Feister's defense vital to Titans' success

If high-bounding Jack Wilson represents the air force of Cosby volleyball, Jeremy Feister is the foot soldier.

Flamboyant, airborne outside hitters, like Wilson, typically attract the camera’s lens, college scouts and oohs and ahhs from the crowd.

Liberos, like Feister, settle for skinned knees and, in good times, a nod of approval from the coach.

“Some may not recognize the libero, but I sure do,” said Titans’ coach Frank Jenkins. “Jeremy does the little things, the dirty work … he keeps our engine running.”

Wilson’s to-do list for the regular-season champ Titans is all about ascending over the 8-foot net and swinging his long right arm.

You can’t miss him.

Feister, at lower altitudes, does more digging than an excavation crew.

A libero’s none-too-glamorous job description requires getting down and dirty and “digging” (pass to setter) opponent’s spike attempts, often inches before they strike the floor.

The libero (meaning “free” in Italian) is also the key to service return – no easy assignment when nose-diving missiles are speeding your way.

Feister, the 5-foot-9 senior first-year starter, had 14 digs in Cosby’s Dominion clinching 3-2 victory over defending state champ James River last week.

“The (digs) happen so quick, sometimes you don’t even see who got it,” said Jenkins.

On the season, the “Feister Meister” leads the Titans with 146 digs and could challenge the school mark of 179, set by Kelly Fraser in 2007, if Cosby keeps advancing.

Feister is also tied for second in service aces.

Cosby is competing in the Dominion District tournament this week (finals at Monacan) and has earned a berth in the Central Region quarterfinals next week (at fan-friendly Cosby, where some 600 turned out for the JR shootout.)

The regional finalists advance to states.

Wilson, the 6-foot-6 human pogo stick, is back in the lineup after recovering from a preseason ankle injury.

The enthusiastic high riser will continue spiking next year at George Mason University, the state’s only Division I volleyball-playing school for males.

Wilson has plenty of high help at the net.

Other towering teenagers in Columbia blue and silver are Graham Gresham and Derek Sullivan, both 6-5, and 6-4 Will Newlon.

The libero position is all about defense; in fact, a libero is not allowed to challenge the net for points.

“The libero doesn’t get the credit he deserves,” said Wilson, “and we’ve got the best around.”

Further setting the position apart, a libero wears a different colored jersey (black, in Feister’s case) so officials can keep track.

“I’m just happy to be finally playing and helping the team,” said Feister, a reserve defensive specialist a year ago.

“I really like our chances (of advancing to states) … I’m not a hitter myself but I’m surrounded by big people who are.”

Unlike many of his teammates, Feister does not play off-season club ball. That would conflict with his other sporting passions, snowboarding and deer hunting.

Travel volleyball starts up soon after high school season.

It was a “family thing,” Feister says, that persuaded him to sign up for volleyball.

His mother, Dede Feister, is Cosby JV coach. Before moving here, Dede Feister was girls’ coach at Central Square High near Syracuse, N.Y.

She suggests her son’s baseball background made him a natural for libero.

“Jeremy has always played second base and shortstop,” she said. “The skills that go into fielding those positions are much like playing libero.”

While spectators focus on the air space above the nets, victory would be improbable without the helping hands from floor level.

“Jeremy is our cohesive jell,” says Jenkins.