WATERTOWN – One can deliver a powerful spike for a kill. The other can turn that powerful spike into a dig. They are the Thibault sisters and they have the Watertown-Mayer volleyball team looking to make a run at the Class AA state volleyball tournament this weekend.
Paige, a sophomore outside hitter, along with Kate, an eighth-grader playing the role of libero, are just one reason the Royals were able to capture the Section 5AA title for a second-straight season. While being teammates and sisters out on the court, it’s safe to say this season has been a blast for the two siblings.
“It’s been really fun,” Paige said. “It’s been a good experience for both of us. We’re sisters, so, sometimes we don’t get along, but the majority of the time we’ve been doing good. We usually give each other tips on the court and try to help each other out.”
Paige is in her third season at the varsity level despite being a sophomore. Kate is in her first season at the varsity level, and having her sister on the floor beside her has helped make the transition smooth.
“It’s been a good experience for me,” Kate said. “Having Paige help me throughout the season has been nice.”
Being sisters on the same team comes with some benefits. Not only do the Thibaults enjoy playing together, they know how to overcome tough times and turn them into good times together.
“They work through things so differently than the other girls,” Watertown-Mayer coach Andrea Raser said. “They’re sisters. They live with each other. The know each other. They go home at the end of a game or practice, and they talk about it. To watch them on the court together and play is fun. You get those random balls that drop between them and you see them look at each other. It’s two words and they work it out and act like it never happened.”
The game of volleyball doesn’t stop after the games or practice, though. Even when Paige and Kate get home, the conversations continue.
“We do give each other a little hard time about stuff like that,” Paige said. “We talk about things we could do better the next game. We kind of just help each other improve. We both know each other well, but in the end, we are just sisters so we do sister things, too.”
This weekend, Paige will get her second taste of the state tournament in her promising career. While being there last year was a moment to remember, being able to take the floor at the Xcel Energy Center with her sister this time has her even more excited.
“I’m excited to share the moment with her,” Paige said. “It’s awesome. It will be good for our whole team with all the new girls that are playing this year. I’m happy that I get to share it with Kate.”
A season ago, Kate was at the state tournament. She was in the stands as a seventh-grader cheering on her sister. This year, she’ll be out on the court battling alongside her on the state’s biggest stage.
“It’s going to be great,” Kate said. “I just remember watching it and seeing how much fun they were having. I just can’t wait to be down there playing with them.”
While playing in the state tournament is one thing, it’s a whole different thing being able to play in it with your sister next to you. That’s something that’s not lost on Paige.
“It’s definitely something special,” Paige said. “It’s an honor to be there. We earned our spot there, and both Kate and I are very excited to share it with each other and with our team.”
“That’s one of those experiences that they’ll talk about for the rest of their life,” Raser said. “Just being sisters and playing on that same team together at that level. That doesn’t happen very often. It’s super exciting for them.”
What has Raser even more excited is the fact that she has the Thibault sisters for years to come. With how talented they are already, Raser sees big things for them in their future.
“I had Paige when she was an eighth-grader, and now Kate as an eighth-grader,” Raser said. “They’re just going to keep growing and getting better. I think people, when they watch them, they see that both of those girls know the game so well. They’ve been around it. When you watch them play, you forget they’re young. Paige is a sophomore. We have her for two more years, and she’s going to keep getting better every year and really stepping into that leadership role more. Kate’s right along with it.”
While a state title is the ultimate goal for Paige and Kate, there’s no doubt they will remember this experience together, and build off it for their years to come.
“We’re definitely just going to build off of this,” Paige said. “I have two more years and she has four more years. We’re going to build off each other and keep getting better. Having this experience will hopefully have us get there again one of these years.”