Claire Weathers weathers all competition to be Benet’s libero. Even in practice. ‘Every day she’s shown why.’

Benet junior Claire Weathers knew the Redwings had a huge hole to fill at libero following the graduation of four-year starter Aniya Warren.

But Weathers was ready to take on the mantle.

“It’s definitely an honor playing in her place,” she said. “She’s someone I’ve looked up to in the three years I’ve been here, and she’s just such a good role model.

“I’ve learned so much just from watching her and training in the same gym with her for the past two years.”

Warren, a freshman at Wisconsin, was the nation’s top-ranked libero last season. The three-time all-state pick and two-time Naperville Sun player of the year backstopped the Redwings to three consecutive Class 4A state runner-up finishes.

Weathers was an avid understudy the past two seasons.

“She would occasionally come over to the JV court and just cheer me on,” Weathers said. “She was such a good hype woman and would just always cheer for the passes.

“She was a great passer, so that’s definitely something that she would trickle down to me.”

If the 5-foot-9 Weathers had any trepidation about following in Warren’s footsteps, she didn’t show it. Benet has a long tradition of outstanding liberos, including Natalie Canulli, Sheila Doyle, Tiffany Clark, Hattie Monson and Warren.

The opportunity to add to that lineage is both privilege and pressure.

“I think it’s hard to take someone’s jersey like that, but she’s done it with nothing but humility and grace,” Benet senior setter Ellie Stiernagle said of Weathers. “Every day she’s shown why she should be libero and how hard she works.

“Every day she’s in the gym, she’s trying the hardest on the team. She’s the rock for the back row right now, so I think she’s been just amazing.”

Indeed, the Redwings (21-2) have continued to flourish with Weathers wearing the libero jersey, which is constantly up for grabs. Benet’s roster includes five other liberos, including seniors Abby Lee and Erin Johnson, who are contributing as defensive specialists. Weathers has 168 digs and 26 aces, both team highs.

“We compete a lot, whether it’s defense, whether it’s serve-receive, and she’s won those competitions,” Benet coach Brad Baker said. “We put pressure on you in the gym on a daily basis to win.

“You have to be the best at serve-receive, to be the best at defense, and if you dominate in our gym, you get to wear that jersey. She’s been the best.”

Weathers’ rise is impressive for a first-year varsity player in a program that is stacked with Division I talent and has high expectations.

“She’s one of the new pieces, and she continues to feel more comfortable with playing with all of the girls and taking more responsibility as a libero,” Baker said. “We hope she continues.”

Weathers has endeared herself to Stiernagle, a Northwestern commit, and hitters like senior Brooklynne Brass, a Maryland recruit.

“You can’t play volleyball without having a good, steady serve-receive, so she brings a lot of consistency to the back row,” Stiernagle said. “If she wasn’t able to do that, I don’t think she’d be able to play.

“She’s just a big energizer. She cheers us on every time, and she’s really confident.”

Weathers demonstrated that during Benet’s 25-11, 25-16 win over Downers Grove North in the championship match of the Wheaton Classic on Sept. 20 at Wheaton Warrenville South. She had eight service points with four of the Redwings’ 12 aces.

“Consistency is something I strive toward, and that’s something I’ve worked very hard to achieve over the years,” Weathers said. “So once I get my rhythm, I tend to do very well.

“My best strengths are definitely my serve-receive and my defense. I try to bring that on the court every day. It’s just nice being surrounded by other amazing passers and defenders that make me feel like I belong here.”

Brass said it’s nice having such a reliable defender who can get the offense humming.

“She’s a really good controller in the back row,” Brass said. “I feel like she’s digging all the balls that come her way and really making it easy on the hitters.

“She’s doing a really good job with her passing. I always try to encourage her because she’s a really great player.”

Time will tell whether Weathers joins the pantheon of great Benet liberos, but that is her goal.

“Yes, that’s definitely something I work toward,” she said. “I just work toward getting better every day, and I’m confident in myself. I think we can lead this team back to state.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.