September 30, 2025

Michelle Thao Named Libero of the Week

Asheville, September 30, 2025

News Summary

Michelle Thao from Asheville’s volleyball team has been honored as Libero of the Week in the Big South Conference for her outstanding performance against USC Upstate. During the match, Thao led with 29 digs and achieved eight assists, helping Asheville secure a tough five-set victory. This recognition marks her second career Libero of the Week award, showcasing her significant contributions to the team’s defense this season. The Bulldogs are set to face Charleston Southern and Presbyterian in their upcoming matches.

Asheville

Michelle Thao has been named Libero of the Week in the Big South Conference, following her exceptional performance during Asheville’s conference opener against USC Upstate. The announcement was made on September 29, 2025.

In the match against USC Upstate, Thao showcased her defensive skills by leading Asheville’s back row with 29 digs. Additionally, she recorded a season-high of eight assists, contributing significantly to the team’s overall performance. Asheville secured a hard-fought victory over USC Upstate, winning the match in five sets, with the Bulldogs achieving 11 aces compared to Upstate’s two.

Thao’s 29 digs in the match mark her second-most in a match this season and represent her fifth overall 20-dig performance of the year. This achievement has placed her currently at No. 3 in the league, with a total of 223 digs and an average of 4.55 digs per set this season. This award marks Thao’s second career Libero of the Week honor, as she has not received this accolade prior to this season.

The Bulldogs will have their next matches against Charleston Southern on October 3 at 6 p.m. and against Presbyterian on October 4 at 2 p.m.. Both matches will take place at the Justice Center in Asheville.

Asheville’s volleyball team has emphasized engagement and updates through their social media presence on 𝕩. The match against USC Upstate was part of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry. As it stands, USC Upstate currently leads the rivalry with a 3-0 record for the 2025-26 season. Historically, the Bulldogs have a 13-12 Division I record against the Spartans.

Prior to the Big South opener, Asheville experienced a challenging 0-2 weekend, despite a standout performance from Ana Djurovic, who recorded a career-high of 17 kills and 18 digs against North Carolina A&T. This season, Asheville’s volleyball team has tallied a total of 120 blocks, leading the league in this statistic.