Kate Thibault is a Gopher

[Bigk]

Does anyone have insight on just how good of a libero she is? Will she start from day one?

 

[dlw4gophers]

I don't know much, but her stats from last year lead me to think she was one of two DS for Oregon. She was a top 5 finalist for the top Minnesota HS player two years ago. Looks like a good PU. Defiantly a position of need.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Minnesota Gophers volleyball adds Kate Thibault from Oregon

Kate Thibault, the former Watertown-Mayer standout, will provide immediate depth in the back row for the Gophers alongside sophomore Zeynep Palabiyik.

www.startribune.com

Thibault, who played for Watertown-Mayer, was considered the best libero prospect in Minnesota for the Class of 2023 and spent her freshman season at Oregon playing sparingly behind Georgia Murphy, an honorable mention All-America.

Her arrival at the U will provide immediate relief at a position of need. The Gophers are coming off a resurgent spring filled with optimism, but there have been signs that the roster might be slightly thin in a few areas.

For instance, when they played Illinois on April 20, the Gophers were down starting libero Zeynep Palabiyik and backup Skylar Gray, so Lauren Crowl — the 6-4 redshirt junior opposite coming off major surgery — suited up as the defensive specialist.

 

[Hoolio]

I saw her play in high school. She's talented. With Zeynep Palabiak she gives the Gophs 2 solid back row players. This is a nice addition.