Photo by: Molly McPherson
Ducks Add Four More to Incoming Class
01/30/23 | Women's Volleyball
Alex Acevedo (Nampa, Idaho), Sophie Gregoire (Dundee, Ore.), Isabel Patterson (Portland, Ore.) and Kate Thibault (Watertown, Minn.) join the 2023 roster.
EUGENE, Ore. – Head coach Matt Ulmer and the Oregon volleyball team welcomes four more freshmen as part of the incoming class. The newest group of Ducks includes Alex Acevedo (Nampa, Idaho), Sophie Gregoire (Dundee, Ore), Isabel Patterson (Portland, Ore.) and Kate Thibault (Watertown, Minn.).
Alex Acevedo
OH | 6-2 | Nampa, Idaho
Skyview HS
Acevedo was named the 2022-23 Gatorade (Idaho) State Player of the Year after a standout campaign with 339 kills coupled with a .400 hitting percentage and 151 digs. She helped lead Skyview High School to a third-consecutive state title in a four-set win over Columbia. In that championship match, Acevedo recorded 26 kills and three blocks.
Also named the Idaho 4A Player of the Year by the state's coaches, Acevedo stepped into the national spotlight at the GEICO Volleyball Invitational and responded with 42 kills in the two-match showcase. In the weekend opener against Papillion-La Vista South (Neb.), she had a season-high 27 kills, nine digs and three blocks.
Ulmer on Acevedo: "Alex is as experienced of a player for her age that I've seen. She has all the shots, makes great decisions and really understands the game. She competes hard every point and elevates the play of her teammates. Alex bleeds Green and Yellow and will be an amazing Duck."
Sophie Gregoire
OH | 6-1 | Dundee, Ore.
Newberg HS
After a standout junior season, Gregoire earned a spot on the OSAA 6A All-State Second Team and was named the Pacific Conference Player of the Year. She finished the year with 328 kills, 42 blocks and 35 service aces for Newberg High School. Gregoire had a 25-kill, 19-dig performance this past fall against Sherwood.
Gregoire is a three-time all-league performer for Newberg during her pre career. In 2021, Gregoire was named to the U18 roster for the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program (formerly the High Performance) training series.
Ulmer on Gregoire: "Sophie is a dynamic athlete that can make an impact in every facet of the game. She can score points from both the back and front rows, plays great defense and already has a very aggressive serve. Sophie is a true team player that leads by example."
Isabel Patterson
OH | 5-10 | Portland, Ore.
Jesuit HS
Patterson finished top 10 in the state for kills and digs during her senior season, leading Jesuit High School to a 33-1-1 record and a trip to the 6A state title match. Over the final two season of her prep career, she accumulated 533 kills, 520 dig—10 double-doubles—and 59 service aces for Jesuit.
For the year, Patterson averaged 3.01 kills per set and 2.97 digs per set. She had a season-high 23 kills along with 17 digs against Sprague in the state quarterfinals. She followed that up with 20 kills and a season-high 18 digs in the semifinals against Nelson. Patterson reached double-digit kills in 15 matches during the 2022 season.
Jesuit HS won the 2019 state title during Patterson's freshman year; she had two kills in the match. The in-state standout will play both indoor and beach volleyball for the Ducks.
Ulmer on Patterson: "Isabel is planning to play both indoor and beach for us. She knows what to do with the ball and has the control to pull it off. She will add great depth to the left side and, no doubt, excite Duck fans out on the sand. Our teams will greatly benefit from having Isabel's personality and work ethic as part of the culture."
Kate Thibault
L/DS | 5-4 | Watertown, Minn.
Watertown-Mayer HS
Thibault was one of five 2022 finalists for the Ms. Baden Award, which is awarded annually to the top senior player in the state of Minnesota. She broke the state digs record during her senior season, and finished her prep career with nearly 2,300 career digs for Watertown-Mayer High School.
A two-time Class 2A all-state performer, Thibault averaged 5.59 digs per set during the 2022 campaign and finished the year with 458 total digs, a top-15 figure in the state. She recorded double figures in 26 of 28 matches including four outings with at least 25 digs. Additionally, Thibault led the Royals with 57 service aces.
Ulmer on Thibault: "Kate is a fantastic libero. Her ability to anticipate the play ahead is as good as I've seen. She is constantly communicating with and encouraging her teammates. Kate is very strong in her defensive moves and covers a lot of court."
In November, Ulmer and the Ducks announced the signing of prep standouts Cristin Cline (Stanfield, N.C.), Noemie Glover (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) and Becca Kelley (Rockwall, Texas). Oregon also added middle blocker Kara McGhee, a graduate transfer from Baylor, in early January.
For more news and information about Oregon Volleyball, follow @OregonVB on Instagram and Twitter, and @OregonVolleyball on Facebook.
Alex Acevedo
OH | 6-2 | Nampa, Idaho
Skyview HS
Acevedo was named the 2022-23 Gatorade (Idaho) State Player of the Year after a standout campaign with 339 kills coupled with a .400 hitting percentage and 151 digs. She helped lead Skyview High School to a third-consecutive state title in a four-set win over Columbia. In that championship match, Acevedo recorded 26 kills and three blocks.
Also named the Idaho 4A Player of the Year by the state's coaches, Acevedo stepped into the national spotlight at the GEICO Volleyball Invitational and responded with 42 kills in the two-match showcase. In the weekend opener against Papillion-La Vista South (Neb.), she had a season-high 27 kills, nine digs and three blocks.
Ulmer on Acevedo: "Alex is as experienced of a player for her age that I've seen. She has all the shots, makes great decisions and really understands the game. She competes hard every point and elevates the play of her teammates. Alex bleeds Green and Yellow and will be an amazing Duck."
Sophie Gregoire
OH | 6-1 | Dundee, Ore.
Newberg HS
After a standout junior season, Gregoire earned a spot on the OSAA 6A All-State Second Team and was named the Pacific Conference Player of the Year. She finished the year with 328 kills, 42 blocks and 35 service aces for Newberg High School. Gregoire had a 25-kill, 19-dig performance this past fall against Sherwood.
Gregoire is a three-time all-league performer for Newberg during her pre career. In 2021, Gregoire was named to the U18 roster for the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program (formerly the High Performance) training series.
Ulmer on Gregoire: "Sophie is a dynamic athlete that can make an impact in every facet of the game. She can score points from both the back and front rows, plays great defense and already has a very aggressive serve. Sophie is a true team player that leads by example."
Isabel Patterson
OH | 5-10 | Portland, Ore.
Jesuit HS
Patterson finished top 10 in the state for kills and digs during her senior season, leading Jesuit High School to a 33-1-1 record and a trip to the 6A state title match. Over the final two season of her prep career, she accumulated 533 kills, 520 dig—10 double-doubles—and 59 service aces for Jesuit.
For the year, Patterson averaged 3.01 kills per set and 2.97 digs per set. She had a season-high 23 kills along with 17 digs against Sprague in the state quarterfinals. She followed that up with 20 kills and a season-high 18 digs in the semifinals against Nelson. Patterson reached double-digit kills in 15 matches during the 2022 season.
Jesuit HS won the 2019 state title during Patterson's freshman year; she had two kills in the match. The in-state standout will play both indoor and beach volleyball for the Ducks.
Ulmer on Patterson: "Isabel is planning to play both indoor and beach for us. She knows what to do with the ball and has the control to pull it off. She will add great depth to the left side and, no doubt, excite Duck fans out on the sand. Our teams will greatly benefit from having Isabel's personality and work ethic as part of the culture."
Kate Thibault
L/DS | 5-4 | Watertown, Minn.
Watertown-Mayer HS
Thibault was one of five 2022 finalists for the Ms. Baden Award, which is awarded annually to the top senior player in the state of Minnesota. She broke the state digs record during her senior season, and finished her prep career with nearly 2,300 career digs for Watertown-Mayer High School.
A two-time Class 2A all-state performer, Thibault averaged 5.59 digs per set during the 2022 campaign and finished the year with 458 total digs, a top-15 figure in the state. She recorded double figures in 26 of 28 matches including four outings with at least 25 digs. Additionally, Thibault led the Royals with 57 service aces.
Ulmer on Thibault: "Kate is a fantastic libero. Her ability to anticipate the play ahead is as good as I've seen. She is constantly communicating with and encouraging her teammates. Kate is very strong in her defensive moves and covers a lot of court."
In November, Ulmer and the Ducks announced the signing of prep standouts Cristin Cline (Stanfield, N.C.), Noemie Glover (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) and Becca Kelley (Rockwall, Texas). Oregon also added middle blocker Kara McGhee, a graduate transfer from Baylor, in early January.
For more news and information about Oregon Volleyball, follow @OregonVB on Instagram and Twitter, and @OregonVolleyball on Facebook.
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