What is the role of the libero in a volleyball match?

The libero plays a crucial role in a volleyball match by specializing in defensive skills and receiving serves. This position is designed to enhance the team's defensive capabilities, allowing for more skilled ball-handling and reception of serves. Liberos are typically very agile and quick, focusing on digging and passing, which are key elements in maintaining the team's defense. They wear a different color jersey to easily identify themselves and have specific rules governing their participation; for instance, they cannot attack the ball above the net height.

This specialization enables teams to maximize their defensive play, as liberating one player from front-row responsibilities allows the coach to substitute them in and out without using a regular substitution, keeping the offensive and defensive strategies flexible.