University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
2025 Women's Volleyball Roster
Roster
OH
/ Women's VolleyballDS/Libero
/ Women's VolleyballDS
/ Women's VolleyballDS/Libero
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballRS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's VolleyballL
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballRS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballDS
/ Women's VolleyballL/DS
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's VolleyballDS
/ Women's VolleyballL/DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballDS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballM
/ Women's VolleyballM
/ Women's VolleyballRS
/ Women's VolleyballM
/ Women's VolleyballS
/ Women's Volleyball
Jersey Number 10
Michelle Thao
- Position:
- Libero
- Height:
- 5-6
- Class:
- Fifth Year
- Hometown:
- Hickory, N.C.
- Major:
- Business
Awards & HighlightsÂ
Big South Conference Co-Libero of the Year (2025)Â
Big South Conference First-Team (2025)
Big South Conference All-Tournament Team (2025)
Big South Conference Libero of the Week (Nov. 17, 2025)
Big South Conference Libero of the Week (Oct. 6, 2025)
Big South Conference Libero of the Week (Sept. 29, 2025)
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Honors (2025)
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Honors (2024)
Co-Libero of the Week (Oct. 14, 2024)
2025 Season (Fifth Year) - Michelle Thao had a standout final collegiate season, as she helped lead the Bulldogs to the team's first Big South Championship Match appearance since 2006...She was named Co-Libero of the Year, the first in program history, and the first player to be recognized for their on-the-court performance with a Big South Major Award since 2000...During the 2025 season, Thao played in all 30 matches and 110 sets, recording 523 digs (4.75 per set), 26 service aces, and an impressive .954 reception percentage across 585 receptions. She reached the 1,000-career-dig milestone on Oct. 17 and earned Big South Libero of the Week honors three times. Thao was also named to the Big South All-Tournament Team.
2024 Season (Senior) - Transitioned to libero in her senior season with Asheville...Thao finished No. 3 in the Big South in aces with 31, averaging .34 a set and No. 4 in digs with 440, averaging 4.89 a set...Had a career-high 38 digs at Gardner-Webb on Nov. 8...Had a career-high nine assists against Radford on Oct. 11...Had a career-high five aces vs. Hampton on Sept. 14...Was named Co-Libero of the Week on Oct. 14.Â
2023 Season (Junior)- In her first season as a Bulldog, Thao played in all 28 matches, making 22 starts...In 85 sets...Thao had 89 kills, a team-high 20 aces and was No. 2 on the team with 205 digs...Had a season-high 10 kills in Asheville's win against USC Upstate (11/11)...Had a season-high 17 digs against Charleston Southern (9/30)...Had a double-double against Charleston Southern (9/30) with 10 kills and 17 digs...Had a double-double against USC Upstate (9/30) with 13 digs and 10 kills.Â
Prior to UNC Asheville- Transferred from Surry Community College after two seasons...In her two years at Surry, Thao played in 52 matches and 169 sets...She recorded 643 kills, averaging 3.80 a set...She recorded 660 digs, averaging 3.91 a set...She played four years of varsity volleyball at Fred T. Foard High School, leading her team to a State Championship as both a junior and senior...Named State Championship Most Valuable Player, both junior and senior seasons...Named as 2A State Player of the Year...Hometown is Hickory, NC, where she was raised by Mai Yang and Thai Thao.
Big South Conference Co-Libero of the Year (2025)Â
Big South Conference First-Team (2025)
Big South Conference All-Tournament Team (2025)
Big South Conference Libero of the Week (Nov. 17, 2025)
Big South Conference Libero of the Week (Oct. 6, 2025)
Big South Conference Libero of the Week (Sept. 29, 2025)
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Honors (2025)
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Honors (2024)
Co-Libero of the Week (Oct. 14, 2024)
2025 Season (Fifth Year) - Michelle Thao had a standout final collegiate season, as she helped lead the Bulldogs to the team's first Big South Championship Match appearance since 2006...She was named Co-Libero of the Year, the first in program history, and the first player to be recognized for their on-the-court performance with a Big South Major Award since 2000...During the 2025 season, Thao played in all 30 matches and 110 sets, recording 523 digs (4.75 per set), 26 service aces, and an impressive .954 reception percentage across 585 receptions. She reached the 1,000-career-dig milestone on Oct. 17 and earned Big South Libero of the Week honors three times. Thao was also named to the Big South All-Tournament Team.
2024 Season (Senior) - Transitioned to libero in her senior season with Asheville...Thao finished No. 3 in the Big South in aces with 31, averaging .34 a set and No. 4 in digs with 440, averaging 4.89 a set...Had a career-high 38 digs at Gardner-Webb on Nov. 8...Had a career-high nine assists against Radford on Oct. 11...Had a career-high five aces vs. Hampton on Sept. 14...Was named Co-Libero of the Week on Oct. 14.Â
2023 Season (Junior)- In her first season as a Bulldog, Thao played in all 28 matches, making 22 starts...In 85 sets...Thao had 89 kills, a team-high 20 aces and was No. 2 on the team with 205 digs...Had a season-high 10 kills in Asheville's win against USC Upstate (11/11)...Had a season-high 17 digs against Charleston Southern (9/30)...Had a double-double against Charleston Southern (9/30) with 10 kills and 17 digs...Had a double-double against USC Upstate (9/30) with 13 digs and 10 kills.Â
Prior to UNC Asheville- Transferred from Surry Community College after two seasons...In her two years at Surry, Thao played in 52 matches and 169 sets...She recorded 643 kills, averaging 3.80 a set...She recorded 660 digs, averaging 3.91 a set...She played four years of varsity volleyball at Fred T. Foard High School, leading her team to a State Championship as both a junior and senior...Named State Championship Most Valuable Player, both junior and senior seasons...Named as 2A State Player of the Year...Hometown is Hickory, NC, where she was raised by Mai Yang and Thai Thao.
Highlights || Volleyball || UNC Asheville vs Gardner-Webb
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Volleyball || UNC Asheville vs Winthrop
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Volleyball || UNC Asheville at Presbyterian
Monday, October 30
Highlights || Volleyball || UNC Asheville at Charleston Southern
Monday, October 30
