Emily Thater: LOVB Omaha’s Rising Force at the Net
League One Volleyball (LOVB) Omaha continues to start the inaugural season with only Ws, securing their second victory with a decisive win over LOVB Madison. They are now the league’s only undefeated team.
“They [LOVB Madison] were a handful. It was a slow start for us, not fully who we’re capable of being, but we found ourselves later. It felt good towards the end,” said LOVB Omaha Head Coach Suzie Fritz.
That steady improvement was evident in their response after dropping the first set 20-25. Omaha changed the course with commanding wins of 25-15 in the final two sets — an impressive scoreline, especially between two highly competitive teams.
Although Omaha didn’t start at their best, they found their rhythm in the second set thanks to standout performances from key players. One was Emily Thater, who stepped up in a big way. Thater delivered an exceptional performance, tallying 12 kills on 25 attempts with no errors and hitting an impressive .480 on the night. To top it off, she contributed a game-high two blocks, an ace, and a dig.
Thater, a middle blocker from Mizzou, is no stranger to rising to the occasion. With a French League title under her belt and two seasons spent with Levallois Paris St. Cloud in France, she’s already proven herself on international stages. In 2024, she was a finalist for Best Middle Blocker in the French Series A, a testament to her dominance at the net.
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Known for her defensive mastery, Thater left Mizzou ranked among the program’s top five in career blocks, block assists, and blocks per set. However, she’s now showcasing a more versatile skill set, proving that she’s an attacking threat as well.
Her evolution as an all-around player fits perfectly with LOVB Omaha’s style of play. As the league leader in good touch percentage, Omaha thrives on staying in system and creating high-quality scoring opportunities, especially for their middle attackers. With Thater excelling on both sides of the ball, she transforms positive block touches into seamless offensive transitions, making Omaha an incredibly tough team to beat.
Omaha’s next challenge is a rematch against LOVB Madison on Friday, January 24, in their first home game of the season. The matchup is expected to draw a massive crowd, as Nebraska’s passion for volleyball continues to set the standard for fan engagement. The match, which will be live on ESPN+, will feature three AU Pro Volleyball players:
LOVB Omaha:
- Emily Thater
- Gabby Blossom
LOVB Madison:
- Temi Thomas-Ailara
Alex Jean Glover is a former collegiate volleyball player and multi-sport reporter, serving as a correspondent for Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram @alexjeannnn.
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