Two years ago, Katie Thomas didn’t garner much playing time during her freshman season as an outside hitter.

Prior to the start of her sophomore season in 2017, Interlake Saints volleyball head coach Eduardo Guerrero, who was in his first year as head coach, realized he had a problem. The Saints varsity team lacked a reliable setter. Guerrero asked Thomas if she would like to transition from outside hitter to the setter position.

Thomas embraced the change and the rest is history.

Guerrero said Thomas quickly transformed herself into one of the top setters in the KingCo 3A/2A division.

“I have been coaching for a while, I’ve never seen a person improve that fast. Her development is amazing,” Guerrero said. “A setter in volleyball is like a quarterback in football. She has really taken on that role. She has done an awesome job. We don’t have to worry about the setter position anymore because we have a great one.”

Thomas enjoys being in control of the Saints volleyball team from the setter position.

“I love it because I can make a lot of decisions for our team. A lot of it relies on me, which is daunting but also really fun,” Thomas said with a smile.

Guerrero said Thomas is the kind of player everyone wants to be around, which is an essential quality in a leader.

“She has that personality and energy about her where everyone really likes her and listens to her. She is so energetic,” Guerrero said.

Thomas wants her team to go as deep into the playoffs as possible. The Saints will face West Seattle in a loser-out, 3A SeaKing district playoff matchup at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 at Lakeside High School in Seattle.

“We want to advance to district and then hopefully get to state,” Thomas said while her team was in the midst of the KingCo tournament on Oct. 31. “It has been really cool to see us improve over the season. We are a very different team from last year. The juniors and seniors are great leaders and the sophomores and freshmen are good contributors to this team.”

Recently the Bellevue Reporter had an opportunity to ask Thomas a few questions about her life away from the volleyball court.

Bellevue Reporter: What is your favorite restaurant in Bellevue?

Katie Thomas: My favorite restaurant in Bellevue would be Red Robin. We love going there as a team.

BR: What is your biggest pet peeve?

KT: When people are chewing with their mouths open. I hate the smacking sound.

BR: If you could pick one person to go to dinner with, who would it be?

KT: I would probably go to dinner with Beyonce. She is a good role model and I just love her music.

BR: What is your dream vacation spot?

KT: I love going to India. I’m from there.

BR: What is something unique about you that nobody would know?

KT: I play piano. I have been playing piano since I was 5 years old.