When you click on the link for the volleyball team on Cornell’s athletics website, there are two discernible figures in the background. The first is a cutout of former setter Amy Gordon '07, and the second is a close-up of current senior Megan Mushovic. This picture was not selected randomly. Mushovic, team co-captain and starting libero for the Red since her rookie season, is not your average athlete.

Like many of the stellar volleyball players that have played for the Red throughout the years, the 5-7 standout hails from southern California — specifically Coronado, a suburb of San Diego. In high school Mushovic was a three-time first-team all-league selection on her volleyball team, and was named team MVP for her final three seasons. While playing for Coronado High, her team brought home two league championships.

Although she excelled at multiple sports, and in fact learned to play soccer before volleyball, Mushovic said that there was something about the sport that just clicked for her. She remembers hanging around the practices of her two older sisters. “I’d shag balls for them because I had nothing else to do,” she said.

Head coach Sarah Bernson might have to send those sisters a thank-you card.

Bernson recruited Mushovic out of high school as Cornell’s first-ever player specifically selected to play at the libero position. As a freshman, Mushovic led the team with 4.6 digs per game — third-most in Ivy play. She also led the team in serving aces that year, and finished the season a second-team All-Ivy selection.

Throughout her career Bernson said recruits looking to play at the libero were sometimes scared away from the program because of her sheer dominance at the position. “People don’t want to play behind her,” Bernson said. And who can blame them?

Last season Mushovic had only her own records to beat. She was selected again to the All-Ivy first team after a 549-dig season and also set a school average in digs per set (5.45).

“[Mushovic] just wants to win,” Bernson said. “She can pass, play defense, she can set and hit. … On the court she’s vocal, she communicates well with her teammates and she’s very present. People know that she’s there and they feel safe.”