1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Tiffney Oshinsky, and this is serving pancakes. Nope, 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: not a podcast about food. This is a podcast about 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: volleyball and more to you. A pancake is a fluffy, 4 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: syrup drenched breakfast food button volleyball. A pancake is a 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: high effort move when a player flattens her hand against 6 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: the ground to keep the ball in play. And that's 7 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: us digging into high efforts that are moving sports forward. 8 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: Listen in as I talk with the people making the 9 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: biggest impacts on global volleyball and women's sports perspectives, insights, 10 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: and behind the scenes stories, all with the side of pancakes. 11 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: Today's episode features a dominant outside hitter from Indianapolis, Indiana, 12 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: Danielle Katino. But Danielle wasn't always an opposite. She played 13 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: outside and middle before moving to AVO. Obviously a versatile player, 14 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: Danielle was named to the Big Ten All Freshman team 15 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: while her and was First team All American her senior year. 16 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: Danielle has been part of the US women's national team 17 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 1: since twenty nineteen and it's played professionally in Japan, Italy 18 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: and Brazil. Kaydanielle, thanks for coming over and having some pancakes, 19 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: so I have to ask, are you a big pancake fanya? 20 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 2: Okay, good? So what is your go to? 21 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 3: I love blueberry pancakes with butter and I think just syrup. 22 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 2: Did you have pancakes growing up as a child, like 23 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 2: with your family? 24 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, my mom makes the best pancakes. 25 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 2: What is your magic touch? 26 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 3: I don't know. She just knows how she'll flip it perfectly. 27 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 3: I don't know. I think it's when the bubbles start 28 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 3: to come up. I think they say that. 29 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: I have tried that and it is not always the 30 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: right thing. 31 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, something about the temperature has to be perfect or 32 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 3: it's going to get part. But yeah, I don't know 33 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 3: if she's perfect, Yeah, she must be. 34 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: Well, now getting into it. Growing up, before you ever 35 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: touched a volleyball, what did you want to be? 36 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 3: Wow, that's I'm like deep. Yeah, I actually wanted to 37 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 3: be a forensic analysis. Yeah. Yeah, I always wanted to 38 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 3: help in a way, and I would always watch the 39 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 3: shows when they catch the guy and I was like, oh, 40 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 3: how cool that technology, and so yeah, that's what I 41 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 3: wanted to be. Wow, I hadn't thought about that since 42 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 3: I was a kid. 43 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: But yeah, yeah, so you were watching like lawn order. 44 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 3: Yeah yeahs yes, I know, yeah yeah. But like I 45 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 3: thought it was so cool to have that capability of 46 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 3: okay with a fingerprint or like, you know, hair or something. 47 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 3: So I thought that was always so cool. 48 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 2: Oh my god, you shouldn't totally still go in. 49 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 3: Like that. 50 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: That's like a lifelong profession until you want to retire. Well, then, 51 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,119 Speaker 2: how'd you get into volleyball? 52 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 3: So I started off playing basketball because I was taller, 53 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 3: I had a big girl's spurt, and no one in 54 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 3: my family ever had playedolleyball. And I had a coach 55 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 3: who was over my older sister in high school and 56 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 3: he's Brenda Nor. One day he was like, you were 57 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 3: so tall, Like where have you been And she was like, 58 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 3: we had just moved to that school and she was like, 59 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 3: have you ever played volleyball? And she was like no. 60 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 3: And then she came home and told us and he 61 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 3: was like, oh, you have sisters too. I have a 62 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:19,519 Speaker 3: younger sister as well, and he's like, you got to 63 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 3: get them to try out, And so we tried out. 64 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 3: Never playing I was in eighth grade. My younger sister 65 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 3: at the time. We tried out together in the seventh 66 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 3: grade and we got cut. It was so embarrassing. I 67 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 3: was like, I didn't come out here for this, but 68 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,679 Speaker 3: I think it was something that piqued my curiosity and 69 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 3: I was like, I still want to try, and so 70 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 3: I tried again the next year and I made the team. 71 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 3: But yeah, that was like my MJ story. 72 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: So do you have fun memories of playing volleyball with 73 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: your sisters? 74 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 3: Yes. To be able to do that with my sisters 75 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 3: it was super cool. They've always been my biggest supporters, 76 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 3: along with my mom and dad. 77 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: So what made you switch from basketball to volleyball? Was 78 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: it just the curiosity and motivation after being cut? 79 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, well it was honestly. We did a lot of 80 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 3: running in basketball, and we did it in the off seat, 81 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 3: and volleyball was in the off season. I was like, 82 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 3: if I could just make this shame, I don't have 83 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 3: the running more suicides Like awesome, No, but honestly, like 84 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 3: I just wanted something else, to do something more, And 85 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 3: I felt like volleyball was more authentic to me because 86 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 3: it wasn't so physical, and I liked the idea of 87 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 3: still feeling really powerful and strong without having that physical context. 88 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 3: So the more I got to play, the more. I 89 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 3: fell in love with it. It just felt so natural. 90 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: So I used to play soccer and it was a 91 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: similar thing, both with the physicality. 92 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: Yeah and the running. 93 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, I can imagine. Actually yeah yeah. 94 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: I feel like a lot of my volleyball teammates that 95 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: I've played with, and even the ones i've met through. 96 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 2: You guys love It's like there's something about the running. 97 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 3: Yeah right, I know there's something. Yeah. I had friends 98 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 3: that played soccer too, and they'd like, yeah, we ran up, 99 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 3: like warmed up, run in a mile. I was like, 100 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 3: good goalie too, because that's kind of what I want 101 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 3: to be. But if she is doing that too, never 102 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 3: mint it. 103 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: So when did you know that you were a great 104 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 1: volleyball player? 105 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 2: Not just a good volleyball play, but a great volleyball player. 106 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 3: So I started playing my freshman year and I didn't 107 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 3: like play club or anything. And then there was this 108 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 3: shift of you should play in the off season, and 109 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 3: I was like, okay, I guess. And then my sophomore 110 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 3: year I played, and there was something that like clicked 111 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 3: from my freshman yor sophomore year with my arm swing. 112 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 3: And when I started to play club, I swear I'd 113 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 3: look around like on my cour and I'm like, there 114 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: are so many coaches here. I was just having fun. 115 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 3: So it was just like okay, and then I just 116 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 3: got so many letters. I'd never even had the idea 117 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 3: of playing past high school. I was still like kind 118 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 3: of intertwined with basketball, but then it became this thing 119 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 3: of like I was getting recruited more for volleyball than basketball, 120 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 3: so I was like, whoa, this is cool. And so 121 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 3: just having conversations with coaches and the way they saw 122 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 3: me potentially, I think that's what really opened my eyes 123 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 3: to be like, Okay, I can be really good. I 124 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 3: had the body type. My college coach would always tell 125 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 3: me like, yeah, you cands, and I was like, I 126 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 3: don't want to hear that big hands, but yeah. I 127 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 3: just think that he made me feel like it was 128 00:05:58,520 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 3: something that I could really step into. 129 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: My club president was always like, you can teach a 130 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: girl of volleyball, but you can't teach her height. 131 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 2: You're like, what was the same on me? 132 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 3: It's so funny, Yeah, but it's sure. 133 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,359 Speaker 1: I mean, if you have the physical attributes to be 134 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: able to play, then it'll come more actually to you. 135 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,359 Speaker 1: I feel like, so, why did you choose perdue in 136 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: the end. 137 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 3: So I'm from Indiana and the school in Indiana usually SAYU, 138 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 3: and so I didn't know a lot about Purdue like 139 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 3: Super up North. 140 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 1: Hey, guys, I wanted to share a fun fact about 141 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: Purdue volleyball real quick. So the women's indoor team debuted 142 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy five with Carol Dewey as head coach. 143 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: Then it became Purdue's first women's revenue sport in nineteen 144 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: seventy nine, and Dewey became a full time coach. Since 145 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: its inception, the Boilermakers women's team has had only four 146 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: head coaches, with Dave Schandell being the current coach. Shandell 147 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: took over in two thousand and three and was the 148 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: one who recruited and coached Danielle. Now back to the interview, 149 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: and I. 150 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 3: Remember I went on a visit and I felt like 151 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 3: my mom had to drag me there. I was like, 152 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 3: I don't want to know. I want to go out 153 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 3: of state. I want to be away. Like then I 154 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 3: went and I was like, WHOA, this is a whole 155 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 3: different world watching the volleyball game, watching how invested the 156 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 3: fans were and how much they knew of the game. 157 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 3: I was like, this is so cool, and I felt 158 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: like it was something that I really wanted to be 159 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 3: a part of. And I love Dave my coach there 160 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 3: in John and they're like a family, and I felt 161 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 3: like I could relate to that, and Dave and John 162 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 3: are actually family. But with my sister and I, I 163 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 3: was like, this is cool. I just felt like it 164 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 3: was something really special, and like I knew the Big 165 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 3: Ten was one of the best leagues and so I 166 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 3: was like, Okay, I want to be a part of 167 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 3: that as well. So I think just going and experiencing 168 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 3: the culture there really opened my eyes, Like whoa, this 169 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 3: isn't just volleyball. It's really like a family that I'm 170 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 3: being at it too. So that was cool for me. 171 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 2: And then your stenior year, your sister played right, Yes, yeah, 172 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 2: what was that like? Having the family dynamic? 173 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 3: It was so cool. My younger sister and I were 174 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 3: so close in age, and like I felt like we 175 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 3: fought a lot in sincerely ways, like just yeah, like whatever, 176 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 3: and going to school together, I just felt like our 177 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 3: relationship really grew and it was really cool to experience 178 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 3: college with her, and like also volleyball and all the 179 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,239 Speaker 3: things that happened in between. So it was amazing, And 180 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 3: I'm grateful that, in addition to like being a part 181 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 3: of a family that I felt like Purdue was, my 182 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 3: sister could be there and experience that too. So it 183 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 3: was amazing. I'm grateful that Dave and John and Kat 184 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 3: and all them gave us all a chance and allowed 185 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 3: us to be a part of that family at the Barrel, 186 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 3: and so it was amazing. 187 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: Now, also in college, you did a big switch where 188 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 1: you went from middle hitter to outside hitter. Yeah, so 189 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: for all of the people listening to this, can you 190 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: explain what the biggest differences between middle and outside hitter 191 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: is before I ask you your next question? 192 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I get like middle set usually on a great 193 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 3: pass and like you don't have to worry about anything. 194 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 3: You're just going up the balls there and you're hitting 195 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 3: it and it's amazing and you're just blocking and reacting. 196 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 3: Outside is a lot more technique and I didn't have that. 197 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 3: It was a lot more outlet kind of situations, which 198 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 3: I was used to just being in that perfect, perfect situation. 199 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 3: So yeah, that was the biggest difference for me of 200 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 3: just like what other skills do I need to get 201 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 3: good at and it was all of them. I think 202 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 3: it's just being a more rounded player. 203 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: What was that transition, Like, how long did it take 204 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 1: you to finally feel comfortable as an outside hitter. 205 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 3: It probably took maybe two years. It was really hard. 206 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 3: It was one of the hardest things I had ever 207 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 3: had to do. I think, you know, when I do 208 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 3: camps or anything and the girls ask like, what advice 209 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 3: do you have, and I'm like, look, you better get 210 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 3: good at all those skills because you don't know when 211 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 3: you're gonna like, you don't know what's going to happen. 212 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 3: It's just good to have. I felt like it just 213 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 3: helped me to grow and being uncomfortable and confident in 214 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 3: who I can be as a player, because without that, 215 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 3: I was just very much in my like space of like, 216 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 3: I'm good at this and that's all. So it challenged 217 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 3: me and I'm grateful for because I've been much since 218 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,079 Speaker 3: that transition, and you know, volleyball, and I don't think 219 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 3: that if I would have experienced that before that, I 220 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 3: would have been able to get to where I am now. 221 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 1: So one of the other big things to move from 222 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: a middle hitter to an outside hitter is the middle 223 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: hitter is always blocking and outside you gotta play defense. 224 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: My tall teammates loved playing defense. Did you like playing defense? 225 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 3: Yeah? It was more of like trying to figure out 226 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 3: how to hit the ground. Like I'm a tall girl, 227 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 3: so I'm like, how do I hit the ground without 228 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 3: busting my knee? And that was the big But I do. 229 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 3: I really do like to play defense. And that's what 230 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 3: I liked about middle is I like to go get 231 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 3: the ball, blocking and to be able to be more 232 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 3: involved in the play outside of that, it was so fun. 233 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 3: So I actually do like playing defense. 234 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 2: Did you figure out how to die properly? 235 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 3: I did? 236 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. 237 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 3: It did take some like bruise tips and knees, but yeah, 238 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 3: there are times I'm like, I'm kind of afraid to 239 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 3: hit the ground right now, I'm not warm. 240 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 1: But yeah, Oh I remember there were tournaments when I 241 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: was playing and I was like, look at this grue 242 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 1: battles exactly. 243 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 3: Yeah. 244 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 2: Then I proved my word on that court exactly. 245 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 3: That's so funny. 246 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: So why didn't you know that you wanted to keep 247 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 1: playing after college? 248 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 3: Yeah? Oh, that's a great question. So I played with 249 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 3: Annie and we'll probably talk about that, but she was 250 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 3: one of the first people that I knew that had 251 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 3: graduated to go play abroad. So before I didn't even 252 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 3: know what that possibility was because I was just so 253 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 3: excited to graduate and go to school, like that was 254 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 3: my biggest thing, Like, Oh, I went to college and 255 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 3: you know, so that was amazing. And then Annie went 256 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 3: to go play in Puerto Rico and I was like, oh, 257 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 3: you can play after and do more. Like it was 258 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 3: so kind of hush hush. So it was around that 259 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 3: time a bunch of other girls that were in the 260 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 3: Big Ten, like Sarah will Hie and Hannah Tap and 261 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 3: all those girls that were going to go play, and 262 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 3: I was like, well, that sounds kind of fun. I 263 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 3: want to keep playing, and as long as I can 264 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 3: do something that doesn't really feel like a job, I 265 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:55,199 Speaker 3: want to be a part of that. 266 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 2: Well you majored in pharmacy, correct. 267 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 3: No, no, no, I started pharmacy. Was yeah, I'm communications. 268 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: It still says pharmacy on the US Women's website. 269 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 3: Oh really, Yeah, that was one of the hardest things 270 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 3: I've ever tried to do. 271 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: I was going to say, because pharmacy is a very 272 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: intense thing to do, especially while trying to. 273 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 3: Play exactly, that was what it was. Yeah, so you 274 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:18,559 Speaker 3: switched to coms. 275 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: Did you think that you were going to go into 276 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 1: communications television something like that afterwards? 277 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,079 Speaker 3: Was that kind of your vision? Yeah exactly. It felt 278 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 3: like something that was really natural for me and super fun. 279 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 3: Like all the classes that I took, I was like, Wow, 280 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 3: this is so cool, and so I just wanted to 281 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 3: stand that. And then obviously in sport too, I was like, 282 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 3: if I could do this and stand sport or whatever, 283 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:40,839 Speaker 3: that would be so cool. 284 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: So how did you end up finding your first professional team? 285 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 3: At the time, it was so funny, Like when we 286 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 3: were looking for agents, it was like on Facebook, someone's 287 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 3: messaging you and like, hey, you need an agent. I'm like, 288 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 3: this doesn't feel right yea. So there was a guy 289 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 3: that I knew a lot of girls worked with and 290 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 3: he knew my coach, and so I started working with 291 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 3: him and he was like, what do you think and 292 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 3: where are you wanting to go? And before I had 293 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 3: done a big ten trip to Italy, and then I 294 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 3: had done USA like a youth national thing in Italy too, 295 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 3: so I was like, I'd like to go to Italy. 296 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 3: It was really cool. I always wanted to go play 297 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 3: in Europe. I thought that it would be like a 298 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 3: really nice experience, and he was Italian, so he got 299 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 3: me a spot in the Italian League A one and 300 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 3: it was really really fun. 301 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: So throughout the years you've been playing professionally overseas, what 302 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: was your favorite thing to do during your downtime? 303 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 3: Probably the first thing, just candidly, nap. I was like 304 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 3: anytime I get taken. I didn't even nap in college, 305 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 3: but when you hit that, professionals like, if I can 306 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 3: get three hours or two hours whatever, I'll take too. 307 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,679 Speaker 3: I want to find it. But then also exploration. My 308 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 3: first year I had a Canadian teammate and she was 309 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 3: so cool, so nice, and she thinks she helped me 310 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:51,839 Speaker 3: get out of my comfort zone and she's like, let's 311 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 3: go do this, that and the other. So it was 312 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 3: really nice to have someone to go explore with, just 313 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 3: going to see boots and everything. It was really fun. 314 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 1: Is there like one big memory, key adventure that you 315 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: remember really well? 316 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 3: It was my first year we went to Verona, and 317 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 3: that's supposed to be the city that Romeo and Juliet met. 318 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 3: I was gonna say, I say, yeah, I always asked. 319 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 3: I'm like is this Are these real people but they're 320 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 3: looking at me. I was like, never mind, but yeah, 321 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 3: it was so cool. I actually went with my dad too, 322 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 3: and there's a huge coliseum and it was really easy 323 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 3: to walk and like navigate. So yeah, just seeing that 324 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 3: kind of like history and being like, oh, I'm here, 325 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 3: and like being there with my dad and also my 326 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 3: my roommate and my teammate too. At the time, it 327 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 3: was really cool. 328 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 2: That's awesome. 329 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: Now you're overseas four months at a time, and you 330 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,479 Speaker 1: are obviously very close. 331 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 2: With your family. How hard was that to be away 332 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 2: from them for so long? 333 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was really difficult, especially just with the time change, 334 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 3: and then also all the new feelings of like I 335 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 3: feel a little like homesick, and then I also like 336 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 3: I'm enjoying my time here a lot too, but I 337 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 3: want to experience it with my family. And I remember 338 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 3: when I had first gotten to Italy, I kept having 339 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 3: this reoccurring dream of like we'd have an off day 340 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 3: or off days, and then all of my teammates were 341 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 3: like Italians they would go home, but in my dream, 342 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 3: I would like talk to my mom and she was like, 343 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 3: why don't you just come home? And I was like, 344 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 3: why don't I just come home and then I'd wake up. 345 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 3: But I was like I had that dream again, like 346 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 3: because it was a realization of I'm really far even 347 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 3: when I was at school, I could drive down and 348 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 3: see my mom in like an hour, my dad and 349 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 3: like my sister was with me. But experiencing all these 350 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 3: things alone and just really trying to make the most 351 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 3: of it, but also feeling a little lonely for sure. 352 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: How often were they able to come out and how 353 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:34,479 Speaker 1: did you kind of get over the loneliness. 354 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, they would come out once a year. Yeah, and 355 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 3: I would talk to them a lot too. But it 356 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 3: was something that I realized, this is the transition of 357 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 3: my life of like, Okay, I'm fasing into I'm not 358 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 3: going to see my family as much, you know. So 359 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 3: it was that realization of to pursue this dream, there 360 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 3: are sacrifices that I have to make. 361 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: You're an opposite hitter, Now did that happen in the 362 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: international teams or when you got to the US women's team. 363 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 3: I started to play pro before I came into the gym, 364 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 3: but my first year broad I started to play opposite 365 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 3: So that was really hard. 366 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, so you go from middle to outside, which is 367 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: a transition, and then outside to opposite, which for you 368 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: know the people listening who might not know, that's when 369 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: the center usually does the vaccine. 370 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, So. 371 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: What was that transition like, because you've seen them all. 372 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, Oh my goodness, it was. It was really hard 373 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 3: because also the internationally, you're playing six rotations. So even 374 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 3: in college, that outside hitter wouldn't play the back row 375 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 3: if we had a sub and I didn't do that. 376 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 3: So then transitioning from that overseas, the level of play 377 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 3: is just different, like the rules are different. That that's 378 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 3: an adjustment in itself. And then like. 379 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: I bet you were wondering what the biggest difference between 380 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: US rules and international rules is, and I'm here to 381 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: tell you, and that would be substitutions. So for international play, 382 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: you only get six subs per set and you can 383 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: only replace your starters once per set. So that's why 384 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: Danielle would have to play all around. You don't use 385 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: subs unless you absolutely need to. In the US you 386 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: can have up to twelve subs percent and there are 387 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: no limits on replacing your starters. So when Danielle would 388 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: rotate to the back row defensive specialists would sub in 389 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: for her. Then when the DS was about to rotate 390 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: to the front row, Danielle would sub back in. All right, 391 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:19,679 Speaker 1: back to Danielle. 392 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 3: And then what's coming at you? I just remember I 393 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 3: can't even understand the game. I'm in the back row. 394 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 3: I'm touching balls that are out because I don't have 395 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 3: that court awareness. And then also internationally, the opposite hitter 396 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 3: is like a garbage man. They're taking out all the 397 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 3: bad balls. And I thought I was taken out bad 398 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 3: balls before, but that ball coming over you and you 399 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 3: having the time it correctly. So that was really hard 400 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 3: of like we need you to score and also know 401 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 3: everything else like I'm trying. So it was a learning 402 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 3: her for sure. 403 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: When did you realize you could do this, that this 404 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: was gonna be your position and you were content with it? 405 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 3: Oh, it took a while. I'm not gonna lie it 406 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 3: was maybe after my third year. It was hard. There 407 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:02,199 Speaker 3: were definitely doubts that I still had of like can 408 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 3: I do this, or did I make the right decision 409 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 3: making this transition? Or how long? Like how long is 410 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 3: this going to take? I want to figure it out now, 411 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 3: But there's something about that I don't know the process 412 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 3: that makes it all more sweet when you do pick 413 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 3: up a skill or figure something out that I was like, Okay, 414 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:18,880 Speaker 3: the weight was worth it, and I learned a lot. 415 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 3: I grew a lot on this journey. 416 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: I feel like a lot of people have doubt when 417 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: they're trying something new, and a lot of people give up. 418 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 1: So do you have any advice for people to keep 419 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 1: going to keep trying. 420 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I would say, we're never going to be perfect. 421 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 3: And I think that once I took that off of 422 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 3: my shoulders of striving for that perfection, I just felt 423 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 3: more relaxed because I had this pressure of like it 424 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 3: needs to look like this and nothing is ever overnight 425 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 3: and depending on something that you think is worth it. 426 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 3: I think that if you are willing to put in 427 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 3: that work in that time, and even if you get 428 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 3: one percent better each day, it's worth it and you 429 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 3: will see results. But it's all about just persistence and 430 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 3: like coming in each and every day. The way you 431 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:04,159 Speaker 3: talk to yourself and approach each rep, I think is 432 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 3: really important. I think that there were a lot of 433 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 3: times before that I was just kind of maybe going 434 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,679 Speaker 3: through the motions of just like Okay, I'm here, and 435 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 3: when I really switch my mindset of every rep matters, 436 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 3: and if I can just get a little better each 437 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 3: and every day, I know that it'll pay off. 438 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: So I want to ask you some things about you 439 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 1: as a person off the course, as opposed to a 440 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: volleyball player. You have a lot of amazing tattoos. Do 441 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 1: they have stories or is it kind of you just 442 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: love the bodyard. 443 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 3: Yes, it started off. I really like tattoos and I 444 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 3: want to get them, and so this first one is 445 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,159 Speaker 3: my mom and dad's birthday, and yeah, that was my 446 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 3: first tattoo, and I got ripped off. Now that I've 447 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 3: got tattoos, like how much did I pick up? And 448 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 3: then I just like the Hennah, I think it's really cool. 449 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 3: This one I got it as finally found. I got 450 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 3: baptized last year and so that one meant a lot 451 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 3: to me. Yeah, but yeah, these are the coordinates of Purdue. 452 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 3: I just enjoyed my time there. But they all vary. 453 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:20,719 Speaker 3: Some mean a lot, and some are just kind of 454 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 3: like I like the way that looked, and so I 455 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 3: want it. But yeah, I love it. 456 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 2: The perdue ones on your bicy so you can produce 457 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 2: this way? 458 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, right, I know it's somewhere up northwestern Midwest. So 459 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:33,880 Speaker 3: you said you. 460 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 2: Just got baptized in September. 461 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: How important this fits you both as a person and 462 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: as a volleyball player. 463 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 3: Huge. It played a big part in my time. I 464 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 3: played in Brazil two years ago or three years ago, 465 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 3: and it was a difficult time for me being away 466 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 3: and I had kind of felt like I'm not really 467 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 3: enjoying this anymore, and I felt stressed, I felt anxiety, 468 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 3: and so I was just like, something needs to change 469 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 3: or I don't think I can continue to play. But 470 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 3: I knew in my heart that I wanted to, but 471 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 3: something had to give. And that was when I felt 472 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 3: like the Lord was calling me to him. So in 473 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 3: that moment is when I just went to him and 474 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 3: I cried out, when I was like, something needs to change, 475 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 3: and I feel a pole. And so I think through 476 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 3: my relationship with him and developing that I've experienced so 477 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 3: much freedom in like volleyball, but also just as a 478 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 3: human being. It's been amazing just walking with so much 479 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 3: joy and love and peace. And I finally feel now 480 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,719 Speaker 3: that I'm doing this with a purpose and not just 481 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 3: trying to do what I think what people want me 482 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 3: to do. Or what I think I want to do, 483 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,199 Speaker 3: but just knowing that I'm doing something that I know 484 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 3: that matters, and walking into spaces with volleyball being that 485 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 3: avenue and trying to make a change. 486 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: So is there something that you've done now that you 487 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: wouldn't have done previously. 488 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 3: I think that I just allow myself to need help. 489 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 3: The athlete world, we're so hyper independent, especially you know, 490 00:21:57,920 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 3: being abroad. I think that that was something that I've 491 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 3: really learned of, Like I don't really want to ask 492 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 3: for help for anything, and I think that the dependency 493 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 3: that I've had just in my relationship with God has 494 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:11,120 Speaker 3: allowed me to just relax and experience so much freedom. 495 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 3: And so even in my conversations, in my friendships and 496 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,199 Speaker 3: relationships with people, I'm not afraid to be vulnerable. And 497 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 3: I think that started with that. It's been really nice 498 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 3: to just like let go and truly kill you. Yeah, 499 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 3: exactly authentic and yeah, yeah that's awesome. 500 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: Well, speaking of like relationships, I was talking to Lauren 501 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: about how you girls just seem to have so much fun. 502 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 1: You know, if you look at any of your photos 503 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: on Instagram or any social media, it's like you guys 504 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 1: have a. 505 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 2: Lot of fun. 506 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:40,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. 507 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 1: And the one thing I noticed though, is you guys 508 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: have a decent amount of themed parties. 509 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 510 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 2: So for the themed parties, who comes up with the ideas? 511 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 3: Wow? Yeah, we started that I think last summer, okay, 512 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 3: and it was Kelsey's birthday and she was like, I 513 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 3: want a disco theme and I was like, okay, I 514 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 3: have actually never done it. We can't We're never home 515 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 3: for Halloween or anything. But anyway, I was like, okay, 516 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 3: like I want to dress up, and so it started 517 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 3: with that, and then there was a cowboy theme, and 518 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 3: then there was I can't even remember the other one. 519 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 3: But like even for my birthday, I was like, let's 520 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 3: do early like two thousands same. I want to do 521 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 3: something fun. But I think it's just having a lot 522 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 3: of fun. I feel like we're just big kids and 523 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 3: like we just want to like dress up and just 524 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 3: laugh and dance and hang out. 525 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,919 Speaker 2: I feel like the older I get, the more I wanted. 526 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 3: To be a party. Yeah. 527 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 4: I don't know what it is about getting older, but 528 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 4: I feel like you just want to experience all these things. Yeah, 529 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 4: like and yeah, you want to be young, you want 530 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 4: to feel a young and the themes kind of reminds 531 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 4: you Halloween. Yeah, we had a nineties two thousands party 532 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 4: over the summer, had a band come and just play 533 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:49,879 Speaker 4: only that music. 534 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 2: And it's like so fun. So next time you guys 535 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 2: have a theme party, let me know. 536 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 3: I let you know. 537 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 2: I love planning. 538 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I love themes so funny, I know you. 539 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure, I'll let you know too. 540 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 3: Our next one. 541 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: Well, I mean, now you're going to be playing in 542 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: the States, you gonna be playing in Atlanta. 543 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 3: So what does this mean to you? 544 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: Being able to play here, knowing that you're going to 545 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:17,159 Speaker 1: be in the same country as your family, And it's amazing. 546 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 3: And I think when the opportunity first presented itself, I 547 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:22,359 Speaker 3: was like rubbing my eyes. I was like, are you 548 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 3: guys serious? But yeah, my mom says we have family 549 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 3: in Atlanta. I was like, we do before, but I'm 550 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 3: excited to beat them. Yeah. 551 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 2: So you've never been to Atlanta. 552 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:34,919 Speaker 3: No, I've been once for like a tournament, but I 553 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 3: didn't remember anything. Honestly, what are. 554 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 2: You most excited to experience in Atlanta? 555 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 3: I'm excited for the warm weather because I was up 556 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 3: in Indie super cold, and the food. I heard the 557 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 3: food's good down there. Yeah. 558 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I've heard that too. 559 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,160 Speaker 1: I was only down in Atlanta once and I didn't 560 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 1: really get to experience any of the foods, so I'm 561 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 1: missed out. Yeah, for you as a volleyball player and 562 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 1: with your career that you've experience so far, what. 563 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 3: Do you hope will be your legacy? Oh, great question. 564 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:11,239 Speaker 3: I just am looking forward to bringing energy into like 565 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 3: the sport into Atlanta. I want to be i don't know, 566 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 3: kind of remembered as someone who really looked like they 567 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,680 Speaker 3: enjoyed playing as much as they really did. Because volleyball 568 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 3: is an exciting sport and I'm excited that we're bringing 569 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 3: it here professionally in the US, and I think this 570 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 3: will be the first glimpset people see of actual, like intense, 571 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:34,879 Speaker 3: real high level volleyball and to just be able to 572 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 3: like set that standard of like this is fun, this 573 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 3: is fun to watch, this is fun to be a 574 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 3: part of, And I just kind of want it to 575 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:42,879 Speaker 3: be that like something that people want to be a 576 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 3: part of in our communities and everything. 577 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: So yeah, well, what advice do you have for girls 578 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 1: coming up in the sport that might want to continue playing? 579 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 3: The Sky's the limit? Really now before I feel like 580 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 3: a lot of girls who played in high school or college, 581 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,880 Speaker 3: it's a really hard ask to be able to like Okay, 582 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 3: I'm gonna go overseas and like see what this is about. 583 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 3: You don't know a lot about the overseas journey, and 584 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 3: maybe you wouldn't like it. It's a lot to take in. Culturally, 585 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 3: it's shocking. You sacrifice a lot with your family and 586 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:18,439 Speaker 3: just a lot of opportunities that you don't get to 587 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 3: have while staying at home. This opens up a door 588 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,359 Speaker 3: of you can really do anything. You'll see it in 589 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,160 Speaker 3: front of you, like this professional volleyball and you can 590 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 3: be a part of it as someone who got cut 591 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 3: in eighth grade and kept trying and is now at 592 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 3: this point of like being a part of something really cool. Like, 593 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 3: don't let anything deter you. You can do anything. 594 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:41,400 Speaker 1: And based on your journey, you know, especially with how 595 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 1: you felt when you got to Brazil and everything, what 596 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: would you tell girls who might feel burnt out? 597 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it comes with it. You're doing something 598 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 3: that you've been doing for so long. But what I've 599 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 3: learned too is that remember your why kind of like 600 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 3: why are you doing this? And I think when I 601 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 3: got rooted in that, because even at the times that 602 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,160 Speaker 3: I did feel burnt out or tired, it just kind 603 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 3: of like I knew inside I still wanted to play. 604 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 3: I still love playing volleyball. I still had more to give, 605 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 3: and I understood that when I was playing. Once I 606 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:15,640 Speaker 3: started competing, I was like, I love this and I'm 607 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 3: finding really hard for every point, and so just understand, like, 608 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 3: do I still have that fire within me a competition? 609 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,159 Speaker 3: And why am I doing this? Do I want to? 610 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 3: Because most of the time we do, and maybe there's 611 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 3: there's a face that you just kind of have to 612 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:31,199 Speaker 3: pass through, and just once you get through it, it's like, Okay, 613 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:32,440 Speaker 3: what did I learn during that? 614 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 2: Where do you hope to see volleyball in five ten years? 615 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 3: It's really exciting now where it's been, and so I 616 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 3: don't know. I just hope that it's one of the 617 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 3: most talked about sports in the US because I think 618 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 3: it has a capability of being really fun and exciting for. 619 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 2: People to find. 620 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:51,199 Speaker 3: I know that it is fry for sure, yeah, and 621 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:53,719 Speaker 3: just something that really people want to be a part of. 622 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 3: And I've noticed that just like rewinding back to my 623 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 3: first college game and when I went to a Purdue. 624 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 3: I was like, I had no idea that this is 625 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 3: what it was. And I think that it's something that 626 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 3: just not a lot of people know, and now that 627 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 3: we're bringing it here and kind of see, it'll be 628 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 3: something that everyone is just like, how do I get 629 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:11,920 Speaker 3: in there? How do I, you know, be a part 630 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:12,119 Speaker 3: of that? 631 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: So were you on the sidelines of the Nebraska record? 632 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 3: Yeah? 633 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 2: What was that? 634 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 3: Like? That was crazy? I remember I got chills. It's 635 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,640 Speaker 3: not easy to give me chills because I don't know, 636 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,680 Speaker 3: but being there and saying it, I was like, this 637 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 3: is insane. 638 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: Let's talk about how insane this match was. Back in 639 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 1: September twenty twenty three, Nebraska held a women's indoor volleyball 640 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: match outdoors at Memorial Stadium, where the football team plays. 641 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: Over ninety two thousand fans ninety two thousand and three 642 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,719 Speaker 1: to be exact, showed up to support women's volleyball and 643 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: help break the world record for attendance at a women's 644 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 1: sporting event. The previous record was set at just over 645 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: ninety one thousand, six hundred fans at a Champions League 646 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: match between FC Barcelona and Volfsburg. And what was dubbed 647 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 1: Volleyball Day in Nebraska. The Cornhuskers defeated Omaha in three 648 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: straight matches in Danielle had a front row seat. Now 649 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: back to Danielle to tell us more about the experience. 650 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 3: And it was something as someone who knows how cool 651 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 3: volleyball is and loves it, didn't think was capable. And 652 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 3: I was like, there's a need, there's a one, like 653 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 3: people are wanting this and I didn't even know to 654 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 3: that extent. I think that was kind of like a 655 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 3: seat that was planted before I even decided to stay 656 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:36,479 Speaker 3: home that I was like, oh, this is here. So 657 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 3: it was so cool when you were playing. 658 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 1: Did you think that a college volleyball game could ever 659 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 1: filled ninety thousand seats? 660 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 3: No, I didn't even know the football football could do that. 661 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 3: So it was yeah, it was awesome. It was really cool. 662 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 3: And to be a part of that too, I was 663 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 3: like wow when we were like singing the anthem and 664 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 3: the plane, Yeah, it was wow. It was awesome. And 665 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 3: I think Karchad told us this. It was like four 666 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 3: of us that went and I think they broke the 667 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 3: record by maybe four. I think that's what he said. 668 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 3: So yeah, he was like it was you, guys. I 669 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 3: was like, thanks cards for making us feel so special. 670 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 3: He really does all the time. I was like, wow, 671 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 3: I'm happy that'll be part of that. Oh I love that. 672 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 3: So yeah. 673 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 2: Well, Danielle, it was a pleasure chatting with you. I 674 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 2: would like to cheers and thank you again, sir, coming 675 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 2: on and having some. 676 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me. 677 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: Serving Pancakes is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership 678 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us 679 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 680 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: your podcasts. Production by League One Volleyball, I'm your host 681 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 1: Tiffany Oshinski. Anya Olivarez is our senior producer. Our executive 682 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 1: producers are Carrie Stet, Tamara Dike, and Lindsay Hoffman. Our 683 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 1: marketing lead is Jawara Parker. Sound mixing by Max Lorenzen. 684 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 1: Our theme music is Pancakes by Eric W. Mast Junior 685 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,880 Speaker 1: Special thanks to Daniel Catino. Stay tuned for our next 686 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: episode of Serving Pancakes. We're I'll be interviewing the University 687 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: of Minnesota's first ever ABCA Player of the Year, Sarah 688 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:16,720 Speaker 1: Wilheite Parsons. Thanks for listening.