The role of libero on a volleyball roster isn’t always glamorous. The defensive specialist doesn’t often command the headlines or get the spotlight, but their play is critical to a team’s success. An in-system attack often begins with a reliable pass from the libero, and the rest flows from there.
Over the last three years, Manitoba’s defensive stability has come from Josh Jehle. The Team Canada U21 selection has calmly and confidently led at the libero position, amassing 481 career digs entering this weekend.
Only 15 other Bisons in the rally scoring era have recorded over 500 digs as a Bison, putting Jehle in elite company. But the mature, even-keeled veteran from St. Andrews, Manitoba doesn’t play for the stats. It’s all about the joy of the game for the former provincial champ.
“I just find it fun,” he said.
“It’s fun to compete, it’s fun to play. I like the athleticism that’s a part of the game. That’s always been a fun part. Having the right guys around you makes a big difference.”
Last season, Jehle’s 222 digs were second in the nation, and also a career high. For obvious reasons, teams have tried to avoid the fearless play-maker on the attack, but when his number’s been called, Jehle’s been up to the task to the tune of 135 digs this year, fourth in Canada West.
Against UBC Okanagan on January 18, Manitoba’s libero recorded a career-high 20 digs, just one week after posting the rally of his life in a massive W against Trinity Western.
In the latter, Jehle sprawled all over the floor, keeping the ball alive on two separate roll shots by extending his right hand at the perfect time. The Bisons eventually won the rally, on set point, for a 3-0 win over the Spartans.
“Especially as a libero, you have to leave it all out there. I know I try to work as hard as I can every day in practice, and lead by example, whether it’s running down a ball you know you’re not going to get, showing the guys you’re willing to do whatever it takes,” emphasized Jehle of his effort at the end of the TWU match.
“I wasn’t really thinking that much. I thought back to it after I saw the videos and stuff, and trying to remember what I was thinking in that situation. I was just playing honestly. It sounds cliché, but it’s true. I was kind of just in the moment, reading the play and going with my gut. It looked like they were going to tip, so I ran in and sure enough, I was right.”
The ‘Zoons win over Trinity marked the second of back-to-back 3-0 wins over their opponent, the first time doing so in over two decades. It was also the first career 6-0 sweep for Manitoba’s leadership core.
The victory put the Bisons firmly in a playoff position, and they’re currently in a play-in hosting spot at 7-11.
“That last play was another example of going for it even if you don’t know if you’re going to get it or not, you have to try,” added Jehle.
“I think a lot of the guys are doing that as well, which is great. It really shows everyone that we’re here, we’re ready to battle. That’s what it’s going to take to win, especially in the playoffs.
Jehle’s efforts are a microcosm of how the Bisons have played all season. No matter the score, they’ve stayed in the fight, blending their top-ranked service pressure with exceptional blocking and defensive and offensive prowess.
Manitoba has shut out four different opponents this season, and their 163 service aces lead the nation, while their 153 total blocks rank third.
Even when they’ve been down, the Bisons have kept battling. Against No. 2 nationally ranked Winnipeg last Thursday, the Herd fought back from two sets down to take the match to five.
Jehle recorded 15 digs in the contest, and Manitoba – whose veteran roster includes ten players with at least three years of U SPORTS experience – had 40 digs overall.
The game was a reminder that when the Bisons are playing free and with confidence, they can beat anyone.
They were the only team to win a set over national champion Alberta in the conference playoffs last year, and their post-season experience will be a huge asset in the coming weeks, with just two weekends of regular season play remaining.
“We all know how we can play when we’re at our best. We had some good discussions in the huddle between the second and third se [against Winnipeg], and fired each other up. We put our heads down and were ready to work in the third and fourth set, playing the way we know we can. I think that helped boost the guys up a little more,” Jehle said.
“I know I feel more experienced on the court. When it’s tight I don’t feel as nervous as I would’ve in my first year or my second year. I think a lot of the guys are finding that too, and realizing that if you’re down by two or three points, it’s not the end of the world. You can come back and battle back and stay calm and work through those times in the games.”
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