When it comes to volleyball, Beline Thibaut has a world of experience.
The Weatherford College sophomore also has the world watching her.
Thibaut, a reigning All-American for the Coyotes, has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Players to Watch for two-year schools. She is one of only a dozen players across the United States to be honored.
But being watched by the eyes of many is nothing new for Thibaut. She was a standout player in France before coming to the U.S., where her club team won a national championship.
Her father is a former professional volleyball player and now a coach of a women’s professional team in France.
“I am really proud to be one of the players named to the AVCA Players to Watch. But I also think this recognition comes from the work of the whole team,” Thibaut said. “We have worked hard together, and I know there are many players on our team who also deserve to be recognized.
“So for me, it is really a pride to represent Weatherford College, my teammates, and my coaches. At the same time, it gives me some pressure because I want to show that I deserve this recognition and be the best player and teammate I can be.”
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who questions her deserving — or her worthiness as a teammate. She was a mainstay both on and off the court in helping lead the Coyotes to a fourth-place finish at the 2025 NJCAA Championships.
“Beline has had such a positive impact on the program. Not only does she do a lot for the team physically, but she plays a huge leadership role,” Coyotes head coach Kailee May said. “She is the type of player every coach wants because of her influence she has with the team — everyone really looks up to her and thinks highly of her as a person and a player.”
Thibaut admits she is not your average college volleyball player. For starters, at age 24, she is older than others on the team — and even many of the students in college.
“I studied in France for several years before coming to the U.S., because I wanted to focus on my studies first. After that, I wanted to discover the world through volleyball,” she said. “Coming to the United States was always a dream of mine, and I am really proud that I was able to make that dream come true. I worked hard to get here on my own, and it is something that means a lot to me.”
May acknowledged that it’s always an adjustment for international students, but that Thibaut has taken everything in stride. She has also not hesitated to remind the team everyday that they are working toward a national championship.
“She’s extremely dedicated and has been a huge part of our success,” May said.
Back in France, Thibaut was in a sports-study program for two years. She also played in many French Cup competitions with her first club before moving to a semi-professional club in Vitrolles, where her team won a national championship.
This led to two promotions to the elite level. She played for about seven seasons at this level, which is the second highest division in France.
“Playing at this level really helped me improve and develop as a player. I was able to play with more experienced players, and some of them are now very good friends of mine,” she said.
“After all these years playing in France, I decided to come to the United States and continue my volleyball journey here.”
“Coming to the United States was really a dream of mine. I always wanted to experience the American dream, especially as an athlete,” Thibaut said. “I feel like there are so many opportunities for athletes here, and it can open a lot of doors.
“I also wanted to improve my English, discover a new culture, and have new experiences while continuing to play volleyball at a high level.”
Because of her eligibility, the NJCAA was the best option for her, she said. So she started looking for the best NJCAA programs — and Weatherford College quickly became one of her top choices.
“When I talked with the coaches, they made me feel very comfortable and welcome. I also really liked the school, the dorms, and the team,” she said. “The girls were very welcoming, and I felt like Weatherford was the right place for me to grow both as a player and as a person.”
Thibaut said she does find the American version of volleyball different from the style in France.
“In France, volleyball is mostly played through clubs, so you do not need to be a student to play. Because of that, having everything organized around volleyball is not as common,” she said. “Here, we play for the college, so everything is organized to help you perform at your best.
“We have athletic trainers every day, access to a weight room, nutrition support, and practices during the day. I really like this because you can focus a lot on volleyball and improving as a player.”
She also noted there are differences in the rules, strategies, balls, gyms, and the way the game is played.
“So it has been a really interesting experience for me to discover a different way of playing volleyball,” she said.
Earlier this summer Thibaut and a couple of teammates, Nehir Han, and Genevieve D’Arcy, participated in an elite beach volleyball competition in Huntsville, Alabama. Competing against seasoned players who had been together in beach tournaments all season long, the trio placed second overall, having not played the outdoor variety all spring.
Thibaut was the experienced captain of the group, having played with the French U18 team a few years ago.
“I really love beach volleyball and I follow the professional circuit a lot. I enjoy watching the matches, and I also have friends who play beach volleyball,” she said. “I really love the sport, but it is difficult to build a career in beach volleyball and it can also be expensive. So I decided to focus more on indoor volleyball because there were more opportunities for me.
“I still really enjoy playing beach volleyball, and I think it helps me a lot with my indoor game, especially with strategy, reading the game, and making decisions on the court.”
Thibaut said she would like to play volleyball at a higher level, even professionally in leagues such as Major League Volleyball or League One Volleyball.
“My future in the U.S. is still a little unclear because I am still learning about the different club and professional leagues,” she said. “I want to see what opportunities I can have here and what is the best option for me.
Thibaut is majoring in business administration. She said she chose it because it is a general field that allows her to learn about business, improve her English, and understand more about how things work in the U.S.
“It also allows me to continue playing volleyball while studying,” she said. “My future career will be more connected to my master’s degree from France.”
She has a master’s degree in adapted physical activity. She said she would like to work as a coordinator and teacher in this field in the future.
She also extended her gratitude to a host of folks.
“I would like to thank my coaches, my teammates, my family, and my friends for always supporting me,” she said. “I also want to thank everyone at Weatherford College who works with us and helps us become better and perform at our best.”
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