University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thao and Cackovic Recognized on Big South Conference Preseason Team; Bulldogs Picked Fourth in Preseason Poll
08.19.2025 | Women's Volleyball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The 2025 Big South Conference Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team was announced today (Aug. 19), and Kylie Cackovic has been named to the team, while Michelle Thao has been named the Preseason Co-Libero of the Year. The league also announced its Preseason Poll and the Bulldogs are predicted to finish fourth.
Thao is the first Preseason Libero of the Year in program history, and the first preseason major award honoree for Asheville since Elif Unlu was recognized as Preseason Player of the Year in 2006. Thao transitioned to the libero position for the 2024 season and in the role, she finished fourth in the league in digs with 440, averaging 4.89 a set. Her digs last year in a season puts her at No. 7 in program records for most digs in a season and No. 4 in program records in digs per set. Thao recorded a career-high 38 digs at Gardner-Webb on Nov. 8. Thao led the team with 31 aces and was No. 3 in the Big South with aces.
Cackovic finished last season with a team-high 297 kills. She averaged 3.30 kills per set, and had 16 matches with double-digit kills. She was second on the team with 28 aces, and digs (240).
Cackovic and Thao's preseason honors marks the first time since 2021 that Asheville has had an individual on the preseason all-conference team, and the first year since 2009 that Asheville has had two individuals recognized.
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Avery Jolley, Winthrop, OH/OPP (Preseason Player of the Year)Isabella Murray, Winthrop, S (Preseason Setter of the Year)
Kylie Cackovic, UNC Asheville, OH
Ady O'Grady, USC Upstate, MB
Savannah Page, USC Upstate, RS
Giselle Little, Winthrop, MB
Kamyla Vega David, USC Upstate, S
Michelle Thao, UNC Asheville, LIB (Preseason Co-Libero of the Year)
Sophia Matthews, Winthrop, DS (Preseason Co-Libero of the Year)
2025 BIG SOUTH PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL
T1 High PointT1 Winthrop
3 USC Upstate
4 UNC Asheville
5 Radford
6 Charleston Southern
7 Presbyterian
8 Gardner-Webb
SEASON OPENER
Asheville begins its 2025 season by competing in the Crimson Tide Invitational, facing hosts Alabama, on Friday, Aug. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
To stay updated with Asheville volleyball, follow the team on 𝕩.
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