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Emily Thater

Emily Thater

Middle Blocker

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Athlete background

Meet Emily

A Springfield, Missouri, native, Emily attended the University of Missouri after securing the 36th spot on PrepVolleyball.com's Senior Ace list. During her time with the Tigers in the SEC, she established herself as one of the program's most consistent and effective middle blockers. By her final year, Emily solidified her place in Mizzou's history, ranking in the top five for block assists, blocks per set, and solo blocks. She also became only the fourth Tiger to surpass 400 career total blocks. Following her collegiate success, Emily spent seven seasons playing professionally in Germany and France. In 2023-24 she emerged as one of the top middle blockers in the LAF, contributed to a CEV semifinal appearance, and clinched a French League title.

Hometown

Springfield, MO

HomeClub

Springfield Juniors

College

University of Missouri

Position

Middle Blocker

Highlight

French Ligue A Champion

Highlights

13:07Condensed Match | LOVB Houston at LOVB Omaha | March 22, 2025

Condensed Match | LOVB Houston at LOVB Omaha | March 22, 2025

Mar 22, 2025

10:58LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 22, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 22, 2025

Mar 22, 2025

6:02Athlete Highlight | Kimberly Drewniok, March 22 vs. LOVB Houston

Athlete Highlight | Kimberly Drewniok, March 22 vs. LOVB Houston

Mar 22, 2025

10:52LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 21, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 21, 2025

Mar 21, 2025

1:04Athlete Highlight | Sami Francis, March 21 vs. LOVB Austin

Athlete Highlight | Sami Francis, March 21 vs. LOVB Austin

Mar 21, 2025

4:45Match Recap | LOVB Austin at LOVB Omaha | March 21, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Austin at LOVB Omaha | March 21, 2025

Mar 21, 2025

5:49LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 13, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 13, 2025

Mar 14, 2025

2:48Athlete Highlight | Madi Kubik-Banks, March 13 at LOVB Madison

Athlete Highlight | Madi Kubik-Banks, March 13 at LOVB Madison

Mar 14, 2025

11:14Condensed Match | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | March 13, 2025

Condensed Match | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | March 13, 2025

Mar 13, 2025

7:06Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | March 13, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | March 13, 2025

Mar 13, 2025

7:05LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 6, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 6, 2025

Mar 06, 2025

4:31Match Recap | LOVB Salt Lake at LOVB Omaha | March 6, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Salt Lake at LOVB Omaha | March 6, 2025

Mar 06, 2025

14:37Serving Pancakes | Reading Setters and Snapping Streaks

Serving Pancakes | Reading Setters and Snapping Streaks

Mar 03, 2025

3:43LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 1, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | March 1, 2025

Mar 01, 2025

2:41LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 28, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 28, 2025

Feb 28, 2025

11:01Condensed Match | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | February 28, 2025

Condensed Match | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | February 28, 2025

Feb 28, 2025

2:10Athlete Highlight | Madi Kubik-Banks, February 28 at LOVB Madison

Athlete Highlight | Madi Kubik-Banks, February 28 at LOVB Madison

Feb 28, 2025

5:51Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | February 28, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | February 28, 2025

Feb 28, 2025

5:08Match Recap | LOVB Houston vs LOVB Omaha | February 20, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Houston vs LOVB Omaha | February 20, 2025

Feb 20, 2025

2:07Athlete Highlight | Jaali Winters, February 20 vs. LOVB Houston

Athlete Highlight | Jaali Winters, February 20 vs. LOVB Houston

Feb 20, 2025

10:34Condensed Match | LOVB Houston vs LOVB Omaha | February 20, 2025

Condensed Match | LOVB Houston vs LOVB Omaha | February 20, 2025

Feb 20, 2025

3:16LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 20, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 20, 2025

Feb 20, 2025

1:26LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 16, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 16, 2025

Feb 16, 2025

4:20Match Recap | LOVB Classic Third-Place Match: Omaha vs. Austin| February 16, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Classic Third-Place Match: Omaha vs. Austin| February 16, 2025

Feb 16, 2025

3:49LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 15, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 15, 2025

Feb 15, 2025

0:32Athlete Highlight | Kimberly Drewniok, February 15 vs LOVB Houston

Athlete Highlight | Kimberly Drewniok, February 15 vs LOVB Houston

Feb 15, 2025

4:23Match Recap | LOVB Classic Semifinal: Omaha vs. Houston | February 15, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Classic Semifinal: Omaha vs. Houston | February 15, 2025

Feb 15, 2025

7:20LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 8, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 8, 2025

Feb 08, 2025

5:14Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Salt Lake | February 8, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Salt Lake | February 8, 2025

Feb 08, 2025

17:57Condensed Match | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Salt Lake | February 8, 2025

Condensed Match | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Salt Lake | February 8, 2025

Feb 08, 2025

5:25Athlete Highlight | Jaali Winters, February 8 at LOVB Salt Lake

Athlete Highlight | Jaali Winters, February 8 at LOVB Salt Lake

Feb 08, 2025

1:09Athlete Highlight | Jordan Larson, February 1at LOVB Atlanta

Athlete Highlight | Jordan Larson, February 1at LOVB Atlanta

Feb 01, 2025

11:40Condensed Match | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Atlanta | February 1, 2025

Condensed Match | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Atlanta | February 1, 2025

Feb 01, 2025

5:10Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Atlanta| February 1, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Atlanta| February 1, 2025

Feb 01, 2025

1:30Highlight Reel | LOVB Omaha Blocks, February 1 at LOVB Atlanta

Highlight Reel | LOVB Omaha Blocks, February 1 at LOVB Atlanta

Feb 01, 2025

7:02LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 1, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | February 1, 2025

Feb 01, 2025

10:26Serving Pancakes | Week 3 recap with Khat and Tiffany

Serving Pancakes | Week 3 recap with Khat and Tiffany

Jan 27, 2025

5:22LOVB Omaha Press Conference | January 25, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | January 25, 2025

Jan 25, 2025

1:45Athlete Highlight | Vicky Savard, January 25 vs. LOVB Austin

Athlete Highlight | Vicky Savard, January 25 vs. LOVB Austin

Jan 25, 2025

10:48Condensed Match | LOVB Austin vs. LOVB Omaha | January 25, 2025

Condensed Match | LOVB Austin vs. LOVB Omaha | January 25, 2025

Jan 25, 2025

6:06Match Recap | LOVB Austin vs. LOVB Omaha | January 25, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Austin vs. LOVB Omaha | January 25, 2025

Jan 25, 2025

1:51Athlete Highlight | Kimberly Drewniok, January 24 vs. LOVB Madison

Athlete Highlight | Kimberly Drewniok, January 24 vs. LOVB Madison

Jan 24, 2025

3:51Match Recap | LOVB Madison at LOVB Omaha | January 24, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Madison at LOVB Omaha | January 24, 2025

Jan 24, 2025

10:22LOVB Omaha Press Conference | January 24, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | January 24, 2025

Jan 24, 2025

1:11Athlete Highlight | Lauren Stivrins, January 18 at LOVB Madison

Athlete Highlight | Lauren Stivrins, January 18 at LOVB Madison

Jan 18, 2025

4:05Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | January 18, 2025

Match Recap | LOVB Omaha at LOVB Madison | January 18, 2025

Jan 18, 2025

2:47LOVB Omaha Press Conference | January 18, 2025

LOVB Omaha Press Conference | January 18, 2025

Jan 18, 2025

Efficient LOVB Omaha Downs LOVB Madison in Four

Efficient LOVB Omaha Downs LOVB Madison in Four

Jan 18, 2025

3:40Strong Net Game Powers LOVB Omaha to Win in Debut

Strong Net Game Powers LOVB Omaha to Win in Debut

Jan 10, 2025

Strong Net Game Powers LOVB Omaha to Win in Debut

Strong Net Game Powers LOVB Omaha to Win in Debut

Jan 10, 2025

37:30Serving Pancakes | Bringing LOVB to the U.S. with Kimberly Drewniok

Serving Pancakes | Bringing LOVB to the U.S. with Kimberly Drewniok

Dec 03, 2024

3:43Countdown to LOVB First Serve with Katlyn Gao

Countdown to LOVB First Serve with Katlyn Gao

Nov 26, 2024

38:47Preseason Hype with Future M.D., Audriana Fitzmorris

Preseason Hype with Future M.D., Audriana Fitzmorris

Nov 11, 2024

57:22Beyond the Court | Doing Less Better with Suzie Fritz

Beyond the Court | Doing Less Better with Suzie Fritz

Oct 23, 2024

43:12Serving Pancakes | Going Pro with Suzie Fritz

Serving Pancakes | Going Pro with Suzie Fritz

Oct 16, 2024

LOVB Hosts Olympic Watch Parties

LOVB Hosts Olympic Watch Parties

Aug 09, 2024

33:49Serving Pancakes | Not Giving Up with Justine Wong-Orantes

Serving Pancakes | Not Giving Up with Justine Wong-Orantes

Aug 02, 2024

36:56Serving Pancakes | Homecoming with Jordan Larson

Serving Pancakes | Homecoming with Jordan Larson

Aug 02, 2024

Drews, Kojima, Hoffman, Gennari, and Thater Join LOVB

Drews, Kojima, Hoffman, Gennari, and Thater Join LOVB

Mar 21, 2024

Team background
Pro athlete

Emily on the Court

Achievements and accolades

achievements

Has played professionally in Germany and France

Played collegiately at the University of Missouri

Won 2024 French Saforelle Power 6 and reached CEV Cup semifinals with Levallois Paris Saint-Cloud

Twice reached French Cup quarterfinal with Vandœuvre Nancy Volley-Ball (2021, 2022)

Left Mizzou among school's top five in career blocks, block assists and blocks per set

Part of winningest class in school history with 105 wins from 2013-16

achievements

Has played professionally in Germany and France

Played collegiately at the University of Missouri

Won 2024 French Saforelle Power 6 and reached CEV Cup semifinals with Levallois Paris Saint-Cloud

Twice reached French Cup quarterfinal with Vandœuvre Nancy Volley-Ball (2021, 2022)

Left Mizzou among school's top five in career blocks, block assists and blocks per set

Part of winningest class in school history with 105 wins from 2013-16

Get To Know Emily

social

Birthday celebrations

Trying new foods with friends is a favorite pastime for me! I celebrated my 29th birthday with friends at a modern, middle-eastern restaurant in Paris.

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Emily in Paris

I was so fortunate to live and play in Paris for two seasons. Getting outside and enjoying the sun and sights with friends brought me joy and balance.

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Off season activities

During my off season, I love to stay active outdoors. Here’s me and my cousin hiking in Boulder!

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A trip to California

This is from a trip to Manhattan Beach, California. Spent the day in the sunshine with my favorite chambray shirt and a wonderful friend of mine.

Athlete interests background
PRO ATHLETE

A Little More Emily

Emily's favorites

Soul Essentials

Great playlist to clean house or run errands to!

Soul Essentials

Great playlist to clean house or run errands to!

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Emily's motto

Everything you want is on the other side of fear.

The best advice Emily's received

Practicing gratitude when things are going right and practicing gratitude when things are going wrong. By changing the focus to everything I have in life, I feel lighter and more at ease when hard days come my way.

Team background
LOVB Omaha Volleyball

LOVB Omaha - Learn more about Emily's team

Professional volleyball is coming to Omaha in November 2024.

Emily's Teammates

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Candelaria Herrera

Middle Blocker for LOVB Omaha Volleyball

Meet the Athlete

Latest LOVB Omaha News