Kate Thibault

Class:
Sophomore
Position:
Libero/DS
Height:
5-4
High School:
Watertown-Mayer
Hometown:
Watertown, Minn.
Prev School:
Oregon
Major:
Sports Management

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS & AWARDS
Academic All-Big Ten (2024)
CSC Academic All-District (2024)

FEATURES
Gopher Spotlight

2024 • SOPHOMORE SEASON:
Played in all 32 matches in her first season at Minnesota, posting 1.79 digs and 0.31 assists per set • tallied seven 10+ dig matches • opened her Gophers career with six digs against No. 5 Stanford and six digs in an upset of No. 1 Texas (Sept. 1 and 2) • tallied 14 digs vs. TCU (Sept. 7) • had one assist and 12 digs vs. Auburn (Sept. 13) • tallied 10 digs in a sweep over Green Bay (Sept. 19) • had one kill and five digs against Chicago State (Sept. 21) • went for eight digs against Wisconsin (Sept. 25) • totaled 13 digs at UCLA (Oct. 4) • went for nine digs at Penn State (Oct. 20) • had 11 digs vs. NU (Oct. 23) • had 11 digs at OSU (Oct. 27) • tallied six total digs in matches at MSU (Nov. 1) and Michigan (Nov. 3) • posted seven digs vs. Washington (Nov. 7) • had nine digs against NU (Nov. 14) • totaled a career-high 16 assists at Wisconsin (Nov. 20) • six digs at Illinois (Nov. 27) • eight digs and three assists vs. OSU (Nov. 29) • went for five digs, three assists in her first NCAA Tournament match vs. WKU (Dec. 5) • had eight digs and four assists at Kentucky (Dec. 6).

PRIOR TO MINNESOTA:
As a rookie, she played in 19 matches for Oregon on a team that finished 29-6 (16-4 Pac-12) and made the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament • the Ducks finished 2023 as the No. 7 ranked team by the AVCA • she averaged 1.34 digs, 0.31 aces and 0.08 assists per set in 2023 • Thibault recorded two 10+ dig matches and established four-or-more digs eight times • she had at least one ace in 10 matches, including seven matches with multiple aces.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB:
At Watertown-Mayer High School, she was one of five finalists for the Ms. Baden Award in 2022, which is given annually to the top senior player in the state of Minnesota • a two-time Class 2A all-state performer, she finished prep career with nearly 2,300 digs, breaking the state digs record as a senior • Thibault averaged 5.59 digs per set during the 2022 campaign and finished the year with 458 total digs, a top-15 mark in the state • she tallied 10+ digs in 26 of 28 matches, including four outings with at least 25 digs • Thibault also led the team with 57 service aces • Thibault was a five-time Wright County All-Conference selection and a two-time MNVBCA All-State honoree • she was a four-time Class AA Showcase All-Tournament honoree and a two-time Journal All-Area selection • in her career, Watertown-Mayer went 105-29 • in 134 matches played, Thibault tallied 297 kills, 14 blocks, 187 aces and 2,263 digs.

PERSONAL:
The daughter of Chris and Rachel Thibault • Kate has two siblings, Drew and Paige • Paige currently plays collegiate volleyball at Auburn University • her mom, Rachel, played in college at Denver University while her dad, Chris, played amateur beach volleyball • she will major in sports management at Minnesota.

WHY MINNESOTA:
"I'm just so stoked to be a Gopher. Being from Minnesota, it was my dream to play for my home state. I'm the most excited to be back in front of the home crowd and most importantly, my family. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today. I am so grateful for this opportunity to finish my career back home!"