Meet The Griz: NAIA All-American, Billings Native Olivia LaBeau Coming To Help Griz Volleyball

Meet the Griz is a series where we introduce incoming Montana Grizzlies and share the stories behind the athletes.

Meet Olivia LaBeau, NAIA All-American

Last week, the Grizzly Volleyball program announced two middle blockers transferring in this year. One of them was NAIA All-American and Billings, Montana native Olivia LaBeau.

In her senior season at Montana Tech, LaBeau was named First-Team All-Frontier Conference and Third-Team All-American after registering 387 kills and 124 blocks.

Before dominating the NAIA ranks, LaBeau grew up in Billings, where she attended Billings High and lived in a house divided.

"This is kind of a funny story," began LaBeau. "We're kind of a split family. My dad actually went to Missoula and then both my siblings and my mom all went to Bozeman, so they all have to root for Griz now," LaBeau chuckled.

The family will be forced onto the Griz train, no doubt about it. Fortunately, the Grizzly Volleyball staff, Head Coach Allison Lawrence and Assistants Dana Hallisey, Ollie Nicholson and Sarah Birky, will make the transition easy for the LaBeau family.

"First off, the coaches were amazing on my initial visit."

"It just seemed like I really clicked with them right off the bat. They just care so much about you as a player. Not only as a player but as a student and a human," explained LaBeau.

READ MORE: Meet The Griz - Former Minnesota Golden Gopher Kadyn Betts

LaBeau had played the Grizzly Volleyball team several times during the spring season. Including one instance where the Montana Tech Orediggers were coach-less.

"I just thought it was really funny because my coach, Brian [Solomon, head coach of Montana Tech] he would always come up with, and he's a bigger fisherman."

One year, LaBeau and her team "showed up to [Dahlberg Arena] to play with no coach because he was going to look at a fishing boat,"

"Allison was like, 'Where's your guys' coach?', and we're like "Oh... you know, he's going to look at a fishing boat," LaBeau laughed about.

LaBeau had a great relationship with OreDiggers Head Coach Brian Solomon, but it was an easy decision to try her hand at Division 1 volleyball.

"First of all, Missoula is where I want to be, where I want to study. I think it's a really cool opportunity for me to play at the next level, at the D1 level."

But there's no disdain for her time in Butte.

"I had an amazing time at Tech and am so thankful for all the coaches and teammates that have supported me through this. Definitely in the end, it was an easy decision and Missoula is where I want to be."

Quick hitters with Olivia LaBeau:

Q: What's your bachelor's degree in?
A: Interdisciplinary arts and sciences with a minor in business

Q: What will you be studying in grad school at UM?
A: Psychology in clinical and mental health

Q: What's your ideal job after school?
A: I'd like to have my own private practice as a counselor

Q: What's your go-to restaurant in Missoula?
A: Tagliare's 

Q: Plans this summer?
A: I want to travel around the state