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Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where the college

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Speaker 1: hoops season just ended and the WNBA Draft is in

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Speaker 1: four days. We're not ready, We're exhausted. Frankly, we need

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Speaker 1: a break. Imagine how Paige Becker's and the rest of

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Speaker 1: the draft prospects feel. It's Thursday, April tenth, and on

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Speaker 1: today's show, we'll be talking to Tiffany Oshinsky, host of

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Speaker 1: the Serving Pancakes podcast, about the inaugural Love Volleyball season,

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Speaker 1: this week's playoffs, and the players who've impressed her the

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Speaker 1: most this season, plus feeling cocky, playing the long game,

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Speaker 1: and an appropriate way to honor a star. It's all

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Speaker 1: coming up right after this welcome back slices. Here's what

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Speaker 1: you need to know today. Let's start with college hoops,

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Speaker 1: where a few big names are on the move via

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Speaker 1: the transfer portal that includes Florida State junior Tonight Latson,

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Speaker 1: the leading scorer across all D one teams this season.

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Speaker 1: Latson announced on social media that she's quote unquote feeling cocky.

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Speaker 1: Translation she's joining Don Staley's South Carolina game Cocks. The

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Speaker 1: move reunites Latson with her high school teammate Raven Johnson,

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Speaker 1: who had an announcement of her own on Tuesday. She's

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Speaker 1: passing up the WNBA Draft for one more year of

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Speaker 1: college ball at South Carolina. So just so we're clear here,

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Speaker 1: this is a South Carolina team that really needed a

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Speaker 1: go to player in the clutch this season, and now

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Speaker 1: they just got their veteran point guard back for another year,

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Speaker 1: and they went and got the best go to player

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Speaker 1: on the market for her to pass the ball to.

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Speaker 1: And the duo already has built in chemistry, scary hours,

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Speaker 1: impeccable recruiting from Dawn. Meanwhile, tc YOU announced it signed

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Speaker 1: Olivia Miles from the transfer portal. Miles, a starguard for

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Speaker 1: Notre Dame, made headlines last week when she announced she

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Speaker 1: was waiting to turn pro and instead would enter the

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Speaker 1: transfer portal. She'd previously been projected to go number two

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Speaker 1: overall in this year's WNBA draft. Now she'll look to

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Speaker 1: help TCU continue its rise as a women's basketball power.

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Speaker 1: The Horned Frogs, who lost in the Elite eight to Texas,

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Speaker 1: are coming off the deepest Toorney run in program history.

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Speaker 1: Miles will help fill the gap left by departing grad

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Speaker 1: students Hailey Vanlyth and Sodona Prince, who finally reached the

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Speaker 1: end of their own college eligibility. Speaking of Hailey Vanlyth,

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Speaker 1: she landed a spot in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition,

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Speaker 1: gracing the April twenty twenty five digital cover. She joins

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Speaker 1: a handful of other athletes featured in the magazine this year,

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Speaker 1: including the WNBA's Cameron Brink, track and field star Gabby Thomas, Jimnast,

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Speaker 1: Jordan Chiles and Sunny Lee and golfer Nellie Corda. To hockey,

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Speaker 1: the World Championship scott underway and check you on Wednesday,

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Speaker 1: with the US opening its tournament with a seven to

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Speaker 1: one win over Finland. The round robin portion of attorney

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Speaker 1: continues through Tuesday, followed by the knockout rounds. The PWHL

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Speaker 1: is currently on pause through the end of Worlds, which

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Speaker 1: conclude with the gold medal game on Sunday, April twentieth.

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Speaker 1: Canada is looking for its second straight title and thirteenth overall,

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Speaker 1: while the US last won two years ago. America hoping

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Speaker 1: to reclaim the world title heading into next winners Olympics.

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Speaker 1: We'll link to the full schedule in the show notes

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Speaker 1: to International Soccer The US women's national team fell to

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Speaker 1: Brazil two to one in the second friendly between the

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Speaker 1: two squads on US turf on Tuesday night. Katerina Macario

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Speaker 1: got the Stars and Stripes off to a hot start,

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Speaker 1: scoring the seventh fastest goal in national team history just

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Speaker 1: thirty four seconds in, but the rest of the scoring

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Speaker 1: was all Brazil. Former NWSL MVP Caroline found the equalizer

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Speaker 1: for Brazil in the twenty fourth minute, and the game

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Speaker 1: was one to one until the visitors found some real

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Speaker 1: magic late. Amanda Gutierrez cracked open the defense on a

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Speaker 1: two to on one in the fifth minute of stoppage time,

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Speaker 1: giving Brazil the win. The US women's national team now

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Speaker 1: three to two in twenty twenty five. They'll hit the

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Speaker 1: field again on May thirty first against China in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

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Speaker 1: More soccer news. FIFA announced at the twenty twenty five

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Speaker 1: UEFA Congress that the US, along with Konka CAF partners,

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Speaker 1: were the sole bid to host the twenty thirty one

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Speaker 1: FIFA Women's World Cup. US Soccer issued a statement in

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Speaker 1: response to the announcement. Quote. As FIFA finalizes the number

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Speaker 1: of participating teams in the tournament, we will solidify our

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Speaker 1: partnership structure with fellow Conka Caffe nations. We look forward

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Speaker 1: to sharing more details and unveiling our full vision for

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Speaker 1: the twenty thirty one FIFA Women's World Cup in the

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Speaker 1: near future. End quote. Twenty thirty one will be the

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Speaker 1: third time the US hosts a Women's World Cup after

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Speaker 1: ninety nine and three, and while I'm super excited for

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Speaker 1: the US to be the home for that event, it's

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Speaker 1: a little bit of a bummer that there weren't more

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Speaker 1: bids to try to get the Women's World Cup, especially

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Speaker 1: from countries that could really benefit from hosting. To the

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Speaker 1: NWSL expansion side, Denver announced that the club has sold

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Speaker 1: more than ten thousand season ticket deposits just over two

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Speaker 1: months after the city was officially named as the NWSL's

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Speaker 1: sixteenth franchise, good enough to break the NWSL season ticket

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Speaker 1: deposit record. Still, the club has a little bit of

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Speaker 1: work to do to get those butts in seats. The

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Speaker 1: team still figuring out seating inventory and pricing, and once

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Speaker 1: it does, those who have paid deposits will be eligible

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Speaker 1: to select specific seats and ticket packages. They're also building

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Speaker 1: not one, but two stadiums before the team starts play

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Speaker 1: next year, it's planning to build a temporary stadium in

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Speaker 1: Centennial that'll be in use for both the twenty twenty

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Speaker 1: six and twenty seven seasons, and the team's permanent stadium,

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Speaker 1: which will seat more than fourteen thousand fans, will be

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Speaker 1: located inside the Denver city limits in Santa Fe Yards

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Speaker 1: that's expected to be open in time for the twenty

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Speaker 1: twenty eight season. Some Michelle Kang money news in the

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Speaker 1: soccer world. Last year, the Washington Spirit owner pledged thirty

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Speaker 1: million dollars over five years to US Soccer to professionalize

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Speaker 1: women and girls soccer. On Friday, she added to that total.

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Speaker 1: She announced at US Soccer's She Believes Summit that she'll

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Speaker 1: integrate the operations of her Kaniska innovation hub into US

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Speaker 1: Soccer's Soccer Forward Foundation. Now Kaniska, a science backed platform

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Speaker 1: dedicated to improving how female athletes train, will merge with

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Speaker 1: US Soccer to scale resources at a national level. The

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Speaker 1: move amounts to another twenty five million from Kang to

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Speaker 1: US Soccer, bringing her investment in the federation and its

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Speaker 1: support of girls and women's soccer to fifty five million dollars.

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Speaker 1: Hey Michelle, can we borrow a dollar? Some Olympic news.

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Speaker 1: The Inner National Olympic Committee on Wednesday confirmed the sport

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Speaker 1: program for the twenty twenty eight LA Olympics, and for

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Speaker 1: the first time ever, every team sport will have at

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Speaker 1: least the same number of women's teams as men's teams.

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Speaker 1: That includes water polo, where the women's tournament will grow

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Speaker 1: from ten teams to twelve in line with the men's,

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Speaker 1: as well as soccer, where the women will have sixteen

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Speaker 1: teams up from twelve and the men will now have

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Speaker 1: twelve teams, down from sixteen. This is pretty big news,

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Speaker 1: considering that just last year, the IOC said it had

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Speaker 1: no plans to change the number of teams in the

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Speaker 1: soccer tournaments. We actually did a what the fact on

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Speaker 1: the topic back in August, after the IOC told Sky

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Speaker 1: Sports quote raising the number of women's teams would potentially

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Speaker 1: trigger requests from other team sports, which would then have

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Speaker 1: an even greater impact on the cost, complexity, size, and

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Speaker 1: sustainability of the games end quote. At the time, we

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Speaker 1: thought it was a pretty dumb argument, and we still do,

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Speaker 1: and it seems at least some folks that the IOC

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Speaker 1: did too good reminder that sometimes things suck for a

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Speaker 1: really long time and that finally they changed for the better.

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Speaker 1: Wildco But here we are. As for the men's Journey,

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Speaker 1: which you might remember, is a U twenty three competition,

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Speaker 1: dropping from sixteen teams to twelve. The IOC's quotes on

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Speaker 1: the matter focused more on the growth of the women's

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Speaker 1: game internationally and the fact that the women's tournament features

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Speaker 1: the world's top talent. Now. There have also been a

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Speaker 1: lot of questions in recent weeks about the United States

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Speaker 1: ability to even host these Olympics, given the current administration's

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Speaker 1: regulations on visas, especially for trans folks. So here's to

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Speaker 1: hoping that complaining about that will lead to change as well. Finally,

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Speaker 1: we've got a star spotting to report, a Hollywood star,

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Speaker 1: that is, Billy Jean King received a star on the

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Speaker 1: Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday. While king star is

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Speaker 1: number two, eight hundred and seven overall, she became the

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Speaker 1: first woman to receive one in the new Sports Entertainment category,

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Speaker 1: which was created in twenty twenty three. In a post

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Speaker 1: on Instagram, King wrote, quote, I may be the first

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Speaker 1: woman to be awarded a star in this category, but

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Speaker 1: I'm certainly not going to be the last end quote.

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Speaker 1: Just add it to the list of bjk's many first

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Speaker 1: and by the way, shout out to the Queen for

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Speaker 1: delivering on our request from a recent show. You remember

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Speaker 1: we joked about wanting a photo of her holding up

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Speaker 1: her phone to show our podcast playing well. She did

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Speaker 1: it the same day that episode hit. We Love You BJK.

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Speaker 1: We got to take a quick break. When we come back.

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Speaker 1: We're Serving Pancakes with Tiffany Oshinsky. We caught up with

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Speaker 1: her on Wednesday ahead of the Love Finals, the playoffs

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Speaker 1: which get underway today. Joining us now. She's the host

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Speaker 1: of League one Volleyball Serving Pancakes podcast, part of the

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Speaker 1: Iheartwomen's Sports Network, a three time Emmy Award winning freelance

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Speaker 1: sports producer, award winning podcast host, and development associated NFL Film.

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Speaker 1: She's an NYU grad and a self professed book reader,

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Speaker 1: wine drinker, and kat obsessor. It's Tiffany Oshinski.

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Speaker 2: Hi, Tiffany, Hi Sarah, thanks for having me.

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Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us. I have to go with the

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Speaker 1: most important things first. So what are you reading right now?

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Speaker 2: I'm in between a few books.

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Speaker 3: Actually, I'm reading Nosferatu by Joe Hill, which has nothing

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Speaker 3: to do with the Vampire movie, but it's a crowd

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Speaker 3: of vampire Joe Hill, Stephen King's son, so it's kind

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Speaker 3: of like, oh wow that yeah, so it's long, it's interesting.

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Speaker 3: I'm also reading a non fiction book called Chaos, which

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Speaker 3: is about allegedly Charles Manson was a CIA informant.

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Speaker 2: So I'm reading that and I'm reading.

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Speaker 1: It's an earnest declaration of that.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, this guy went down a rabbit hole. I think

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Speaker 3: they actually made a Netflix documentary on that. So there's

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Speaker 3: that too if you don't want to read the book.

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Speaker 3: And then I'm also reading this book called Hidden Pictures,

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Speaker 3: which is just like a fiction thriller, fun book.

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Speaker 1: Okay, cool, So just depends on your mood, I guess yeah. Dark.

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Speaker 1: I was gonna say, like, your mood must always be

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Speaker 1: to dive right in.

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Speaker 3: I feel like my life is very like light and fun,

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Speaker 3: so sometimes it's just like I need to change of pace.

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Speaker 1: Okay, all right, what's your go to wine.

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Speaker 3: There's a rose called Cotis de Rose. I believe it's

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Speaker 3: called It's amazing. It's dry, it's delicious, It's got a fancy.

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Speaker 1: Bottle with the okay, cools, on the bottom, so I'll

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Speaker 1: look for that. And what are the names of your

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Speaker 1: cats or cat.

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Speaker 3: So I have two, although unfortunately Norbert is eighteen and

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Speaker 3: a half and might not be with us much longer.

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Speaker 3: But Bert Norbert is one. He's my oldest. And then

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Speaker 3: my other one is Purdis Granderson.

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Speaker 1: Amazing, amazing, all right for those of you who don't

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Speaker 1: know Curtis Granderson baseball players, so perdis Granderson.

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Speaker 2: Yes, and my husband let me get him one.

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Speaker 3: I did the Kitten Bowl one year and I fell

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Speaker 3: in love and he was like, we can get him

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Speaker 3: if we name him after a New York met I'm

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Speaker 3: like done.

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Speaker 1: Amazing. I love that. Well, you're here to talk volleyball,

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Speaker 1: mainly because the Love Finals kick off in Louisville on Thursday,

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Speaker 1: the day you're all listening to this slices. We're just

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Speaker 1: chatting a day in advance, and you're here to catch

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Speaker 1: us up on all the Love storylines from the inaugural

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Speaker 1: regular season and get us ready for the postseason. There's

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Speaker 1: so much talent in this league, so much to get

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Speaker 1: excited about. Nineteen Olympians national team veterans from over twenty countries.

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Speaker 1: These teams are stacked. But before we get to their

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Speaker 1: meetings in the postseason, want a little refresher on Love

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Speaker 1: in its unique format from the youth to pro levels.

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Speaker 1: We've talked about it here on the show, but for

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Speaker 1: those who aren't super familiar, can you sort of talk

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Speaker 1: about the youth volleyball system and how that set the

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Speaker 1: foundation for this pro league that just kicked off this season.

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Speaker 2: Sure. So, youth volleyball in the States is huge.

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Speaker 3: I don't know how many people know that, but it's

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Speaker 3: the fastest growing sport. It's the most widely played sport

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Speaker 3: by youth players. There's a study in twenty twenty three

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Speaker 3: they say that over four hundred and seventy thousand girls

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Speaker 3: we're playing volleyball, which is more than basketball, more than softball.

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Speaker 3: So it's a very very popular sport. And there wasn't

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Speaker 3: really a pipeline for these girls to play in the States,

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Speaker 3: unlike basketball, you know. So they decided Love was like,

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Speaker 3: you know what, let's create a company, an organization from

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Speaker 3: the ground up. So what they did in twenty twenty

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Speaker 3: is they got fifty eight clubs across twenty seven states.

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Speaker 3: It's about over nineteen thousand athletes that they have under

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Speaker 3: these love clubs and they sort of created the system

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Speaker 3: where they are part of the love ecosystem, right, So

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Speaker 3: they started with them and they are now showing that

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Speaker 3: there's a way that they can play pro in the

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Speaker 3: United States through these Love Pro teams. And then each

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Speaker 3: of these clubs are kind of most of them are

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Speaker 3: based around a lot of the hot spots in volleyball,

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Speaker 3: which is like Nebraska, Wisconsin, Salt Lake City like where

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Speaker 3: byu Is, Texas like Austin and Houston. So they kind

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Speaker 3: of found these areas that were hotbeds for youth volleyball,

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Speaker 3: put them together with the pros. The pros help the youth.

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Speaker 3: The youth get to see the pros, be part of

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Speaker 3: the pros, and it just creates this system. It's almost

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Speaker 3: like a minor league system in a way that allows

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Speaker 3: these girls inspiration and motivation to be able to one

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Speaker 3: day play pro and be one of them, right, because

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Speaker 3: everyone wants to look up to something that they can

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Speaker 3: be part of. And if they're able to stay in

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Speaker 3: the States, because most of these pro players had to

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Speaker 3: go overseas for many years all over the world, from

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Speaker 3: Japan to Brazil to Puerto Rico to all over Europe.

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Speaker 3: So this is a way that they can stay in

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Speaker 3: the States.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, it's really smart. Fifty eight clubs across twenty seven states,

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Speaker 1: nineteen thousand athletes in these youth programs, and when we

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Speaker 1: had Folks from Love come on, they did sort of

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Speaker 1: describe this very cool scene of these younger players getting

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Speaker 1: to practice alongside, not with, but near or in the

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Speaker 1: same gyms or the same facilities, these athletes that they

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Speaker 1: could look up to and hope to one day become.

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Speaker 1: So they set the stage with that, and then after

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Speaker 1: several years, they decided to launch this inaugural pro season

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Speaker 1: in January. What are some of your biggest takeaways from

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Speaker 1: this first season? Surprises, things that went great, maybe challenges.

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Speaker 3: I think one of the biggest things, which I don't

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Speaker 3: know if you know the volleyball X counts or anything,

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Speaker 3: but there's an ex account cout well.

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Speaker 1: Well, I'm working on it. I'm diving into volleyball with

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Speaker 1: all these new leagues that are like propping up everywhere. Yeah.

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Speaker 3: Right, So there's an account called avid Vali, which I

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Speaker 3: don't know if this person did the research on this

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Speaker 3: or if they found it from somewhere else on the internet,

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Speaker 3: but I found this fascinating and it's the parody in

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Speaker 3: the league, right. So Love wanted to create this even

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Speaker 3: measured league right where anyone could win at any time,

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Speaker 3: and they kind of got that. So some of the

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Speaker 3: stats that they pulled up that Avid Volley pulled up

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Speaker 3: with that thirty three percent of Love matches have been

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Speaker 3: five sets and only twenty five percent have been sweeps.

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Speaker 3: So if you compare that to like Italy, they had

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Speaker 3: twenty percent of the regular season matches went five sets

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Speaker 3: and forty percent were sweeps. And in China, fifteen percent

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Speaker 3: of the matches were five sets and fifty four percent

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Speaker 3: were sweeps. So we're seeing this nice even playing field

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Speaker 3: and it's really exciting because you never know who's gonna win.

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Speaker 2: It's up up in the air.

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Speaker 3: I mean, we've seen this with Madison this year because

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Speaker 3: they started the season one and seven, and all of

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Speaker 3: a sudden, they went on a seven and one tear.

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Speaker 3: Omaha started off three and oh and now they've had

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Speaker 3: some tough battles the rest of the way. So it's

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Speaker 3: kind of really exciting to see who could win at

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Speaker 3: any given time.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, and with every team getting a chance in the playoffs,

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Speaker 1: you just never know. None of them have been elimited,

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Speaker 1: despite slow starts or hiccups during the season. Any challenges

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Speaker 1: I know. Ann Marie Anderson came on the show and

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Speaker 1: talked about some of the in season adjustments from Love,

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Speaker 1: whether that's camera angles after the first broadcast, maybe how

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Speaker 1: the broadcasters talk about the games. There's a little bit

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Speaker 1: less of the interjecting and explaining in a little bit

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Speaker 1: more of the straight broadcast style. Did any of the

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Speaker 1: n season changes stand out to you as Love sort

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Speaker 1: of learned on the fly in this first season.

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Speaker 3: You know, the big one that I saw was the

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Speaker 3: camera angles. I feel like that was such a big thing.

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Speaker 3: And it's a new league, right, There's gonna be challenges.

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Speaker 3: They're still learning. They wanted to try different things, which

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Speaker 3: I think is great. That's what you should be doing, right,

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Speaker 3: it's a newly You want to see what people like,

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Speaker 3: what people don't like, and you adjust on the fly.

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Speaker 3: So I remember that first week on X there were

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Speaker 3: so many people who were talking about the camera angles

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Speaker 3: and what is this and why can't they just stay

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Speaker 3: on the wide shot and all that, and then adjusted

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Speaker 3: to that, And the best part was that the Love

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Speaker 3: account was replying to these people and interacting with them

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Speaker 3: in real time, being like, look, we hear you, we understand,

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Speaker 3: we're going to work on this. This is a brand

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Speaker 3: new thing, and we want to make it so it's

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Speaker 3: the perfect product for you. And so I think that

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Speaker 3: that was probably the biggest thing and the best thing

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Speaker 3: that showed a we're listening and that we care and

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Speaker 3: we want to make sure we're putting out the best product,

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Speaker 3: but also like, sure, there's going to be some hiccups

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Speaker 3: and that's just kind of the way it is.

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Speaker 1: I have an idea for you. I don't know what

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Speaker 1: your plan is for the off season of Love and

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Speaker 1: This podcast or what you're doing, but I know you

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Speaker 1: have done a lot of video episodes, especially the ones

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Speaker 1: with the Delicious pancakes that I watched that made me

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Speaker 1: very hungry. But I would love to see you and

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Speaker 1: a player sit down and watch a game and talk

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Speaker 1: about it in depth. You know, a former game, so

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Speaker 1: not a current game that people need the actual broadcast

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Speaker 1: language around of this is what's happening now, but say

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Speaker 1: this is a game we're watching from this date, this

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Speaker 1: team beat this team like this, and then during it,

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Speaker 1: talk about how you're watching as a professional and what

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Speaker 1: you're looking for, because I think one of the big

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Speaker 1: steps up in being a fan is when you can

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Speaker 1: go from like that was a hard ace or that

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Speaker 1: was a good dig to really understanding whether someone was

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Speaker 1: in the right position or why a team is beating

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Speaker 1: another team, and so taking an old game that you

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Speaker 1: could just sit down and we can see the game

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Speaker 1: while you're watching it and talking about it, like Mystery

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Speaker 1: Science Theater three thousand or whatever it's called, with your

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Speaker 1: popcorn telling us how to watch. I think that would

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Speaker 1: be a really cool thing in the off season to

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Speaker 1: get us ready for next year. So just a free

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Speaker 1: idea from a Nube who needs some more tips. Love

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Speaker 1: Houston claim the inaugural N season tournament, the Love Classic,

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Speaker 1: and they've been a top team all season long, so

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Speaker 1: maybe not a big surprise that they took Classic honors.

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Speaker 1: But was there any surprise from you about how that

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Speaker 1: first n season tournament went, whether it was just sticks

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Speaker 1: infrastructure or who came out on top.

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Speaker 3: I mean, I actually think that a lot of people

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Speaker 3: thought Atlanta was kind of going to be the one

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Speaker 3: who won that tournament, just because that they've been so

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Speaker 3: dominant all season and at that point too, they were

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Speaker 3: first in the standings. But I think just the way

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Speaker 3: that it went down and the fact that it was

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Speaker 3: at the same time as the Triple Crown Tournament in

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Speaker 3: Kentucky or sorry, in Kansas City. I feel like having

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Speaker 3: all of that and all these kids being able to

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Speaker 3: watch them, right, and then they get to go out

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Speaker 3: and put on this show, right.

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Speaker 2: So I feel like all of that was just a

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Speaker 2: great spectacle basically.

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Speaker 3: I mean, it was some of the top players who

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Speaker 3: played and Houston who came out on top. They're the

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Speaker 3: only team to have beaten Atlanta like all season, and

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Speaker 3: they have a winning record over Atlanta. So it's one

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Speaker 3: of those things where it's kind of like we're starting

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Speaker 3: to see even though it was week six of the season,

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Speaker 3: it's sort of like, all right, well, there's a little bit.

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Speaker 2: Of interesting dynamics. To me.

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Speaker 3: I say that Atlanta Houston is like the biggest rivalry,

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Speaker 3: so being able to watch them perform at the highest

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Speaker 3: levels great.

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Speaker 2: But also the fact that that.

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Speaker 3: Tournament they let the other teams who weren't in the

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Speaker 3: finals still play on Sunday, so even if you missed,

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Speaker 3: you know, a chance to watch Omaha play earlier. You

392
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Speaker 3: could still watch them on Sunday because I actually played

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Speaker 3: in that tournament when I was younger, and so like,

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Speaker 3: if you got eliminator, if your pool ended early on Sunday,

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Speaker 3: you could go to this tournament afterwards, which I wish

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Speaker 3: was a thing when I was there. But you know,

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Speaker 3: so it's just a it was really cool the way

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Speaker 3: that they did it in allowing all these people to

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Speaker 3: view them. But yeah, yeah, I mean Houston is a

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Speaker 3: fun team to watch.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, we love those storylines that we can

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Speaker 1: attach to, especially early in the league when there's not

403
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Speaker 1: a lot of history and rivalries and things to look at,

404
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Speaker 1: being able to say, Okay, we know that Houston's kind

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Speaker 1: of got Atlanta's number and they seem to be the

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Speaker 1: only one that what does that mean going forward when

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Speaker 1: we look ahead to the postseason. Before we get to

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Speaker 1: the postseason, I do want to talk about a couple

409
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Speaker 1: of milestones from the regular season. In the last few

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Speaker 1: matches of the regular season, a couple folks past some

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Speaker 1: pretty notable things. Are there any that stood out to

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Speaker 1: you or that we as fans will keep in the

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Speaker 1: back of our heads as we're going to watch postseason games.

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Speaker 3: I feel like one of the biggest ones that really

415
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Speaker 3: stuck out to me was Kelsey Robinson Cook surpassing two

416
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Speaker 3: hundred digs, being the first player to surpass two hundred digs,

417
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Speaker 3: mainly because she's, you know, she's an outside hitter, but

418
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Speaker 3: she's also an older player. She's a veteran who's been

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Speaker 3: around for a while. So I feel like seeing someone

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Speaker 3: like her who's not a libero, who's not a defensive specialist,

421
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Speaker 3: getting that two hundred dig mark before anybody else is

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Speaker 3: really cool.

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Speaker 2: And to see somebody like her.

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Speaker 3: Who as someone who is older and still likes to

425
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Speaker 3: play you know, adult beer league volleyball, I'm like, I

426
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Speaker 3: love this, Like that's an inspiration for me to still

427
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Speaker 3: go out there and bust my ass on the court,

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Speaker 3: even though it's not for you know, an actual championship

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Speaker 3: like the Love Finals. But I mean, Kelsey Robin and

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Speaker 3: Cook is just phenomenal and so fun to watch. And

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Speaker 3: also I have Kat Bella as my co host on

432
00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:08,800
Speaker 3: Serving Pancakes, and Kat was pointing out also when we

433
00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:12,720
Speaker 3: kind of talked about milestones, about Madison Skinner opposite On Austin,

434
00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,760
Speaker 3: who reached two hundred points and she's the youngest player

435
00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:20,399
Speaker 3: to reach any of these milestones. Ambry gd she reached

436
00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,760
Speaker 3: two hundred points as well, but like they're a little older,

437
00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,200
Speaker 3: they're a little more experienced. Madison Skinner just came straight

438
00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:29,040
Speaker 3: out of college and she's putting on a show. I mean,

439
00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,280
Speaker 3: her and Jess Murziic are absolutely amazing, but Madison's the

440
00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,440
Speaker 3: only one who's reached one of these milestones. So I mean,

441
00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,040
Speaker 3: props to Madison for how amazing she's been.

442
00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,000
Speaker 1: Yeah, there's such a quick transition to the pro game

443
00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,560
Speaker 1: for those who are listening. Just in case you don't know,

444
00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,600
Speaker 1: a libero is a specialized defensive player in volleyball. So

445
00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:49,560
Speaker 1: basically they have to wear a different jersey and identify

446
00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:53,040
Speaker 1: as a libero because they can't go into the front row.

447
00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:54,960
Speaker 1: They have to stand in the back row. They can't serve,

448
00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,520
Speaker 1: they can't block, but they are the defensive specialists. So

449
00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:00,040
Speaker 1: for someone to get to two hundred digs first that

450
00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,600
Speaker 1: isn't a libero means that despite their ability and the

451
00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:04,720
Speaker 1: rest of the game, they are also a really great

452
00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:06,679
Speaker 1: defensive player who's been in the right place at the

453
00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,199
Speaker 1: right time a lot of times, two hundred times to

454
00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,960
Speaker 1: be exact, or Kelsey Robinson Cook. You mentioned your co host.

455
00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,120
Speaker 1: I was listening to a handful of episodes, and she's

456
00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:19,560
Speaker 1: in an interesting position because she's currently playing in Love volleyball. So,

457
00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:21,720
Speaker 1: you know, you guys have some fun with it. You know,

458
00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:23,959
Speaker 1: when you're predicting who's gonna win, she always says, well,

459
00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:25,800
Speaker 1: if we miss our plane or we all get food poisoning,

460
00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:27,760
Speaker 1: I guess maybe another team might win instead of us.

461
00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,720
Speaker 1: But she plays for the Austin team, yes, and she

462
00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,480
Speaker 1: sort of has to wear her analyst hat and her

463
00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:36,760
Speaker 1: player hat. You know, this podcast is backed by the league,

464
00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,280
Speaker 1: So how have you dealt with wanting to talk about

465
00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,240
Speaker 1: different storylines or wanting to talk about how the league

466
00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,520
Speaker 1: is doing in its first season while balancing your editorial vision,

467
00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,200
Speaker 1: your journalistic integrity, and also the fact that the league

468
00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:49,840
Speaker 1: sort of is the one running the podcast.

469
00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:52,480
Speaker 3: Well, you know, it's actually really funny because I've asked

470
00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:55,399
Speaker 3: a lot of girls who have come on as guests about,

471
00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:59,320
Speaker 3: you know, love and if there are rivalries because a

472
00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:01,600
Speaker 3: lot of these girls know each other already, right They've

473
00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,440
Speaker 3: either played with them in college, or they've grown up

474
00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,159
Speaker 3: idolizing them, or they played with them overseas, So I'm

475
00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,879
Speaker 3: kind of like, is there trash talking, you know what

476
00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,200
Speaker 3: kind of happens And they're like, you know on the court, yeah,

477
00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:15,840
Speaker 3: like you want to win, you want to win. But

478
00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,840
Speaker 3: it's kind of like League one call themselves love and

479
00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,520
Speaker 3: the love is spreading, like everyone kind of loves each other,

480
00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,520
Speaker 3: and so it's really funny to listen to these girls

481
00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:27,119
Speaker 3: talk about that.

482
00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:28,000
Speaker 2: So when it comes to.

483
00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:32,880
Speaker 3: My job and like trying to talk about anything that

484
00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,880
Speaker 3: could be quote negative, it almost feels like there really

485
00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,840
Speaker 3: isn't anything negative because everyone is so determined and so

486
00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,960
Speaker 3: wonderful and so nice that I can't find really any

487
00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:45,919
Speaker 3: negativity behind it.

488
00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:47,240
Speaker 2: And everyone wants to win.

489
00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,440
Speaker 3: And so like talking with Kat who needs to wear

490
00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:53,520
Speaker 3: these two hats, you know, if you listen to her,

491
00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:59,159
Speaker 3: there's always like a positive to everything, Like even though oh,

492
00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:01,280
Speaker 3: Maha might not be winning, it's like, yeah, but they

493
00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,159
Speaker 3: still got Jordan Marson, they got Justine Wangarantas, they got

494
00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,960
Speaker 3: Lexi Rodrigue, Like they have all these players who are

495
00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:09,399
Speaker 3: really good and that they can figure out. If they

496
00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,600
Speaker 3: can figure out what they're doing wrong, they'll be amazing, right,

497
00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:17,520
Speaker 3: So it's kind of an interesting thing where it's like

498
00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,760
Speaker 3: you kind of want to talk about that, right, because

499
00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,560
Speaker 3: the stakes and that kind of makes the stories. But

500
00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:28,160
Speaker 3: the stories are just that everyone's great, and everyone's working hard,

501
00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,439
Speaker 3: and everyone wants this league to succeed at least this

502
00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:31,000
Speaker 3: first season.

503
00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:32,760
Speaker 1: Who knows it can change going to say, I feel like,

504
00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,439
Speaker 1: especially now, everyone's just really excited to have a well built,

505
00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,359
Speaker 1: well funded, well promoted league for them to play in

506
00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:43,840
Speaker 1: in their own country, not traveling overseas. And then eventually

507
00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,320
Speaker 1: maybe there'll be more demands for this or that or

508
00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:48,920
Speaker 1: something to be done differently. But right now, it's making

509
00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:50,920
Speaker 1: your job easy because you don't have too many people

510
00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:53,600
Speaker 1: coming to you trying to get you to editorialize and

511
00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,919
Speaker 1: speak out about stuff. But we'll see, We'll see you

512
00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:58,160
Speaker 1: never you never know as things go on. But yeah,

513
00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:00,200
Speaker 1: all right, let's talk about the finals first. I want

514
00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:02,240
Speaker 1: to clarify. Why are we calling the playoffs the finals?

515
00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,199
Speaker 1: This is very confusing to me. What am I missing?

516
00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:07,680
Speaker 3: Well, it is the finals, right, someone's gonna finally win

517
00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:08,359
Speaker 3: the whole thing.

518
00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,600
Speaker 1: I get, yeah, but finals usually means like we've made

519
00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:13,920
Speaker 1: it through the semis and the quarters and the whatever,

520
00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:15,680
Speaker 1: and we made it to the finals. But they're calling

521
00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:16,200
Speaker 1: the finals.

522
00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:17,359
Speaker 2: Everything that's fair.

523
00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,320
Speaker 3: But I also think unlike other leagues, like the NCAA

524
00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,840
Speaker 3: tournament for example, it's not Yes, this is a tournament, right,

525
00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,080
Speaker 3: and everyone's gonna pare down eventually there's going to be

526
00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:29,400
Speaker 3: two teams, right, But the whole league is in this tournament, right,

527
00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,919
Speaker 3: so anyone literally could be the final. And so I

528
00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:34,480
Speaker 3: think that's just kind of why. I mean, I didn't

529
00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:35,879
Speaker 3: come up with the name, but this is kind of

530
00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:37,800
Speaker 3: like my guess, and it to me.

531
00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,800
Speaker 1: My first complaint about Love. Take it to the people

532
00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:42,399
Speaker 1: at the top. I just wanted to be called the

533
00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,119
Speaker 1: postseason or the playoffs, and then the finals can be

534
00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,480
Speaker 1: between the final two teams. That's It's just going to

535
00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:49,399
Speaker 1: confuse me every time I say Love Finals, and then

536
00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,480
Speaker 1: I'm like, and then the quarters of the finals, okay,

537
00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:56,600
Speaker 1: but let's talk about the quarters. On Thursday, Love Atlanta

538
00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:58,760
Speaker 1: entered the final week of the regular season with the

539
00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,879
Speaker 1: number one seed. They had already clinched and earned their bye,

540
00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:03,919
Speaker 1: but the race for the remaining positions came down to

541
00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,359
Speaker 1: that final weekend. Houston swept Madison, which ended Madison's seven

542
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,840
Speaker 1: match win streak. They were surging and that gave Houston

543
00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:12,920
Speaker 1: the other quarterfinal by so those two teams get a

544
00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,000
Speaker 1: chance to rest and wait up. That sets up the

545
00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,879
Speaker 1: two quarterfinals of Love Austin versus Love salt Lake and

546
00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,439
Speaker 1: Love Omaha versus Love Madison. So let's start with the

547
00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,840
Speaker 1: first one. Four thirty Eastern Thursday. Salt Lake finished their

548
00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,800
Speaker 1: season seven and nine, Austin five and eleven. What are

549
00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:29,760
Speaker 1: the keys to a win for each of these teams?

550
00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:34,280
Speaker 3: So, Salt Lake has some amazing, amazing players. I mean,

551
00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,840
Speaker 3: specifically to me, Minami Kojima, who is there liberro is

552
00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:39,919
Speaker 3: one of the best liberos in the world. I know,

553
00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:44,360
Speaker 3: Justin Wangmurantas won that distinction at the Olympics in twenty sixteen.

554
00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:48,159
Speaker 3: But she's I mean, Minami's just amazing to watch. She

555
00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,040
Speaker 3: does not let the ball drop. So I feel like

556
00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:54,520
Speaker 3: a combination of her on defense. Plus you have Ronnie

557
00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:58,080
Speaker 3: Jones Perry, who's an outside hitter who is lights out.

558
00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,600
Speaker 3: I mean, that girl every single time she I just

559
00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:04,080
Speaker 3: imagine it's gonna be straight on the ground, right. So

560
00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:06,439
Speaker 3: I feel like you have your outside hitter who's going

561
00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:09,480
Speaker 3: to be super dominant with your setter Jordan Poulter, who

562
00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:13,600
Speaker 3: is an Olympic medalist as well. You know, those two combined,

563
00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,640
Speaker 3: it's just absolutely insane to watch at the net. Plus

564
00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:20,000
Speaker 3: you have Manami who's gonna dig everything that you can imagine.

565
00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:21,919
Speaker 3: So I feel like salt Lake just needs to be

566
00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,520
Speaker 3: able to keep that up and keep that pressure up.

567
00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:26,240
Speaker 3: Plus you got you know, Haley Washington's going to be

568
00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:29,720
Speaker 3: absolutely amazing and Skyler Field's on opposite, she's also great.

569
00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:31,720
Speaker 3: She really stepped up her game because she's also young.

570
00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,640
Speaker 3: She's this is her second year playing pro for Austin.

571
00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,840
Speaker 3: I feel like they are an interesting team because they

572
00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,120
Speaker 3: have kind of struggled a little bit right They've gone

573
00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,800
Speaker 3: back and forth between sometimes being great and sometimes not

574
00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,639
Speaker 3: being great. Salt Lake and Austin have actually played the

575
00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:48,399
Speaker 3: most five set matches out of the whole season, and

576
00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:51,359
Speaker 3: this is actually a rematch of just last week, so

577
00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:53,919
Speaker 3: they kind of are coming off fresh. So they know

578
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,840
Speaker 3: each other very well. But Austin is unique because their

579
00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:01,239
Speaker 3: depth is it's very deep, their benches very deep. So

580
00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:05,440
Speaker 3: they need to figure out still what is their winning lineup.

581
00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:09,000
Speaker 3: I feel like they sometimes mess around with who's going

582
00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:10,720
Speaker 3: to start, who's not going to start, who's going to

583
00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:12,680
Speaker 3: come in and later sets, who's going to sit?

584
00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:14,200
Speaker 2: And I feel like if they.

585
00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:17,600
Speaker 3: Can just figure out that winning formula, they're gonna have it, because,

586
00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:20,199
Speaker 3: like we talked about Madison Skinner earlier, Madison Skinner is

587
00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:23,320
Speaker 3: just absolutely on fire. She's so fun to watch. Logan

588
00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:26,280
Speaker 3: Eggleston for Outside is just so great to.

589
00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:26,960
Speaker 2: Watch as well.

590
00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,639
Speaker 3: Plus obviously Cat and your co host like host and

591
00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:32,159
Speaker 3: you got.

592
00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:33,760
Speaker 2: Chiako Bago in the middle.

593
00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:36,800
Speaker 3: Who I mean, that girl is a wall at the

594
00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:38,760
Speaker 3: net when it comes to blocking. So I feel like

595
00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:40,840
Speaker 3: they just kind of need to figure out what is

596
00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:42,480
Speaker 3: this winning formula to.

597
00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,400
Speaker 1: Actually get well. And salt Lake probably feels pretty good

598
00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:48,160
Speaker 1: coming in because they came back from down to win

599
00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,280
Speaker 1: in five sets in that last matchup between the two

600
00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:51,760
Speaker 1: of them in the last week of the regular season.

601
00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:54,160
Speaker 1: So really no matter what happens, either they come in

602
00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,040
Speaker 1: really confident, they get a lead and they hang on

603
00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:57,600
Speaker 1: to it because they feel like, oh, we just beat

604
00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:00,200
Speaker 1: this team, or if they get behind fresh and their

605
00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:01,760
Speaker 1: minds as the fact that they were able to come

606
00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,800
Speaker 1: back and win just a week ago. So Austin's got

607
00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:06,440
Speaker 1: their work cutout for them in that one. Okay, the

608
00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,120
Speaker 1: second matchup right after that seven pm Eastern. Madison finished

609
00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:12,080
Speaker 1: the regular season eight and eight, Omaha five and eleven.

610
00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:14,960
Speaker 1: Now you mentioned Madison started one in seven, so finishing

611
00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,200
Speaker 1: eight and eight tells you that this is a team

612
00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:19,400
Speaker 1: that has figured things out down the stretch. They've been

613
00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,840
Speaker 1: almost unbeatable except for that last matchup that we just

614
00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,280
Speaker 1: heard about where their seven game win streak or match

615
00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,040
Speaker 1: streak ended. What needs to go right for Madison and

616
00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:29,880
Speaker 1: Omaha for these teams to get the DUB.

617
00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,440
Speaker 3: I think they just need to be fresh and ready,

618
00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,240
Speaker 3: which I think they will be. Honestly, that loss against

619
00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,680
Speaker 3: Houston in week thirteen was coming off of a short

620
00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,200
Speaker 3: break because they played the night before, so I feel

621
00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:43,560
Speaker 3: like they were just a little tired. I think that

622
00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:46,160
Speaker 3: they're going to be just fine though. Any Drew Schumacher

623
00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:48,600
Speaker 3: is an absolute beast at opposite.

624
00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:50,120
Speaker 2: She is an Olympian as well.

625
00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:52,680
Speaker 3: She's the only player in the league to win Offensive

626
00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,720
Speaker 3: Player of the Week three times, so she is going

627
00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:57,600
Speaker 3: to be a lot of fun to watch and is

628
00:29:57,640 --> 00:29:59,640
Speaker 3: always so fun to watch from the front row, from

629
00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:01,200
Speaker 3: the back grow, wherever she's hitting.

630
00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:02,040
Speaker 2: She's just great.

631
00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:04,400
Speaker 3: And plus you got Lauren Carlini, whose sets are like

632
00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,200
Speaker 3: butter I mean every time I watch I'm just like,

633
00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:08,800
Speaker 3: oh my god, what I would kill for her? At

634
00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:11,200
Speaker 3: my own set from Lauren CARLINI I don't know what

635
00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,080
Speaker 3: I would do with that ball. So I feel like,

636
00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,280
Speaker 3: you know, watching them, they're gonna be just fine in

637
00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:20,880
Speaker 3: the end. For Omaha, you know, as we mentioned earlier,

638
00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,320
Speaker 3: they lost a few matches near the end after starting

639
00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:28,040
Speaker 3: off really hot, but they have a great team. I mean,

640
00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:32,240
Speaker 3: Jordan Larson's been great. Obviously, there's one.

641
00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:35,000
Speaker 1: Time Olympic medalists basically basically the goat.

642
00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:37,080
Speaker 3: Exactly, the Governor as they call her.

643
00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:38,080
Speaker 2: She's amazing.

644
00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,320
Speaker 3: But like on opposite a player who you might not

645
00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:43,760
Speaker 3: have heard of or the Americans might not have heard

646
00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,800
Speaker 3: off as a German player named Kimberly Drevniak who's absolutely

647
00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:51,000
Speaker 3: phenomenal on opposite, And so then you got their setter

648
00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:53,960
Speaker 3: is Laura Daikma. She also is great and knows how

649
00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:56,320
Speaker 3: to spread the ball around to the pins to get

650
00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:59,760
Speaker 3: these players ball. So I feel like, depending on who's

651
00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:01,800
Speaker 3: in the front, it's just going to be a really

652
00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:04,920
Speaker 3: good matchup. I think Madison does have the edge just

653
00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,560
Speaker 3: because they're a little more on a hot streak. They

654
00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,640
Speaker 3: figured out how to win, especially now that Annie has

655
00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:13,040
Speaker 3: been back because she was injured those first few weeks

656
00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:15,400
Speaker 3: of the season when they were on that losing streak.

657
00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,520
Speaker 3: So I think that they're going to figure it out.

658
00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:21,440
Speaker 3: And again mentioning Lexi Rodriguez and Justina Wangarante's in the

659
00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,000
Speaker 3: backcourt is also just.

660
00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:23,760
Speaker 2: A sight to see.

661
00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:25,760
Speaker 1: Madison also might get a little bit of a bump

662
00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,840
Speaker 1: because they've got two University of Louisville graduates on their team.

663
00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:31,600
Speaker 1: So you've got two players coming home to your old

664
00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:33,680
Speaker 1: stomping grounds. I presume there will be a lot of

665
00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:37,200
Speaker 1: Louisville representation there cheering them on now that they're onto

666
00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:39,480
Speaker 1: the pros, So maybe they'll get a little bump there.

667
00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:39,880
Speaker 2: Yeah.

668
00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:42,360
Speaker 3: Actually, I just interviewed Claire Chasse, who is one of

669
00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:44,720
Speaker 3: those Louisville players, and she said she's very excited, but

670
00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:46,760
Speaker 3: she said that she's got to focus. She's very excited

671
00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:48,360
Speaker 3: to be back, but she knows she has to focus

672
00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:50,360
Speaker 3: because the point of being there is.

673
00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:53,760
Speaker 1: Yeah, Yeah, you can't go all year old haunts and

674
00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:56,080
Speaker 1: throw any back with your friends. You've got to focus

675
00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:57,640
Speaker 1: on the off first, and then if you win, you

676
00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:00,520
Speaker 1: could celebrate. Claire and then Anna Hall, the other player

677
00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:02,640
Speaker 1: from University of Louisville that gets a chance to go back,

678
00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:05,400
Speaker 1: which is cool. Okay. Top seed Atlanta finished thirteen and

679
00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:07,600
Speaker 1: three and the number two seed Houston ten and six.

680
00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:10,440
Speaker 1: They're awaiting the winners of those matches. They'll face off

681
00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,960
Speaker 1: on Friday. What should we know about the league's top

682
00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,520
Speaker 1: two teams before the postseason starts? Give us a little

683
00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:17,000
Speaker 1: scouting report for Atlanta.

684
00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:20,720
Speaker 3: So Atlanta is another I mean, like I said, they're

685
00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:22,840
Speaker 3: all just so fun to watch. So I keep saying that, right, Like,

686
00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:24,560
Speaker 3: they're such a great team to watch. But you got

687
00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:27,400
Speaker 3: Kelsey Robinson Cook, who we mentioned with how amazing she

688
00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:30,080
Speaker 3: is on defense and as a hitter. You also got

689
00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:34,040
Speaker 3: Tia Jimerson, who's their middle blocker. She is so fun

690
00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,040
Speaker 3: to watch. I mean, like you think Chiaka's fun to watch,

691
00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:39,120
Speaker 3: Tia Jimmerson is so great too. She's got this personality

692
00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:41,560
Speaker 3: and she's just fiery and I love watching her.

693
00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:43,040
Speaker 2: She reached fifty blocks.

694
00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:44,880
Speaker 3: She was the first player to reach fifty blocks in

695
00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:48,280
Speaker 3: the league, although Chiaka then ended up surpassing in that

696
00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:51,040
Speaker 3: and has the most blocks in the league. Speaking of

697
00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:54,680
Speaker 3: the two, but I mean Atlanta Leeds in total points,

698
00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:58,080
Speaker 3: in aces, pass efficiency. They just kind of figured it out.

699
00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:00,560
Speaker 3: They have a really good team, and especially after losing

700
00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,160
Speaker 3: the very first match of the season, which is not

701
00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,280
Speaker 3: just the first match, first Serve in Atlanta, I feel

702
00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:08,160
Speaker 3: like they've kind of turned it around and been like.

703
00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:11,320
Speaker 2: Ah, that was just a little fluke. Watch out. We

704
00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:13,480
Speaker 2: are on fire. So they're great.

705
00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:14,719
Speaker 1: What about Houston?

706
00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:17,600
Speaker 3: So, Houston has been a lot of fun to watch.

707
00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:20,440
Speaker 3: I love Jess Murzick. She's a Penn State player. She

708
00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:24,720
Speaker 3: literally went from winning the championship the NCAA Championship in

709
00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:29,360
Speaker 3: Louisville to going right to love Houston and has been

710
00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:31,640
Speaker 3: one of their best players. She's I think the second

711
00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,240
Speaker 3: player on their team with points. So she's just been

712
00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:38,040
Speaker 3: on fire on the outside. And then you got Micah Hancock,

713
00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,760
Speaker 3: who is the only player to have reached twenty aces.

714
00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,920
Speaker 3: Her serve is absolutely insane. If you ever watch it,

715
00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:47,240
Speaker 3: she does this top spin jump serve that is just

716
00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:50,640
Speaker 3: I don't know how people defend it, but somehow they

717
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:51,240
Speaker 3: are able.

718
00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:51,400
Speaker 2: To pass that.

719
00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:54,880
Speaker 1: And then Jordan Thompson too big offensive weapon for them.

720
00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:57,760
Speaker 3: Yes, and I was gonna say Jordan Thompson has also

721
00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,360
Speaker 3: been on fire. Another player actually who was a little

722
00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:02,720
Speaker 3: slow to start. She wasn't really putting up a lot

723
00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:05,520
Speaker 3: of points. She kind of attributed that to coming off

724
00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,200
Speaker 3: of the Olympics and kind of having that amazing run

725
00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:10,200
Speaker 3: and just being a little tired and needing to get

726
00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:14,320
Speaker 3: her body back and you know, ready for another tournament season.

727
00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:17,719
Speaker 3: But since I think it was week five when she

728
00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:20,839
Speaker 3: kind of found her groove again, she has been liked out.

729
00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:25,000
Speaker 3: That girl can find a hole on any team. I

730
00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:26,600
Speaker 3: don't know how she does it, but she can get

731
00:34:26,640 --> 00:34:28,960
Speaker 3: over a blocking, get through a block, she can tip

732
00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:31,560
Speaker 3: and find the campfire in the middle of the court.

733
00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:34,440
Speaker 3: You know that she's just a great, great player to

734
00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:34,960
Speaker 3: watch too.

735
00:34:35,480 --> 00:34:37,480
Speaker 1: Tell us about the campfire? Can you explain that?

736
00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:40,120
Speaker 3: Yeah, So, I actually don't know if this is an

737
00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:43,799
Speaker 3: official term, but I used to call it that when

738
00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,000
Speaker 3: we were in high school. So, a campfires when you

739
00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:47,920
Speaker 3: tip the ball and it lands right in the middle

740
00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:50,439
Speaker 3: of the court and no one goes for it because

741
00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:51,840
Speaker 3: everyone's watching it like a campfire.

742
00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:55,440
Speaker 1: We're all circled around it with their s'mores, exactly feasting

743
00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:57,960
Speaker 1: on the ball. The Love Finals are going to run

744
00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:00,319
Speaker 1: alongside a major youth tournament sort of like the End

745
00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:03,319
Speaker 1: Season Classic did the JVA World Challenge. So tell us

746
00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:06,120
Speaker 1: about running those events can currently in Louisville and how

747
00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:08,479
Speaker 1: it sort of continues that theme of connecting the youth

748
00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:09,680
Speaker 1: and the sport to the pros.

749
00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:12,960
Speaker 3: Yeah, so same thing as like we said the Love Classic.

750
00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,920
Speaker 3: It's just it gives this opportunity for these youth players

751
00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:19,120
Speaker 3: to be able to aspire to something. They get to

752
00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:22,120
Speaker 3: watch these girls perform at the highest level and say,

753
00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:24,719
Speaker 3: like one day I could be Jordan Thompson, one day

754
00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,239
Speaker 3: I could be Kelsey Robinson Cook, right, And so I

755
00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,479
Speaker 3: just think that it's great that they're able to watch them.

756
00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:33,840
Speaker 3: And Love has done a great job providing opportunities for

757
00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:37,640
Speaker 3: the fans to interact with the players as well. One

758
00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:39,960
Speaker 3: thing that they have is they have a friendship bracelet

759
00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:43,319
Speaker 3: making station in the hall. So I've heard from so

760
00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,319
Speaker 3: many of the girls who have received friendship bracelets from

761
00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,920
Speaker 3: these youth players, right, And then like the signs that

762
00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:51,160
Speaker 3: they make and then they do the autographs at the end,

763
00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:54,000
Speaker 3: and it's just kind of like the giddiness that you

764
00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:57,040
Speaker 3: see from kids looking out to their idols. It's just

765
00:35:57,080 --> 00:36:00,000
Speaker 3: so cute and exciting because it's the next wave, right,

766
00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:01,520
Speaker 3: and you're not going to build your fan base if

767
00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:04,680
Speaker 3: you're not reaching that younger generation that will continue to

768
00:36:04,719 --> 00:36:07,440
Speaker 3: love the sport and fallow the sport and the fans

769
00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:09,920
Speaker 3: are only going to keep growing because this sport is

770
00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,400
Speaker 3: so popular in the United States that I feel like

771
00:36:13,160 --> 00:36:15,600
Speaker 3: it's just going to keep growing, keep growing, and hopefully

772
00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:19,239
Speaker 3: that someday soon. I mean the eighteen year olds who

773
00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:22,160
Speaker 3: are playing right now in these youth tournaments, in five years,

774
00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:24,680
Speaker 3: they're going to be playing pro so they could be

775
00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:27,040
Speaker 3: the ones that are on the court representing these teams.

776
00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:30,200
Speaker 1: The Love Woman of the Year award sort of connects

777
00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:33,120
Speaker 1: with that because it's not really about an MVP or

778
00:36:33,160 --> 00:36:35,800
Speaker 1: the best on the court. It's about someone that connects

779
00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:37,879
Speaker 1: with the community in the way you just spoke about.

780
00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:39,080
Speaker 1: Can you tell us about that award?

781
00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:42,960
Speaker 3: Yeah, So a lot of these players have done amazing

782
00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:47,120
Speaker 3: things within the community, but the teams decided, the players

783
00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:50,359
Speaker 3: and the coaches decided to vote for one player on

784
00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:54,279
Speaker 3: each team to be nominated for this Love Woman of

785
00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:58,120
Speaker 3: the Year. So it's not just about their performance on

786
00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:00,480
Speaker 3: the field, but their performance off the field and what

787
00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:03,080
Speaker 3: they do in the community. So They have a lot

788
00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:07,040
Speaker 3: of different ways that they get involved, whether you know

789
00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:10,920
Speaker 3: it's Haley Washington who visits the you know, Children's hospital,

790
00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:15,600
Speaker 3: Kimberly Drevniak on Omaha. She is actually part of this

791
00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:19,359
Speaker 3: global foundation called Let's Keep the Ball Flying where they

792
00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:20,520
Speaker 3: help bring.

793
00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:22,040
Speaker 2: Resources to kids.

794
00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:24,520
Speaker 3: All over to play volleyball, and she's brought that, you know,

795
00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:28,839
Speaker 3: also with an Omaha. Logan Eggleston is on Austin and

796
00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:33,000
Speaker 3: she's she's a fascinating woman. Ever since she was in college,

797
00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:35,400
Speaker 3: she's been considering like one day running for president and

798
00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:38,719
Speaker 3: has always been like an activist and wants.

799
00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:39,600
Speaker 2: To help people.

800
00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:43,239
Speaker 3: So all of these women are doing something within the

801
00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:46,960
Speaker 3: community to not just make the their I mean, I

802
00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:49,160
Speaker 3: hate to say that like their brand grow, because that's

803
00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:51,600
Speaker 3: not what it's for, right. This is them and their

804
00:37:51,640 --> 00:37:54,279
Speaker 3: hearts actually going out and doing things that they know

805
00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:58,440
Speaker 3: is good for the community. And so I love this award.

806
00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:00,480
Speaker 3: I think it's a great idea and I'm excited to

807
00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:02,680
Speaker 3: see who eventually wins, because I don't know, all of

808
00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:04,440
Speaker 3: them are doing great things well.

809
00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:06,239
Speaker 1: And it's really cool how it does tie then back

810
00:38:06,280 --> 00:38:08,880
Speaker 1: to what seems like it's at the heart of the league,

811
00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:12,799
Speaker 1: which is sustainability by investing in what's next to come.

812
00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:15,680
Speaker 1: And I the more interviews we do with these nascent leagues,

813
00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:17,840
Speaker 1: the more I think about how different it would have

814
00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:20,319
Speaker 1: been for people my age and before me if we

815
00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:22,600
Speaker 1: had had all these different professional women's leagues of all

816
00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:24,440
Speaker 1: different kinds to really be able to say, like, what

817
00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:25,920
Speaker 1: do I want to do later and what could I

818
00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:28,399
Speaker 1: become later? So very cool that love is a big

819
00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:30,719
Speaker 1: part of that, and very cool that you came and

820
00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:33,600
Speaker 1: gave us a little bit of a primer to get

821
00:38:33,680 --> 00:38:36,920
Speaker 1: us ready for the postseason the finals. If you will

822
00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:40,640
Speaker 1: and I won't, I will continue to say postseason, Tiffany,

823
00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:41,640
Speaker 1: thanks so much for the time.

824
00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:43,359
Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Sarah, I appreciate it.

825
00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:48,480
Speaker 1: We have to take another break. When we return, Schrodinger's

826
00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:59,040
Speaker 1: Cat meets a recording studio. Welcome back, Slices. We love

827
00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:00,480
Speaker 1: that you're listening, but we will want you to get

828
00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:02,479
Speaker 1: in the game every day too. So here's our good

829
00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:06,680
Speaker 1: gameplay of the day. Watch The Love Finals quarterfinals are

830
00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:09,680
Speaker 1: today on ESPN Plus. First up, Austin takes on Salt

831
00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:12,760
Speaker 1: Lake at four thirty pm Eastern, followed by Omaha versus

832
00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:15,920
Speaker 1: Madison at seven pm Eastern. The winners of those matches

833
00:39:15,960 --> 00:39:18,440
Speaker 1: will play on Friday against the two teams that receivedodbye

834
00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:22,240
Speaker 1: to the semifinals, Atlanta and Houston. Those games on ESPN

835
00:39:22,239 --> 00:39:25,880
Speaker 1: two and ESPN Plus, then on Sunday the Love Championship,

836
00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:28,680
Speaker 1: which will also be on ESPN two and ESPN Plus.

837
00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:31,240
Speaker 1: We'll link to the full final schedule in our show notes.

838
00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:33,520
Speaker 1: You know we always love to hear from you slices,

839
00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:36,520
Speaker 1: so hit us up on email. Good game at wondermedianetwork

840
00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:40,440
Speaker 1: dot com, and don't forget to subscribe a rate and review, y'all.

841
00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:44,279
Speaker 1: It's easy watch finding out your audiobook is available for

842
00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:48,359
Speaker 1: pre order before you've even recorded it. Rating five out

843
00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:51,840
Speaker 1: of five stars is what you should review it, even

844
00:39:51,880 --> 00:39:56,080
Speaker 1: though it does not yet exist. Review. I was telling

845
00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:58,520
Speaker 1: Alex and Meish about my recording schedule for the audio

846
00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:01,080
Speaker 1: version of my upcoming book Run of the Family, and

847
00:40:01,120 --> 00:40:03,200
Speaker 1: Alex popped on over to Audible to see if it

848
00:40:03,239 --> 00:40:05,880
Speaker 1: was available for pre order. No, I said, it doesn't

849
00:40:05,920 --> 00:40:10,000
Speaker 1: exist yet, I haven't even recorded it. But lo and behold, slices,

850
00:40:10,120 --> 00:40:13,080
Speaker 1: it is indeed available to pre order, and it's in

851
00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:16,080
Speaker 1: this liminal space that you can take the ultimate risk.

852
00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:19,920
Speaker 1: Will I record it or won't tie? Will there be

853
00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:22,680
Speaker 1: an audiobook, or will I fail to speak words into

854
00:40:22,719 --> 00:40:27,760
Speaker 1: a microphone capably enough to release said audiobook. Like Schrodinger's Cat,

855
00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:31,600
Speaker 1: the audiobook both exists and does not exist until the

856
00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:35,319
Speaker 1: moment you click play, pre order it and find out.

857
00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:39,080
Speaker 1: Now it's your turn to rate and review. Thanks for listening,

858
00:40:39,280 --> 00:40:42,919
Speaker 1: See you tomorrow. Good Game, Tiffany, good game, Love, fuck

859
00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:45,160
Speaker 1: you the fact that we even have to question whether

860
00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:47,759
Speaker 1: the United States is a suitable host for the Olympics.

861
00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:52,160
Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports

862
00:40:52,160 --> 00:40:55,360
Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You

863
00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:58,279
Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or

864
00:40:58,280 --> 00:41:01,640
Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,

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Speaker 1: our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive

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Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder.

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Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Britney Martinez, and Grace Lynch.

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Speaker 1: Our associate producer is Lucy Jones and I'm your host

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Speaker 1: Sarah Spain