free substitution,” NIU coach Ray Gooden said. “They don’t get counted as subs. The libero can go in and out for multiple people.”

Gooden said the libero usually subs in for a middle blocker because the libero can’t serve. When a middle blocker goes from the back row to the front row, it means someone else has to serve, usually a middle blocker.

Along with not being able to serve, there are other rules a libero has to follow.

They cannot attack the ball or set the ball in front of the 10-foot line.

The defensive specialist used to be able to do what all the other position players could do; no guidelines existed.

Not only did the defensive specialist position get changed; but the jersey also got a new look.

It always is easy to find the libero on the floor, mainly because the libero wears a different-colored jersey than the rest of the team.

Freshman Gina Guide plays the libero for NIU. She said the change of rules wasn’t hard to get used to, but there was one thing people always notice.

“They always ask me why I wear a different-colored jersey than everyone else,” Guide said. “I think that I have to step up more and do my job with the jersey on.”

Gooden said a future rule change may allow the libero to serve. He said the change would benefit the Huskies because all of their potential liberos are good servers.

Being a libero, Guide does miss one thing.

“With the rule change, I can’t serve, and I like serving,” Guide said.