1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Tiffney Oshinsky, and this is serving pancakes. Nope, 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: not a podcast about food. This is a podcast about 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: volleyball and more to you. A pancake is a fluffy, 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: syrup drenched breakfast food button volleyball. A pancake is a 5 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: high effort move when a player flattens her hand against 6 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: the ground to keep the ball in play. And that's 7 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: us digging into high efforts that are moving sports forward. 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,479 Speaker 1: Listen in as I talk with the people making the 9 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 1: biggest impacts on global volleyball and women's sports perspectives, insights, 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: and behind the scenes stories, all with the side of pancakes. 11 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: Today's episode features one of the greatest setters to ever 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: come out of Wisconsin, Lauren Carlini. Lauren was a four 13 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: time All American for the Badgers and was named the 14 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen Big Ten Player of the Year. She's played 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: professionally overseas since twenty seventeen and has been on the 16 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: US women's national team since graduating college in twenty sixteen, 17 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: and this summer she'll be representing Team USA at the 18 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:06,559 Speaker 1: Paris Olympics. 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 2: Lauren, thanks so much for having some pancakes with me. 20 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 3: I have a c oh, I'm so excited. 21 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 2: Amazing pancakes here. 22 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 4: I love me a good thick buttermilk. Is this like, 23 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 4: Oh my gosh, I love me some French press coffee. 24 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 3: Too big coffee gal Oh yeah, so like. 25 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 4: That's probably one of my big dreams is to have 26 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 4: a coffee shop one day, no, and then at night 27 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 4: it turns into a wine bar. 28 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 3: So this kind of like one two punch. 29 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 2: Can I be invited? 30 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 3: Yeah? You can. The thing is not a big chef myself, 31 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 3: so I gotta find me in one of those. So 32 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 3: would you need anyone's so interested? Oh girl, you're getting 33 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 3: way ahead of me. I don't know. 34 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 4: Is a super bas at Carlini's Cafe. But then you 35 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 4: gotta do something for the wine part of it too, 36 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 4: like the evening appertito. 37 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 2: Carlini's Cafe in one bar. 38 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 3: There you go. Why yeah, if it ain't broke, don't 39 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 3: fix it. 40 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: I love it all right? So I have to start 41 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: all the way back at the beginning. 42 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 3: Okay, run it back. 43 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: What did you want to be when you grew up 44 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,919 Speaker 1: before volleyball was even in the picture. 45 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 2: What was a little arnoining me? 46 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 4: That's that's hard because I feel like since I have 47 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 4: memories I was always in the gym, and so yeah, 48 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 4: I was in the gym from basically when I was 49 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 4: in the womb, came out of the womb, I was 50 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 4: still in the gym. My mom was playing in these 51 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 4: like nightly leagues, and so Monday nights, Wednesday nights, I 52 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 4: was always there. 53 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 3: Just playing against the wall, peppering by myself, just messing 54 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 3: around with the ball. 55 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 4: Before I even knew where what the sport was, and 56 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 4: so that was just my kind of initiator into the sport. 57 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 4: I started at like five six years old, like on 58 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 4: a club team, and so I wish I could say, oh, 59 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 4: I wanted to be this or that, but I think 60 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 4: I really wanted to be a volleyball player from day one. 61 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 4: I had a little Yeah, I had a lot of 62 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,559 Speaker 4: respect for first responders with my dad being a firefighter, 63 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 4: though I would never have wanted to go into that 64 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 4: profession myself. So yeah, I probably would say volleyball player. 65 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: So when did you know that you were good. 66 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 2: Out, that you knew that this, oh was going to 67 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: be the right thing. 68 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 3: I think it took a little bit because I started 69 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 3: so young. 70 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 4: Everyone that I was playing with was anywhere between like 71 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 4: two and five years older than me, and so I 72 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 4: was a little barrel for a while, and I had 73 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 4: spandex that looked like swim trunks that you know, were 74 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 4: flared out, And so took me a while to kind 75 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 4: of understand the game, figure out what my niche was 76 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 4: and how I was going to play as a player, 77 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 4: and who I was going to become. And so I 78 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 4: finally realized I was getting good. Maybe my thirteen's year, 79 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 4: that is actually when recruiting kind of started back in 80 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 4: my day, having college coaches be interested and wanting to 81 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 4: go to camps and just kind of transitioning into a 82 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 4: setter role. That was my first year of actually becoming 83 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 4: a setter. I loved being a ballhog in a sense. 84 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 4: So I'm like I get to I get to every single. 85 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 3: Play, I get a part of it. Yeah, I'm in. 86 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 4: And so that helped simmer down, like my control free 87 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 4: becauseide of things. But I think it was, yeah, probably 88 00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 4: when I was thirteen is when I realized, like, this 89 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 4: is this can be something big? 90 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 2: What else are you a control for? You about? 91 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 4: Not that much anymore. I will say I've like simmered 92 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 4: down quite a bit. But being the oldest child. I 93 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 4: would always force my younger siblings into playing school, and 94 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 4: naturally I would be the principal, the teacher. I would 95 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 4: do all the grading and they would have to be 96 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 4: the students that do the homework. 97 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 3: And they didn't like that so. 98 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 4: Much, but I would say, yeah, I've grown out of 99 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 4: that a little bit. 100 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 3: And you know, kind of found what works for me 101 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 3: in that sense. 102 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 4: Well, you could have been a principal or a teacher, maybe, yeah, 103 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 4: you know what, more respect to all the power to 104 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 4: them and dealing with kids, because good for them. 105 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 3: I don't know how. 106 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 4: They did it for myself included, so yeah, more power 107 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 4: to them. 108 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 2: Now. 109 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: You started going to Wisconsin for camps at what age. 110 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 3: I was in six or seventh grade. 111 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 4: I don't remember the exact day, but six or seventh 112 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 4: grade when I started getting in contact with the coaching 113 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 4: staff there. And my initial thing was like, WHOA, there's 114 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 4: this girl named Maria Carlini who plays for the back. 115 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 4: This woman has the same last name as us but 116 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 4: has no relation. Like that was a really cool connection 117 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 4: that we had, and so that is what initially got 118 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 4: me going to Wisconsin, the games, the camps. So yeah, 119 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 4: at a really young age just kind of built that 120 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 4: connection not only with the staff but with some of 121 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 4: the players as well. 122 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 2: So you always knew he wanted to go to Wisconsin. 123 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 3: That was the dream I did. 124 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 2: I did. 125 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna lie. 126 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 4: This was also during the glory days of Penn State, 127 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 4: the dynasty era, and so. 128 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 1: Hey, guys, it's me. I wanted to interrupt Lauren's interview 129 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: for a quick second to give you some info about 130 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 1: this Penn State dynasty she mentioned so under head coach 131 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: Russ Rose, Penn State was an absolute powerhouse back then. 132 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: Between twenty and seven and twenty fourteen, the Nitney Allons 133 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: won six national titles, including four in a row between 134 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: twenty and seven and twenty ten. Wisconsin, a Big ten 135 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: rival of Penn State, meanwhile, had yet to win one. 136 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: All Right back to Lauren and why she ultimately chose Wisconsin. 137 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 4: I dabbled a little bit with the idea of wanting 138 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 4: to go to Penn State, and I remember Russ Rose 139 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 4: sending up like a sign ball and a little note saying, 140 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 4: you know. 141 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 3: Like looking forward to your future. Da da da. 142 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 4: But I would say overall, it was Wisconsin from day one. 143 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 4: A lot would have had to have happened to me 144 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 4: for me to not go there. 145 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: So you reaching out to the coaches at Wisconsin kind 146 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 1: of reminds me. 147 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:24,679 Speaker 2: So I was supposed to go to Penn State to play. 148 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 2: That was my trajectory in life for a period of time. 149 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: And I started going to the Penn State camps when 150 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: I was thirteen, and thanks to my dad, we printed 151 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: up business cards, oh official official business cards from our printer, 152 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: from our EPs on or whatever it was, with the 153 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: volleyball and my name and my phone number on it. 154 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: And I went up to Russ Rose as a thirteen 155 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 1: year old and gave him my business card. 156 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 3: I bet he got a hoot. 157 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 1: Oh. Well, then my dad when he came to pick 158 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: me up, because they do, you know, court coaches and 159 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 1: you get to play in front of everybody. My dad 160 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: saw him and went up to him, and coach was like, business. 161 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 3: Card, memorable, that's all that matters. You're memorable. Yeah. 162 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: But yeah, that was my dream to go to Penn State, 163 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: just like you to go to Wisconsin. 164 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. 165 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 3: But then I got into film school and I went 166 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 3: and we swerved careers. 167 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 2: We swerved careers. 168 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 3: Career, Yeah, but we're here, that's right, and that's all 169 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 3: that matters. That's right. 170 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 2: So I have to ask you. So you're from Aurora, Illinois, Yeah, 171 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 2: near Chicago. A lot of fun Wisconsin? 172 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, what was it similar? 173 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 2: Different? 174 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: I mean, was it yea more cornfields and suburban or 175 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: was it? Was it actually like a really good time? 176 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 3: It was great time. Yeah. 177 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 4: I think that was one of the main draws of 178 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 4: me wanting to go to Wisconsin. Obviously going to camps 179 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,119 Speaker 4: every year, kind of understanding the dynamic of the team 180 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 4: and what went on outside of court hours. I think 181 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 4: that was a little bit of the draw for me, 182 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 4: was like, hey, I get to go to a school 183 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 4: that has great education, great athletics, and you get to 184 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 4: have a lot of fun off the court, you know, 185 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 4: and enjoy your time while you're up there. 186 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 3: And for me, it was really important to be able 187 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 3: to have my family close. 188 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 4: Enough to where they can come and watch the games, 189 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 4: and if you know, I was feeling homesick whatever, I 190 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 4: could go home pretty easily. So it was two hours 191 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 4: door to door, so it worked out perfect. Really, it 192 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 4: was the best of all worlds where my family was 193 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 4: there for every home match and I was able to 194 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 4: go home when I wanted, and it was only two 195 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 4: hours away, and so I had just the absolute best 196 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 4: experience at Wisconsin and gosh, I'm just so excited that 197 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 4: I get to call that place home now. 198 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: Truly, Well, you just bought a house there, I did, 199 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: So what was that like, buying your first house? I mean, yeah, 200 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:37,719 Speaker 1: what was that experience like? And yeah, degrading everything. Oh 201 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: it's expensive. 202 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 4: First off, it's a little shock to the system with 203 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 4: the bank account, but it's so fun because it's yours. 204 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 4: And for those of us who have played professionally now 205 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 4: for whatever one, two, three quads, we don't have a home. 206 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 3: We live out of suitcases, and so now being able to. 207 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 4: Call a place my own and buy my own furniture 208 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 4: and kind of decorate how I want to, it's a 209 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 4: really cool, like turning point in my life. 210 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 3: It's slowly but surely coming together. 211 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 4: It's been really fun to just kind of go and 212 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 4: like window shop and try and curate what I want. 213 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 4: But I'm just so looking forward to being there full time. 214 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 4: And yeah, just having a place to go home and 215 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 4: go back to. 216 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 2: Do you have an eye for decorating? No. 217 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 4: Pinterest has done great pottery barn westdalm Are like my 218 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 4: go tos, I have an idea of what I want 219 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 4: to get at. I will say, again, just very menialist, 220 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,839 Speaker 4: natural with some I love all of green, so we're 221 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 4: going for splashes of like olive green and everywhere. 222 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, Pinterest, it's a real life Pinterest board. 223 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 3: There you go. Exactly. 224 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: So when you're playing in Wisconsin, did you know that 225 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: you wanted to continue and keep playing? 226 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 3: For sure? 227 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 4: I will say when you're in college. At least when 228 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 4: you were in college, you really didn't know anything about 229 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 4: professional volleyball playing overseas. 230 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 3: It was just this like unknown world. 231 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 4: I will say, having people like Chrystal Harmado, who I 232 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 4: reached out to Alicia Glass being able to chat with 233 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 4: them about like, Hey, what can we expect when we 234 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 4: go overseas? What is a good number I should be 235 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 4: shooting for. What are some good countries to be playing in? Culture, 236 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 4: things to be aware of. There's just so much that 237 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 4: you're unaware of. And I think that's why so many 238 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 4: girls after a half season one season overseas are like 239 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 4: this is terrible. I'm done because it is such a 240 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 4: shock to the system. You just don't know what to expect. 241 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 4: And so for me it was I knew I wanted 242 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 4: to play professionally. I knew it was probably going to 243 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 4: be a challenge being overseas for anywhere between six and 244 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 4: eight months of the year, but that was something that 245 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 4: we had to do and we had to sacrifice in 246 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 4: order to be on the national team to try and 247 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 4: become an Olympian. 248 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 2: How does the process work of professionally? How do you 249 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 2: get picked? 250 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 4: So, at least in my experience, it was at the 251 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 4: ABCA Final four, So this is in December. If you're 252 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 4: graduating in the spring, you have a little bit more 253 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 4: time to kind of figure it out. But if you're 254 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 4: graduating in December, it's like two week process. You're choosing, 255 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 4: you're getting an agent, you're going overseas, and so I 256 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 4: luckily had all spring tick to side. 257 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:10,559 Speaker 3: But step one, get an agent. 258 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 4: I found someone who was in Italy and he's been 259 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 4: great just because he has his boots on the grounds there. 260 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 4: He knows teams owners, a lot of connections, that's what 261 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 4: you're looking for, and so we were kind of just 262 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 4: figuring out, okay, what teams need setters for next season 263 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 4: and ended up starting out in Italy and signing that contract. 264 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 4: I want to say it was in April or May 265 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 4: and so it was fun, like, whoa, I just signed 266 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 4: my big you know, my big girl contract and got 267 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 4: enough money for down payment on my car, which was great. 268 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 4: But that was the first step into like adulthood and 269 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 4: playing overseas and kind of figuring out that world. 270 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 3: So there's a lot of steps that go into it. 271 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 3: Your first year. 272 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 4: You don't realize that you need to bring peanut butter 273 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 4: vanilla extract if you want like good smelling, like laundry beads, 274 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 4: gotta bring those. Like, there's so many little things that 275 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 4: you don't realize. 276 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 3: That you learn. When you get over there. 277 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 4: You're like, wow, I need some jiff immediately, and if 278 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:06,839 Speaker 4: you don't have it, you're going to spend ten dollars 279 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 4: at the grocery store and buy it. 280 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 3: So yeah, there's a lot of learning experiences when you 281 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 3: get over there. But it's cool. 282 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 4: I'm glad to have been able to do that and 283 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 4: experience different cultures and people. 284 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 3: But there's a lot of growing pains in there as well. 285 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,439 Speaker 2: How much downtime do you have when you're overseas to. 286 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 4: Explore Oh too much? That was one of the things 287 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,439 Speaker 4: my first year overseas. I did not realize how much 288 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 4: free time you had. Like literally in college, it's okay, 289 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 4: I have to wake up, I have to go to lyft, 290 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,079 Speaker 4: then I have to shower immediately go to class. In between, 291 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 4: I'm doing study hall practice. Your day is timed out 292 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 4: from them second you wake up to the second go 293 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,559 Speaker 4: to bed. Then you get overseas and you're like, huh, 294 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 4: I have to find hobbies and things to pass the time. 295 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 4: That was really difficult to like be completely by myself. 296 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 4: I didn't have any other Americans on my team my 297 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 4: first year, and so it was really being thrown into 298 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 4: full independence and autonomy. So yeah, it was like, Okay, 299 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 4: I guess I'm taking up rating and leering and I'm 300 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 4: going to go outside and enjoy the sun. And I 301 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 4: wish I would have embraced being in that a little 302 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 4: bit more than what I did, because I was literally 303 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 4: living in the vineyards of Florence. 304 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 3: We're better, but at. 305 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 4: The time, it was like, I'm so alone and I 306 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 4: don't have any hobbies that I'm trying to find things 307 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 4: to pass the time that I'm really not enjoying that much. 308 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 3: So it was a tough balance at times. 309 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 2: So I lived lived in Florence for the summer. 310 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. 311 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: Oh, I just remember going to get pizza Gilato, like 312 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: any live music I could find. 313 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, I fell in love with Nyochi Alfredo out there. 314 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 3: They wait Alfredo. Oh yeah. 315 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 2: They didn't like it when I would ask for it, but. 316 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 3: They there's no way they made this for you. 317 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 2: Well it was like a cream sauce. 318 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: But okay, I translated it's Alfreda when I came back 319 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: to the States. 320 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:49,559 Speaker 2: But uh oh, I loved it. 321 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 322 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 4: I think Florence is still one of my favorite city 323 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 4: in the entire world. I'm not sure if you had 324 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 4: the same experience, but there's just like this magical aura 325 00:13:57,240 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 4: about it, Like when you're in the city, it's just 326 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 4: it's small and welcoming and inviting, and there's just something 327 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 4: so unique about it. 328 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 3: I loved Florence so much. 329 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: Same, I'm right there with you, one of my favorite 330 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: cities I've ever visited. 331 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 3: Agreed, Oh beautiful. Do you ever go back? 332 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 4: Let's see, Well, when I was there, that was my 333 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 4: first season. The next season I was in Novara, which 334 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 4: was right outside Milan, Okay, so got to Florence whenever 335 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 4: I could, especially when we played the team there. And 336 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 4: then the third year I was in Parma, which is 337 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 4: like right in the middle of Italy, and was able 338 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 4: to go to Florence I think twice that year. So yeah, 339 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 4: whenever I can, I make it back there. 340 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 3: But I haven't made it back in a couple of 341 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 3: years now, so hopefully so Well. 342 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 2: You said that you read a lot, So what kind 343 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 2: of books do you do? 344 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 3: You still read a lot? 345 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: I do. 346 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 3: I've definitely transitioned. I would say when I was in. 347 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 4: My dark girl era back in Italy, it was more 348 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 4: reading a lot of military books, really into like, yeah, 349 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 4: kind of just World War two special ops, and so 350 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 4: I was reading a lot about that and their mentality 351 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 4: and how they kind of go about things, because what 352 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 4: they do is like the top of the top, right 353 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 4: in terms of just execution, teamwork, just mental capacity to 354 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 4: handle a lot of different things. 355 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 3: So I really appreciate that. 356 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 4: So I was reading a ton of those, a little 357 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 4: bit of self help, and I would say I've transitioned 358 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 4: away from that now. I'm way more into like the 359 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 4: Colleen Hoover's, the Emily Henry's, like we're reading summer beach 360 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 4: reads and romance, a little more lighter side of things. 361 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 3: So I would say that's my go to right. 362 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: Now, All right, do you guys have a book club 363 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: on the team, because I feel like a lot of 364 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: you read. 365 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 4: You know, I want to say at one point we 366 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 4: were kind of passing books around whenever we're on trips, 367 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 4: Like whenever we're overseas and we're on a three week trip. 368 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 4: It's like we each bring two books, we read it, 369 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 4: and then we pass it around to each other. So 370 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 4: that's been lovely and something that we've done in the 371 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 4: past couple of years. 372 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: All right, yeah, Well, so going back to the US 373 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: women's team, now, I know in twenty twenty. 374 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: You were one of the women who was not. 375 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: Picked for the twelve roster, So what was going through 376 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: your mind? Did that make you want to train harder, 377 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: did it make you want to stop playing? 378 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 2: What was what was your thought process? 379 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, I would say a little bit of everything. Right. 380 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 4: So we were in a bubble when we got the announcement, 381 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 4: So that part, I think was honestly the hardest, just 382 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 4: having to we're all in the same hotel, like my 383 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 4: teammates are across the hall, and having to digest all 384 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 4: that information and the reality of it in you know, 385 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 4: twelve hours before we have to decide whether or not 386 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 4: we're going to go to practice the next day, because 387 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 4: we were given the freedom to choose, if you're not 388 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 4: one of the twelve, take a day and you know, 389 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 4: take your time to kind of digest the information, and 390 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 4: so as alternates, we all chose like, hey, we're here 391 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 4: for the team. 392 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 3: This is our priority. 393 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 4: Even though it sucks that we didn't make the roster 394 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 4: and it's really hard, we're gonna we're here to do 395 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 4: the hard things. And so we decided to go to 396 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 4: practice that day and give everything we could to our teammates, 397 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 4: and yeah, it was hard. It was It was really 398 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 4: tough to just be like, dang, this is a team 399 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 4: that's going to go represent us in Tokyo. And obviously 400 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 4: they chose the best group they could and they won 401 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 4: gold and they've done incredible things for this program and 402 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 4: so seeing that result at the end of it made 403 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 4: it worth it, but didn't make it easier, of course not. 404 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 4: And so after that went home for I think we 405 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 4: got one week, two weeks for you maybe, and was 406 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 4: just with friends and family and got back in the gym, 407 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 4: and at that point it was like, Okay, I'm just 408 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 4: going to be the best teammate I can possibly be like, 409 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 4: we are here to again do the hard things, and 410 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 4: so practicing all the way up until they left for Tokyo. 411 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 3: It did take me a little bit. 412 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 4: I went to Turkey after that for my professional team, 413 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 4: and it was hard to be like, all right, it's 414 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 4: time to flip the switch, and we're looking forward to 415 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,239 Speaker 4: the next squad, We're looking forward to what's next. So 416 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:50,199 Speaker 4: I would say it took me a little bit to 417 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 4: kind of get back on track, But within a few 418 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 4: weeks I was like, all right, we're going to get better. 419 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 3: We're going to make sure that this doesn't happen again. 420 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 2: What advice do you have two girls women? 421 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, any players who hit that point where they want 422 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: to make this team, they you know, they're good enough 423 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: to make this team, and then obviously not everyone can 424 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: make it, right, So what advice do you have for 425 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: anyone who's in that spot. 426 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 4: I think one is before the decision is even made, 427 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 4: just give yourself the best chance possible. Even now as 428 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 4: we're going through this process of being hopefully on the 429 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 4: roster of twelve for Paris, it's am I doing everything 430 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 4: I possibly can so that at the end of the day, I. 431 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 3: Don't have any regrets. 432 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 4: So that's the first thing, is like going one hundred 433 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 4: and ten percent in every single day. The second thing 434 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 4: is just being a really good teammate and knowing that, like, hey, 435 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 4: a roster is going to be chosen. There is basically 436 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 4: a decision to be made, and it doesn't take away 437 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 4: anything from you as a player, as a person. The 438 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,919 Speaker 4: roster just didn't go your way this time, and so 439 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 4: there's this balance of acceptance but also like making it 440 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 4: as hard as you can on the coaches or the staff, 441 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 4: whoever it may be, to make that decision. And then 442 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 4: I think the biggest thing for me, especially now being 443 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 4: at the end of this journey, is like, again, I 444 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 4: don't want any regrets. I don't want anything saying oh 445 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 4: I left this on the table. So yeah, give your role, 446 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 4: be the best teammate you can possibly be. Support others 447 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 4: because there's no point in bringing other people down. People 448 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 4: are going to see that it's being very inauthentic, and 449 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 4: so yeah, just be the best you can and make 450 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 4: the decision as hard as possible for the staff. 451 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 2: For the final twelve is it just the coaches decidning. 452 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 3: As far as I know now that the case was different. 453 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 3: In Tokyo. 454 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 4: It was a staff and us girls also voted, so 455 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 4: it was kind of a team wide. 456 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 3: I think it was just where our team was at. 457 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 4: We hadn't played together in a year because of COVID, 458 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 4: and so it was more about like vibes and feelings 459 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 4: and who was the best fit and who would. 460 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 3: You want to go to war with next to you. 461 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 4: So again I'm not sure if that's the case this 462 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 4: time around, but either way, like I know our team, 463 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 4: we've set ourselves up well to make that decision if 464 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 4: it comes to it. 465 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 2: You girls seem very close. 466 00:19:59,280 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 3: Yeah. 467 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 1: I looked at your instagrams and everything, and it's like 468 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 1: a lot of awesome pictures in different locations, girls visiting 469 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: each other in different cities, birthday party, celebration stuff like that. 470 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 2: Do you just find that. 471 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: Everyone's easy to connect with because you've been on this 472 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: incredible journey together or is it also just about who 473 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: you all are as a person? 474 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 4: First off, I think we have the best girls on 475 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 4: the entire planet. Like literally I'm having conversations with people 476 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 4: in the weight room or just when we're at lunch 477 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,880 Speaker 4: or dinner, whatever it may be, and I'm like, these 478 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 4: girls are incredible, not only humans, but athletes and just 479 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 4: people like who they are to their core. And I 480 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 4: think that is a major key as to why we 481 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 4: are so successful and why we are so close is 482 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 4: because we're all friends. And we were actually talking about 483 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 4: this the other day, where it's like, we're so lucky 484 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 4: to be in a team setting and a team sport 485 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 4: where you have friends built in, Like you don't need 486 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 4: to go into the community and say like, oh, I'm 487 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 4: gonna go this group and see this Facebook friend place 488 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 4: and no, like, we are each other's people and there's 489 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 4: a lot of power in that. And so between being 490 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 4: just genuine great humans having a built in sense of 491 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,919 Speaker 4: friendship on a team, and then us being on this 492 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 4: journey now for almost eight years, the majority of us 493 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,920 Speaker 4: we've gone through a lot of hard things. We've all 494 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 4: played overseas for many years and understand the dynamics of 495 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,160 Speaker 4: being over there and how valuable it is to meet 496 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 4: up with each other in East Tumbul or Italy wherever 497 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 4: it may be, even if it's just to speak English. 498 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 3: For a couple hours. 499 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 4: There is so many of these like nuances that people 500 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 4: outside of our bubble are circle just can't comprehend or understand. 501 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 4: And so there's great friendships that are going to last 502 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,120 Speaker 4: a lifetime. And it's not only because we're doing great 503 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 4: things on the court, but because we truly enjoy each 504 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 4: other's company off the court as well. 505 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: And a bunch of you are now going to be 506 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: playing with each other. Yeah for love, I mean Madison, 507 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: o Maha for some of the girls. You know, So 508 00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 1: what does it feel like to know that you're now 509 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,640 Speaker 1: playing together again but in the States and families close by. 510 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,880 Speaker 4: It's so fun now because we get to see each 511 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 4: other literally every single weekend on our home turfs with 512 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 4: all of our friends and family. 513 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,360 Speaker 3: Until like that alone, I'm like. 514 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 4: Say less, I was, I was in because it's like 515 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 4: I get to play with these people and play against 516 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 4: these people, which is like it's college all over again, 517 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,160 Speaker 4: but now at an even higher level of volleyball, which 518 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 4: is insane to think about. 519 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 3: And so yeah, I'm just so. 520 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 4: Pumped to be able to be building this from the 521 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 4: ground up with these incredible women. 522 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 1: And yep, another fun fact coming your way. I just 523 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 1: wanted to quickly give you the lay of the land 524 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: about how League one Volleyball will work in its inaugural season. 525 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: There are six teams located in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha, 526 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: and Salt Lake City, and nine of the twelve women 527 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: playing on TMOSA at the Paris Olympics are playing in 528 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: the league. Preseason starts in November this year, with the 529 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:01,719 Speaker 1: regular season beginning in January twenty twenty five. So get excited, 530 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: all right. Now back to Lauren. 531 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 3: I think we're going about things the right way. 532 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 4: We have the right people on board, and so I'm 533 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 4: just so excited to see what it brings and then 534 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 4: the results of all this. 535 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 2: Correct me if I'm wrong. But were you considering retiring 536 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 2: from volleyball at some point? 537 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 3: What did you want to do? 538 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 2: Like, what were you ready to do or thought you 539 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:22,159 Speaker 2: were ready to do? 540 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 4: Who knows, I would say honestly, I didn't know. I 541 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 4: think a couple of years ago, before professional volleyball talks 542 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 4: were in the question for the United States, I kind 543 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 4: of knew after two quads I was going to be 544 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 4: done with national team, and so that also means done professionally, 545 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 4: Like I wouldn't want to just play overseas just to 546 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 4: play overseas, and so it was kind of like this 547 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 4: great Abyss that I was looking. 548 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 3: Into, and I had no idea what was on the 549 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 3: other side of it. 550 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 4: So it was kind of just incredible timing and luck 551 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 4: that Love came into the picture and was like, hey, 552 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 4: right after Paris, we're launching this league. 553 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 3: And I was like, my. 554 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 4: Body steel feels pretty good and the mind is feeling 555 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 4: pretty good too. And so when they said a possible 556 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:05,879 Speaker 4: team is going to be a Madison, I was like, 557 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 4: where do I sign? It was just right time, right place, 558 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 4: right people. It was kind of yeah, this like synergy 559 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 4: of things happening. I like don't even like to think 560 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 4: about what would have happened if I didn't. Maybe I 561 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 4: would have tried to get into coaching. That's kind of 562 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 4: been like peaking my interest as. 563 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 3: Of late at the college level. At least for now. 564 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 3: It's let's play. 565 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 4: Let's see what this league can do, Let's see what 566 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 4: this team has built, this program is built, and yeah, 567 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:30,919 Speaker 4: let's let's. 568 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 3: Give it a run. 569 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 2: So you're gonna be back in Madison. 570 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, So I have to ask you this, because you're 571 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: from Aurora, Illinois. 572 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 2: Are you a Bears fan or a Packers fan? 573 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 3: Oh God, I gotta go on record now. 574 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: Because I feel like that's you know, it's a. 575 00:24:59,960 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 3: H Listen, well, listen. 576 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:03,959 Speaker 4: If we're being honest, the Packers are way better, okay, 577 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,120 Speaker 4: but I cannot say, can't say their slogan. 578 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 3: I just cannot say. I'm sorry Packers fans. 579 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,640 Speaker 4: I'm unfortunately a Bears fan for now until they're good. 580 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 4: I don't think they've been good since like two thousand 581 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 4: and five. They made one good run back in the day, 582 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:20,960 Speaker 4: and since then it's just been sad. But my dad, Tony, 583 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 4: he's still wearing his Bear stuff every single Sunday just 584 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 4: to lose. Since I'm from Chicago, I have to say 585 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 4: I'm a Bears fan, all right, enough, I'm more of 586 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 4: a player's girl. 587 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:32,679 Speaker 3: I follow people that I like who played at Wisconsin. 588 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 4: We became friends, so now they're you know, in the 589 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 4: Steelers or Texans, whatever it may be. 590 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 3: So we're your Steelers gal. She's a Pittsburgh gal, all right. 591 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,479 Speaker 1: I had to ask because I'm like that that's you know, 592 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:46,920 Speaker 1: those are warring factions, right. 593 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 3: Oh, that's for sure, that's for sure. 594 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, But I will say, sorry, Spotted Cow is the best, 595 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 4: like Wisconsin beers where it's at really oh yeah, the 596 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 4: brewery scene is popping off up there. Yeah, Milwaukee brewers. 597 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: I know a bunch of beer in like some places, 598 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:06,120 Speaker 1: but at the bigger names less than like ye smaller 599 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:08,679 Speaker 1: craft beers that are popping up around that probably make 600 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: for better beer. 601 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 3: Exactly. 602 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 4: You got to go those little, local, small businesses exactly. 603 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: So I want to ask you a question that I 604 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 1: don't know if you'll you're prepared to answer, But let's 605 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: see what you got. What if something that no one 606 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: really knows about you that you want people to know 607 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 1: about you? 608 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:32,239 Speaker 4: So I am I love dogs so much? Okay, I 609 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 4: really do. So I'm I just started a rover, like 610 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 4: literally two weeks ago because I want to go walk dogs, 611 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,199 Speaker 4: like I'm missing my three dogs from home, and so 612 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 4: I'm thinking about starting a dog walking business in Madison 613 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 4: when I get there. Just putting that out there for 614 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 4: anyone's dogs, you need to. 615 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 3: Be walked or watched or fed or played with. So yeah, 616 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 3: I'm a big dog lover. 617 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 4: Joined a couple of animal shelters as well, just to 618 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:58,960 Speaker 4: like go and help out and volunteer not. 619 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 3: Related to dogs, because I feel like that's such an 620 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:01,199 Speaker 3: easy thing, right. 621 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 4: Everyone loves dogs unless you're a cat person, your cat person, 622 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,360 Speaker 4: I am. Most of our team are cat people, really yeah, 623 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 4: because they're easy to take overseas that you just take 624 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 4: them in their little carrier and gt doo. But I 625 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 4: don't know when I'm gonna get a dog, hopefully someone 626 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 4: in the new here something else. 627 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 2: Do you have time? 628 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: Yes, type of dog, but you know to are you 629 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 1: kind of adopting, you know, just bringing the love of 630 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: whoever needs love? 631 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 4: I do like, okay, this is so again, I'm very 632 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:35,440 Speaker 4: basic Golden retrievers, right, I do love like burna doodles, 633 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:36,920 Speaker 4: but I think they have a lot of health problems. 634 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 4: My dogs now, they're called Walruses. They are shar Pay 635 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 4: mixes with either basset hound or beagle, so they're a 636 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 4: little scrunchy guys. 637 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 3: They're so cute though. 638 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 4: I think you got to let the dogs speak to you, right, 639 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 4: You got to make eye contact and like feel their energy. 640 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 3: That sounds so weird. 641 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,199 Speaker 2: But no, though, because dogs me, it's a personality thing. 642 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 3: Totally, yeah, totally other than dogs. 643 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 4: No, I'm just a really like I'm a really big foodie, 644 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 4: I will say, And so I don't know. I would 645 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 4: totally love to start my own business one day. Or 646 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 4: be like co founder of you know, cafe, wine bar, 647 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:15,199 Speaker 4: whatever it may be attached to a yoga studio. Like 648 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 4: I am a little bit more than volleyball, A little bit. 649 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 2: I like to mean, I like means you're five, right, 650 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:22,720 Speaker 2: So I am. 651 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,399 Speaker 3: Vulleyble No, but it's yeah. 652 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 4: I love to eat and drink, explore new places, and 653 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 4: I love to do yoga. I love cross training with yoga. 654 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,479 Speaker 4: I think it's a really great balance just to stay limber. 655 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 4: You probably want something a little more deep there, But 656 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 4: that's all I got for you. 657 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 2: Emptyep because I love that. Yeah, because I love food too, 658 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 2: I'm just do you cook? 659 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 3: I do? I would say, I'm like the twenty minute 660 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 3: sheep pan queen. 661 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 2: Oh, so like what's your specialty? 662 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 4: Oh, usually it's salmon with some type of like I 663 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 4: like sweet potatoes especially, and then I'll throw a couple 664 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 4: of vegetables on there, because you gotta balance. I also 665 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 4: when I was in Italy, I mean pasta and just 666 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 4: the quality of ingredients there are so good, and so 667 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 4: I would just make different pastas like every other night. 668 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 3: But salmon is a really big one for me. Love 669 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 3: my fish. 670 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: You and my husband literally make the same meal he 671 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: makes either chicken or salmon and steat potatoes with a sound. 672 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 3: Oh mister health right, yeah, we love that. 673 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 2: Not me. 674 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 3: You're like, where's my doughnuts for dessert? 675 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 4: Pancakes, speaking of I know now that they're cold, that's fine. 676 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 2: Pancakes are good at all temperatures. 677 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 4: I'd love me a good like breakfast for dinner. Pancakes, waffles. 678 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 4: People really get into, Like, what is it the chicken 679 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 4: and waffles. That's the one thing I can get into. Eh, 680 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 4: it's like a Southern thing, I think. Yeah, yeah, I'm 681 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 4: from the North. 682 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm from Northeast, so I like, I like just 683 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: like my bread products with butter. 684 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. 685 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 4: Literally I remember when Okay it's still the case now. 686 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 4: If you walked into my dad's house, but there's like 687 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 4: one of my friends Sarah, she would walk into the 688 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 4: house and she'd be like, Oh, there's the carb because 689 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 4: it was just bread, just white bread, rolls. You got 690 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 4: the hot dogs, hamburger buns, everything, and. 691 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, big carb household. So going back to volleyball, Yeah, 692 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 3: what do. 693 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:15,240 Speaker 1: You want your legacy to be, especially now that you're 694 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 1: able to play here in the States and FAMI people. 695 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 3: I think for me, it was. 696 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,720 Speaker 4: I guess it is about growing the game, especially in 697 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 4: Wisconsin in Madison. 698 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 3: I think these fans deserve it. 699 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 4: They've been with us since day one and it's just 700 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:33,000 Speaker 4: only grown in terms of popularity and attendance and buy 701 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:37,080 Speaker 4: in from them especially. 702 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 1: All right, last fun fact of the episode, Wisconsin has 703 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: definitely led the way when it comes to popularity in 704 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 1: women's volleyball. Back in twenty twenty two, the Badger set 705 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 1: the record for the highest attended women's sporting event in 706 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 1: state history and the largest indoor crowd for an NCAA 707 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 1: volleyball match all time, with sixteen thousand people in attendance. 708 00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:00,280 Speaker 1: They then broke those records in twenty twenty three when 709 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 1: they had seventeen thousand, thirty seven fans in attendance. Not 710 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:08,760 Speaker 1: to be outdone, but their rival did outdo them when 711 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 1: Nebraska set the world record for the largest attendance at 712 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 1: a women's sporting event in September twenty twenty four with 713 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 1: over ninety two thousand fans. Lauren and I will get 714 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 1: more into this in just a minute, but let's get 715 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:23,960 Speaker 1: back to her excitement of playing again in Wisconsin. 716 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 4: And so of course starting it on my home grounds. 717 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 4: Of Madison and growing the game. They're making as big 718 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 4: as possible, as popular as possible, and expanding that nationally. 719 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 3: I think we're there. I think it's the right time, 720 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 3: it's the right place. 721 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 4: Like I said, the right people are on board, the 722 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 4: numbers are speaking for themselves that it's time for volleyball 723 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:46,160 Speaker 4: to take off. And so I want to be a 724 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:48,600 Speaker 4: part of that. I want to be a spokesperson for love. 725 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 4: I want to be Yeah, I guess just show that 726 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 4: passion through my play and how I present myself in 727 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 4: the community. 728 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:57,479 Speaker 3: So that is kind of what I want to leave 729 00:31:57,520 --> 00:31:58,479 Speaker 3: behind love that. 730 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, speaking of number and how it's clearly growing, Nebraska 731 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:05,760 Speaker 1: just set the record for most in attendance of a 732 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:09,280 Speaker 1: female or a women's sporting event, but Wisconsin held that before. 733 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 4: For volley Oh, we're just like, yeah, we're just like 734 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 4: going back and forth. 735 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 3: I love it. I love it, And. 736 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 4: It's one of these things where you know, John Coke 737 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 4: and Kelly Stiffield are kind of going back and forth 738 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:25,280 Speaker 4: and it's great for the game, Like you couldn't ask 739 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 4: for anything more in terms of two figureheads who are like, hey, 740 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 4: how can we make this even bigger? How can we 741 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 4: make this even better, and it's healthy competition, and it's 742 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 4: drawing the attention of everyone nationally, and on the grander 743 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 4: scheme of things, you have people like Kate and Clark 744 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 4: and NC double A women's basketball, where I think I 745 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:46,719 Speaker 4: can attest that the women's game was a little bit 746 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 4: more visible and you can name more women on the 747 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 4: court versus the men's NC double A. 748 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 3: So we're seeing the shift in. 749 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 4: Dynamics of men's and women's sports, and women's really starting 750 00:32:56,720 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 4: to take off, and so writing the coattails in a 751 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:01,280 Speaker 4: sense and kind of starting to pave our own path 752 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:03,080 Speaker 4: in the volleyball world. I think we're on the right 753 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 4: track and I'm really excited to see where this goes. 754 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: Well, speaking of the college game, I mean, these girls, 755 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:12,040 Speaker 1: guys and girls, right, they now are able to capitalize 756 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,400 Speaker 1: things to nil get their names out more. 757 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:17,000 Speaker 3: When you were playing, did you ever think that would happen? 758 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:20,200 Speaker 4: No, you can take a granola bar without getting yelled at. 759 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:25,680 Speaker 4: I mean it was like, oh, it's downpouring rain and sleeting, 760 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 4: but coaches can't give you a ride home, so they're 761 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 4: like have fun walking. Now girls are getting cars and 762 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 4: you know, whatever else you want but I think it's 763 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 4: great that the game is going in that direction to 764 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 4: be able to, you know, monetize ourselves. I think when 765 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 4: I was in school, it was more like we didn't 766 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 4: really question it. It was just like, hey, this is 767 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:45,640 Speaker 4: the way it is. 768 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 3: It stinks, you know, like it would have been nice. 769 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:50,800 Speaker 4: To have some jersey sales or you know, have a 770 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:53,400 Speaker 4: coffee brand. Who was like here, take a free cup 771 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 4: every five times? 772 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:56,480 Speaker 2: Or did your cafe back in college? 773 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 3: What could have been? 774 00:33:57,560 --> 00:33:57,720 Speaker 2: What? 775 00:33:58,000 --> 00:33:58,920 Speaker 3: Yeah? 776 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 4: But here we are now and people are, you know, 777 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:05,719 Speaker 4: rightfully so getting what is deserved as athletes and you know, 778 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 4: their image. 779 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 3: So I think it's great. 780 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:09,600 Speaker 4: Do I think it's a little wild right now with 781 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:14,440 Speaker 4: the transfer portal and NIL and sponsorships and all of this, Maybe, 782 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:17,520 Speaker 4: but I think again, it's good to be able to 783 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:20,040 Speaker 4: have freedom. Now we can reel it back a little 784 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 4: bit maybe later, but amazing where we're at and where 785 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 4: the sport's going now. 786 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:26,719 Speaker 1: I know that you obviously didn't experience the NIL and 787 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:28,719 Speaker 1: all this kind of stuff, but seeing it now and 788 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 1: kind of being older and having a more adult mindset 789 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:34,719 Speaker 1: towards it. What kind of advice do you have for 790 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:38,680 Speaker 1: girls who want to play volleyball and are coming up 791 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:41,319 Speaker 1: that are soon going to have this opportunity for. 792 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:42,239 Speaker 2: Nil as well. 793 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:44,799 Speaker 4: Embrace it, right, Like, you only get four years of it, 794 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 4: and you have four years to kind of promote yourself 795 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:50,040 Speaker 4: and you have these amazing opportunities at your hands, and 796 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:53,480 Speaker 4: so doing that and really using your full potential, but 797 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:56,040 Speaker 4: at the same time really being smart about your money. 798 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:58,399 Speaker 4: Like I think people talk about the MBA a lot, 799 00:34:58,480 --> 00:34:59,960 Speaker 4: and people who all of a sudden come into mind 800 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 4: and then two years later they're broke because they don't 801 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 4: know how to handle all of this. And so I 802 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:07,280 Speaker 4: think that's another dynamic that's going to come into play 803 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:09,880 Speaker 4: where it's like, hey, let's be really smart about this 804 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:12,319 Speaker 4: and let's take care of our money and not just 805 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 4: blow it all on one car. It's okay, are we 806 00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:19,839 Speaker 4: doing what we enjoy? Are we finding joy in this 807 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 4: and does it bring me, you know, passion also? And 808 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:25,000 Speaker 4: how are we being smart about this so that we 809 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:27,719 Speaker 4: can kind of grow on it and live on this 810 00:35:27,800 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 4: for a while because that money is there, and I 811 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:31,839 Speaker 4: think that's something really cool. 812 00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 1: So with love starting with the growth of women's sports 813 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:39,200 Speaker 1: and volleyball, where do you see the sport in five 814 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:41,280 Speaker 1: ten years, Where do you much to see the sport? 815 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:42,520 Speaker 3: Where I hope to see the sport. 816 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:47,160 Speaker 4: I hope that we're regularly on national TV channels every 817 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 4: almost every single game is being shown on these channels. 818 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:53,600 Speaker 4: Thousands and one hundred thousands. This is normal for us 819 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:56,799 Speaker 4: for our viewership. In terms of in arena matches, I 820 00:35:56,840 --> 00:35:59,040 Speaker 4: want us playing in big arenas. I want us having 821 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:02,759 Speaker 4: that experience, but also having the fans experience it so 822 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:04,600 Speaker 4: they're not feeling like they're in the nose Blades and 823 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:06,319 Speaker 4: they're watching Nose Blade game. 824 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:08,719 Speaker 3: No, it's hey, we are all immersed in it. 825 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:10,840 Speaker 4: Like, how do we make this best not only for 826 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:13,799 Speaker 4: the players, for the athletes, coaches, but how do we 827 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 4: make it also a great fan experience? And I think 828 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:17,920 Speaker 4: this is something the NFL has done a great job of. 829 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:20,680 Speaker 4: Is they have jumbo chons everywhere. They have those, you 830 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 4: guys would know better with the cameras and diving on 831 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 4: the field and making it look like a video game, Like, 832 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:29,040 Speaker 4: how do we make our sport that but make it feminine, 833 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:31,719 Speaker 4: make it very powerful? And I think it's going to 834 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:34,920 Speaker 4: be really cool change in dynamic the next couple of years. 835 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:36,920 Speaker 4: But I wanted to be the next biggest thing. I 836 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:39,960 Speaker 4: wanted to be the next big pro league in the States. 837 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:42,320 Speaker 2: I love it so much. Yeah, well, thank you so 838 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:44,279 Speaker 2: much for your time. I want to we got it. Cheers. Oh, 839 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:47,600 Speaker 2: because this is a wonderful conversation. And thank you, thank you, 840 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:49,920 Speaker 2: thank you for having pancakes. 841 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:51,719 Speaker 3: Oh, of course, my pleasure anytime. 842 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:56,640 Speaker 1: Serving Cancakes is an iHeart women's sports production. You can 843 00:36:56,680 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 1: find Serving Cancakes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 844 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:04,480 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. I'm your host, Tiffany Oshinski. 845 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:09,040 Speaker 1: Anya oliverrez is our senior producer. Our executive producers are 846 00:37:09,120 --> 00:37:12,280 Speaker 1: Carrie Stett, Tamaradiki, and Lindsay Hoffman. 847 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:14,880 Speaker 2: Our marketing lead is Jawara Parker. 848 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:19,120 Speaker 1: Our theme music is Pancakes by Eric W. Mast Junior 849 00:37:19,719 --> 00:37:23,279 Speaker 1: special thanks to Lauren CARLINI. We'll be back next week 850 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 1: with Jordan Poulter, another accomplished setter who helped Team USA 851 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:30,239 Speaker 1: win their first gold at the Tokyo Olympics and who 852 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:33,640 Speaker 1: will be back this summer in Paris. Stay tuned for 853 00:37:33,719 --> 00:37:34,880 Speaker 1: what we serve up next.