WEBVTT - Leah Hardeman and Why Representation Matters: LOVB in Paris 0:00:03.040 --> 0:00:06.360 Hi, I'm Tiffany Oshinski and this is Serving Pancakes with 0:00:06.480 --> 0:00:09.479 League One Volleyball. Over the past few episodes, we've been 0:00:09.480 --> 0:00:13.000 following Team USA's quest for gold at the Paris Olympics 0:00:13.160 --> 0:00:16.400 while also talking with talented people in and around volleyball 0:00:16.480 --> 0:00:19.520 and women's sports. After an amazing win by the US 0:00:19.560 --> 0:00:22.120 over Brazil to secure their spot in the gold medal match, 0:00:22.320 --> 0:00:26.160 we have Coastal Carolina's all time kills record holder, outside 0:00:26.200 --> 0:00:29.760 hitter and League One player, Leah Hardiman. Leah is a 0:00:29.800 --> 0:00:32.440 four time conference champion and four time Player of the 0:00:32.520 --> 0:00:35.680 Year for the Chanta Clears. She's played professionally in Greece 0:00:35.720 --> 0:00:39.479 and Italy and won the Italian Syria Due this past season, 0:00:40.000 --> 0:00:42.800 and now Lea will be bringing her talents back to 0:00:42.880 --> 0:00:51.720 the States, joining love Austin. Leah, thank you so much 0:00:51.720 --> 0:00:53.840 for joining me on Serving Pancakes. 0:00:54.200 --> 0:00:57.240 Thank you for having me. I'm actually really really excited. 0:00:57.680 --> 0:00:59.800 I mean, I could have my own little pancakes here too, 0:01:00.480 --> 0:01:03.920 but I'm really happy. I'm very excited. The game was very, 0:01:04.040 --> 0:01:07.840 very really intense. I'm really excited to talk about that 0:01:08.120 --> 0:01:10.039 and to have a conversation with you today. 0:01:10.400 --> 0:01:13.120 Yes, I'm so excited to talk about you, about everything. 0:01:13.480 --> 0:01:16.200 You have such an amazing background, and we're gonna get 0:01:16.200 --> 0:01:18.200 into that in just a second. But before we truly 0:01:18.200 --> 0:01:20.679 get started and dive into this game, because like I said, 0:01:20.720 --> 0:01:22.720 there's a lot that we want to talk about, let's 0:01:22.760 --> 0:01:25.800 just quickly hear from twenty sixteen bronze medalist Courtney Thompson, 0:01:25.800 --> 0:01:28.000 who is on the ground in Paris and witnessed this 0:01:28.080 --> 0:01:30.480 great win by Team USA over Brazil. 0:01:31.520 --> 0:01:35.000 What's up, guys, Corny Thompson here was serving pancakes with 0:01:35.280 --> 0:01:39.560 League one volleyball. Holy cow, that was insane. I'm still 0:01:39.560 --> 0:01:42.759 in the arena here in Paris where you has say, just. 0:01:42.720 --> 0:01:44.839 Beat Brazil in five let's go. 0:01:45.680 --> 0:01:48.400 Headed to the gold medal match. I don't even know 0:01:48.400 --> 0:01:51.800 where to start. That was just an amazing team win. 0:01:52.680 --> 0:01:55.640 Brazil is emotional, They're really good. They got some of 0:01:55.680 --> 0:01:58.360 the best players in the world, especially Gabby Carol in 0:01:58.400 --> 0:02:02.080 the middle. Tayis for a long time, and we served 0:02:02.160 --> 0:02:04.720 him tough and we weathered their storm when they got high. 0:02:04.800 --> 0:02:06.960 We just kept making the next play, the next play, 0:02:07.200 --> 0:02:11.960 which was incredible. I thought Kat and Avery passed so amazing. 0:02:12.080 --> 0:02:13.000 They hit amazing. 0:02:13.360 --> 0:02:16.240 Jordan had them in rhythm and and Drew's took tough 0:02:16.240 --> 0:02:21.200 swings as she does. And then Haley and chiaka man. 0:02:21.560 --> 0:02:23.640 They didn't get as many sets, but when they did, 0:02:24.240 --> 0:02:28.000 which is just so important, they capitalized and they blocked well. 0:02:28.320 --> 0:02:30.160 Put a ton of pressure on these guys. They both 0:02:30.200 --> 0:02:34.840 had some serving runs and the best our offensive looked 0:02:35.040 --> 0:02:39.960 tonight and last night, So credit to Jordan. Also, amazing 0:02:40.080 --> 0:02:43.400 job by Lauren Carlini and JT coming off the bench. 0:02:43.760 --> 0:02:46.760 They were plus in every single set, which is incredible 0:02:47.120 --> 0:02:51.040 and not easy. So God dang, thats good volleyball, just 0:02:51.080 --> 0:02:53.280 such good volleyball all the way around. And we took 0:02:53.280 --> 0:02:55.680 a few more tough swings than they did, and these 0:02:55.680 --> 0:02:57.359 guys know how to win it. So we can't wait 0:02:57.400 --> 0:03:01.040 for the finals. So pumped for these guys. Amazing great 0:03:01.040 --> 0:03:02.640 team win as we do. 0:03:02.760 --> 0:03:06.440 Let's go USA, all. 0:03:06.400 --> 0:03:10.760 Right, definitely a great team win. This match was so insane, 0:03:10.880 --> 0:03:13.960 the US winning in five and ten sets twenty five 0:03:14.240 --> 0:03:18.080 to twenty three, eighteen, twenty five, twenty five, fifteen, twenty three, 0:03:18.200 --> 0:03:22.560 twenty five, and then fifteen eleven. So let's talk top 0:03:22.639 --> 0:03:25.000 level first, lea, before we break down the match a bit, 0:03:25.200 --> 0:03:27.359 what were your initial reactions to this match. 0:03:28.080 --> 0:03:34.160 Honestly, I was really excited first off, because USA and Brazil. 0:03:34.280 --> 0:03:37.480 I love Gabbia, She's my favorite player, and so I 0:03:37.520 --> 0:03:39.320 was just ready to see, you know, how she was 0:03:39.360 --> 0:03:42.440 gonna set up against set her team up against USA. 0:03:43.040 --> 0:03:43.800 Obviously we have. 0:03:43.960 --> 0:03:46.360 All of you know, the superstars on our team, and 0:03:46.440 --> 0:03:48.480 to see who was gonna start. I was really curious 0:03:48.520 --> 0:03:51.080 to see who's gonna start and who's going to finish 0:03:51.080 --> 0:03:53.520 the match, because as of right now for the Olympics, 0:03:53.840 --> 0:03:55.920 there's been maybe one or two players will start. We 0:03:56.000 --> 0:03:58.600 have so many stubs and everything. So I was really 0:03:58.600 --> 0:04:01.839 curious about that. And from the looks like our team 0:04:01.880 --> 0:04:05.240 obviously held it down, So that was real. That was 0:04:05.280 --> 0:04:08.840 my first initial initial ideas for the for the game. 0:04:09.120 --> 0:04:11.720 H Yeah. And Brazil and the US have like a 0:04:11.760 --> 0:04:16.000 lot of long history, long history, yes, long history of 0:04:16.080 --> 0:04:19.760 US beat Brazil in Tokyo, and Brazil beat the US 0:04:19.800 --> 0:04:22.440 back in the London Olympics for gold, and here we 0:04:22.480 --> 0:04:24.200 are playing in the semi finals. And I know that 0:04:24.800 --> 0:04:27.839 Karch and Brazil's head coach today Roberto have a you know, 0:04:27.960 --> 0:04:32.120 a long relationship, and so I learned that two days 0:04:32.200 --> 0:04:37.200 before the opening ceremonies in Paris. Carch actually asked Brazil 0:04:37.320 --> 0:04:41.240 to play them in kind of like a warm up 0:04:41.279 --> 0:04:43.440 game almost, but he asked them to bring the starters, 0:04:43.520 --> 0:04:46.280 have the starters start play, you know, no holds bar, 0:04:46.600 --> 0:04:49.839 just go out. And Brazil ended up beating the US 0:04:49.839 --> 0:04:53.680 in this little fun exhibition game, I guess, in four sets. 0:04:53.960 --> 0:04:57.200 So I'm curious, do you think that having that preview 0:04:57.279 --> 0:05:00.559 quote quote preview maybe helped the US this match? 0:05:00.760 --> 0:05:02.080 Oh? For sure. 0:05:02.279 --> 0:05:04.680 I feel like if they were bringing all of their 0:05:04.720 --> 0:05:09.200 stops and trying to basically beat USA, and obviously they 0:05:09.839 --> 0:05:12.960 USA used that game to scout them and to figure 0:05:12.960 --> 0:05:18.200 out what were their best shots and what were their weaknesses. Obviously, 0:05:18.480 --> 0:05:21.159 everyone in the friendly match you're going to play or practice, 0:05:21.160 --> 0:05:23.720 you're going to play completely different. You're going to amp 0:05:23.760 --> 0:05:26.120 it up when you play for you know, a gold medal. 0:05:26.160 --> 0:05:30.599 We're obviously going into the gold finals. But for sure, 0:05:30.720 --> 0:05:33.880 I think that that might have been Brazil in the 0:05:33.920 --> 0:05:37.000 butt a little bit playing against them, even if they 0:05:37.040 --> 0:05:40.599 won that game. When you lose, you learn, so you 0:05:40.720 --> 0:05:42.640 learn exactly what you need to do to beat them. 0:05:44.240 --> 0:05:45.120 That's a really good point. 0:05:45.120 --> 0:05:45.279 You know. 0:05:45.320 --> 0:05:47.560 It's a fun fact that I actually just learned. Is 0:05:47.560 --> 0:05:50.760 that the Miracle on Ice team back in nineteen eighty 0:05:50.839 --> 0:05:54.480 when they, you know, they beat Russian that insane games, 0:05:54.520 --> 0:05:58.240 a miracle on ice game, right, Yeah, But twelve days 0:05:58.279 --> 0:06:01.600 before that game, they had an exhibition game with Russia 0:06:01.640 --> 0:06:04.760 where Russia destroyed them something like ten to three, and 0:06:04.800 --> 0:06:07.080 then obviously they went on to beat them in the 0:06:07.080 --> 0:06:08.719 semi final match, and I was kind of thinking, I 0:06:08.720 --> 0:06:11.760 was like, oh my god, it's almost like serendipitous or 0:06:11.760 --> 0:06:13.800 it's like history repeating itself, except with the US and 0:06:13.839 --> 0:06:16.920 Brazil where they played each other before the game, right 0:06:16.920 --> 0:06:19.680 before the one that actually mattered. They may have lost, 0:06:19.720 --> 0:06:22.040 but now they come out the victors in the end. 0:06:22.160 --> 0:06:27.200 Exactly. Yes, I think. I think maybe Haley Washington made 0:06:27.200 --> 0:06:30.080 like they made a clip saying like when they had 0:06:30.200 --> 0:06:32.640 lost against I can't remember who it was, they lost 0:06:32.960 --> 0:06:35.760 and five, but she said she didn't say lose, you 0:06:35.839 --> 0:06:38.119 just so like you either you win or you learn. 0:06:38.360 --> 0:06:41.440 And that's exactly what they did with that friendly match 0:06:41.560 --> 0:06:44.240 or whatever match they had before. They learned exactly what 0:06:44.400 --> 0:06:47.880 need to learn from them from Brazil and then took it. 0:06:47.920 --> 0:06:50.279 And I hope they do the same thing for obviously 0:06:50.320 --> 0:06:50.960 in the finals. 0:06:51.320 --> 0:06:53.800 Yeah, that's actually a really great motto and something I 0:06:53.880 --> 0:06:55.240 feel like players should carry away. 0:06:56.880 --> 0:06:59.359 Yes, for sure. 0:07:00.839 --> 0:07:03.599 So getting into the match in the first set, you know, 0:07:03.640 --> 0:07:06.159 they started with their power lineup. They had Avery Skinner 0:07:06.200 --> 0:07:09.359 and Catin Plummer as her outside hitters, and started off 0:07:09.600 --> 0:07:12.280 very strong. Ended up being in a nail bier with 0:07:12.320 --> 0:07:15.000 the US pulling off the win twenty five to twenty three. 0:07:15.040 --> 0:07:18.000 But one of the things that was crazy watching was 0:07:18.160 --> 0:07:21.600 Gabby your girl. I know, she didn't she didn't have 0:07:21.640 --> 0:07:24.640 a kill until it was twenty two all. So, yeah, 0:07:24.680 --> 0:07:27.480 what does that say. I mean, we've seen the US 0:07:27.520 --> 0:07:31.360 team be amazing at the net blocking, but talk about 0:07:31.480 --> 0:07:33.480 just their blocking in general. What have you seen from 0:07:33.480 --> 0:07:33.920 this team? 0:07:34.200 --> 0:07:37.720 I mean, it's a break wall. Obviously it's going straight. 0:07:38.800 --> 0:07:43.440 But I can only say, is that going back to again, like, 0:07:43.440 --> 0:07:46.640 they probably scouted Gabby like down because she is their 0:07:46.680 --> 0:07:51.120 top player, and so I'm pretty sure their goal was 0:07:51.160 --> 0:07:53.880 automatically to stop her, you know, to get her out 0:07:53.880 --> 0:07:55.680 of the way and then focus on the other one 0:07:55.800 --> 0:07:58.040 all their players, and I think that's what they did 0:07:58.120 --> 0:08:01.120 in the first set. They were able to you Maybe 0:08:01.160 --> 0:08:03.360 I'm not saying get into Gabriella's head. I don't know 0:08:04.040 --> 0:08:06.400 if that's what happened, but they probably shut her down 0:08:06.920 --> 0:08:09.000 very very soon, and then we're able to focus on 0:08:09.080 --> 0:08:13.760 other people. So that's I'm assuming that's how they they 0:08:13.760 --> 0:08:15.920 got you know, she was able to make them points. 0:08:16.680 --> 0:08:19.880 And then in the second head Brazil comes out strong 0:08:20.120 --> 0:08:23.120 end up winning that game twenty five to eighteen. But 0:08:23.680 --> 0:08:26.520 in the third set, then the US flipped the switch right, 0:08:26.640 --> 0:08:31.200 winning twenty five to fifteen. So from your experience, how 0:08:31.200 --> 0:08:34.760 do you go from this tight match twenty five to 0:08:34.800 --> 0:08:37.319 twenty three that you win to all of a sudden 0:08:37.559 --> 0:08:40.560 having this game where you guys are kind of getting 0:08:40.559 --> 0:08:45.480 crushed to turning that around and then coming back and yeah, 0:08:45.559 --> 0:08:48.280 crushing your opponent. How does what goes through your mind? 0:08:49.240 --> 0:08:52.600 For me, it would be obviously, you're you win that 0:08:52.640 --> 0:08:56.920 first one, and you, like, by human nature, you either 0:08:57.040 --> 0:08:59.319 keep your foot on the gas pedal or you kind 0:08:59.320 --> 0:09:02.080 of try and do the same things you did to win. 0:09:02.400 --> 0:09:04.880 And then that team obviously knows what you did the 0:09:04.920 --> 0:09:07.920 first sets, and then they're able to you know, capitalize 0:09:07.920 --> 0:09:11.000 and win. But then and that third set, I feel 0:09:11.000 --> 0:09:13.720 like they decided to remember, like who they are, You know, 0:09:13.800 --> 0:09:16.280 like I am a great player. I am able to 0:09:16.559 --> 0:09:18.480 crank the line and block and all that kind of stuff. 0:09:18.480 --> 0:09:21.520 So they, I think from my perception or from my 0:09:22.760 --> 0:09:26.240 just looking at the game. And the second set, Brazil 0:09:26.320 --> 0:09:30.280 came up with the very fiery attitude, fire like I 0:09:30.320 --> 0:09:31.720 need to show you who I am. 0:09:31.880 --> 0:09:33.800 And then the USA was like no, no, no, no, no, 0:09:34.200 --> 0:09:35.319 you even know who I am. 0:09:35.400 --> 0:09:38.000 Put some respect on my name, and so I think 0:09:38.040 --> 0:09:40.320 that's the mentality that like, it was kind of like 0:09:40.360 --> 0:09:43.280 you need to know who I am battle and that 0:09:43.440 --> 0:09:46.000 was really I really enjoyed the third set a lot 0:09:46.480 --> 0:09:50.240 because of the some players that don't necessarily cheer after 0:09:50.320 --> 0:09:53.480 every point or they're very very focused, like Catain Plumber 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:55.600 started to scream and that's not something that you normally 0:09:55.679 --> 0:09:59.480 see from her, and Duran Thompson with like the very 0:09:59.480 --> 0:10:02.160 aggressive faith as she blocks or attack. So it was 0:10:02.200 --> 0:10:07.560 really cool to see each player, each team try and 0:10:07.600 --> 0:10:10.480 put their their stump on it. And that was I think, 0:10:10.679 --> 0:10:13.440 you know, the turn of the points. They decided to 0:10:13.440 --> 0:10:15.680 show everybody like this is who I am, why I 0:10:15.720 --> 0:10:17.240 deserve to be here type of thing. 0:10:18.040 --> 0:10:21.760 They totally rattled Brazil because there were so many miscues 0:10:21.800 --> 0:10:23.959 by them that I was shocked by. I mean, there 0:10:24.000 --> 0:10:26.320 was that one for what the point was, but I 0:10:26.400 --> 0:10:32.440 remember that Taisa got set and her and her set 0:10:32.440 --> 0:10:35.640 are just completely misread and what they were going to do, 0:10:35.720 --> 0:10:37.760 and the set went over her and just dropped. And 0:10:37.800 --> 0:10:40.480 I'm like, I feel like you don't see that at 0:10:40.480 --> 0:10:44.160 the Olympics too off, especially in the semifinal match with Brazil. 0:10:45.760 --> 0:10:48.199 No, I agree, I agree too, but I mean, at 0:10:48.200 --> 0:10:49.600 the end of the day, we all have to remember 0:10:49.640 --> 0:10:50.760 that was just human. 0:10:51.000 --> 0:10:52.160 Like they're human. 0:10:52.240 --> 0:10:55.880 Obviously I'm nine Olympian Asia, but like everyone's you're human, 0:10:55.920 --> 0:10:59.960 and sometimes a misconnect or you get so over excited 0:11:00.400 --> 0:11:03.839 or you just miscommunicate about Oh I said this. The 0:11:03.920 --> 0:11:07.240 gym is really really loud, and so there's so many 0:11:07.280 --> 0:11:11.200 things I can go into the misconnection. But right after that, 0:11:11.840 --> 0:11:13.800 obviously they would get a point or she would get 0:11:13.800 --> 0:11:17.520 a block or make it up. So there's not so 0:11:17.640 --> 0:11:20.599 many of those moments, but when they do happen, everyone's. 0:11:20.240 --> 0:11:22.679 Like, wait, wait, what what happened? 0:11:24.360 --> 0:11:24.840 Exactly? 0:11:36.760 --> 0:11:36.960 Now? 0:11:37.280 --> 0:11:40.800 Brazil, obviously, when's the fourth set? Tie it up? We 0:11:40.880 --> 0:11:42.960 have to go to a fifth set. I don't know 0:11:43.000 --> 0:11:46.360 about you, but whenever I play I kind of have 0:11:46.520 --> 0:11:50.840 this horrible superstition that I always try to get out 0:11:50.880 --> 0:11:52.719 of my mind that whoever scores the first point is 0:11:52.800 --> 0:11:54.800 kind of going to be the one who wins. That 0:11:55.559 --> 0:11:58.120 deciding game doesn't always happen, and I'm glad it doesn't 0:11:58.120 --> 0:12:02.840 always happen, because this one and Avery Skinner's she started 0:12:02.840 --> 0:12:05.560 at served yeah, and she served it into the next yeah, 0:12:05.600 --> 0:12:07.520 So Brazil gets the first point. In my mind, I'm like, 0:12:07.600 --> 0:12:10.200 oh no, But what was going through your mind when 0:12:10.720 --> 0:12:11.319 that happened. 0:12:11.920 --> 0:12:15.880 I mean, honestly, I didn't think anything anything of it 0:12:15.920 --> 0:12:19.400 is just probably that's good, yeah, a very very. 0:12:19.240 --> 0:12:21.800 Important game, and so maybe it was a situation. 0:12:21.920 --> 0:12:25.440 She obviously right after that made a good good play, 0:12:26.360 --> 0:12:29.880 especially for even not in their or not in the 0:12:29.920 --> 0:12:32.440 fifth set, but she hit a ball flying out I 0:12:32.480 --> 0:12:34.240 think in the fourth and then right after that she 0:12:34.320 --> 0:12:37.040 had a dying pass, and then it was like a 0:12:37.559 --> 0:12:39.360 connecting to a setter. I think it set the middle, 0:12:39.720 --> 0:12:41.640 which is really good for her that she's able to 0:12:41.760 --> 0:12:44.360 make one mistake and then immediately be the next. But 0:12:44.400 --> 0:12:47.720 when it comes to the points for fifteen, I feel 0:12:47.720 --> 0:12:50.040 like you really have to be like a goldfish and 0:12:50.120 --> 0:12:53.560 have like erased the memory of whatever just happened, because 0:12:53.559 --> 0:12:57.320 it's only you only have a few points to get going, 0:12:57.360 --> 0:12:59.360 and as soon as one person gets four points in 0:12:59.400 --> 0:13:01.960 a row, that's the momentum that. 0:13:03.360 --> 0:13:05.360 Takes off. So I'm really happy that they did not 0:13:05.520 --> 0:13:05.959 think like. 0:13:05.960 --> 0:13:09.720 You did for that, yes, And I was just like, Okay, 0:13:09.760 --> 0:13:12.480 one mistake, Okay, let's forget about it and let's go 0:13:12.559 --> 0:13:14.720 onto the next And so I think that's what they 0:13:14.720 --> 0:13:17.280 were really focusing on for sure on that fifth step. 0:13:18.120 --> 0:13:19.600 Can we take a minute to give some love to 0:13:19.679 --> 0:13:22.840 Lauren Carlini here, because yeah, you know, in the fifth set, 0:13:22.960 --> 0:13:25.920 the double sid, there were so many moments where she 0:13:26.200 --> 0:13:28.880 just had truly epic defense. 0:13:29.040 --> 0:13:33.559 Yes, yes, and like just sitting Like I'm like, that's 0:13:33.600 --> 0:13:35.440 when you come off the bench and you come in 0:13:36.000 --> 0:13:38.679 and be very very important and very crucial. Even if 0:13:38.679 --> 0:13:41.160 you're not setting, you're just you know, as a sitter, 0:13:41.240 --> 0:13:43.200 you still have to play defense, you still have to 0:13:43.200 --> 0:13:45.679 do so many things. And that's what I tell like 0:13:45.800 --> 0:13:49.000 my young athlete, that's like, yes, you have this one position, 0:13:49.040 --> 0:13:51.559 but even be well rounded because you don't know when 0:13:51.600 --> 0:13:53.800 that's going to come into play. And she was like 0:13:54.240 --> 0:13:56.640 a libero at this point, she was just doing the 0:13:56.679 --> 0:13:59.120 whole time, so that was really cool for her to 0:13:59.160 --> 0:14:02.000 come in and just make crucial points. 0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:03.440 Yeah. 0:14:03.760 --> 0:14:08.320 Well, speaking of being able to play multiple positions, I mean, 0:14:08.760 --> 0:14:12.120 Justine Wangarantes was not on the court at this time, 0:14:12.360 --> 0:14:14.960 so Catherine Plumber had to come in a bunch of 0:14:14.960 --> 0:14:16.960 times to be the center I mean as an outside 0:14:17.040 --> 0:14:19.760 hit her. Yeah, can you imagine what's going through her mind? 0:14:19.840 --> 0:14:23.440 Like, I don't know what's going on through her mind. 0:14:23.480 --> 0:14:29.200 But for me, I'm like, all right, just push and post, push, pushing, 0:14:29.280 --> 0:14:32.880 pose and go cover because it's easy to do it, 0:14:32.920 --> 0:14:34.560 Like in practice, it's easy to. 0:14:34.560 --> 0:14:37.080 Do it, you know, when you're not thinking about it. 0:14:37.120 --> 0:14:39.720 But for some reason I can say for me when 0:14:39.760 --> 0:14:41.760 it's like all right, I need to really focus on 0:14:41.840 --> 0:14:45.160 it's very very important. Obviously, yes it's gonna work, but 0:14:45.560 --> 0:14:48.320 all the thoughts going before, it's like, all right, focus 0:14:48.920 --> 0:14:53.000 ten fingers pushing post. But that was it's I mean, 0:14:53.040 --> 0:14:56.320 they're they're Olympians for a reason. They can do literally everything. 0:14:57.600 --> 0:15:00.280 Yeah, for sure. And then at the end they bring 0:15:00.280 --> 0:15:04.240 in the governor Jordan Marson or her consistence serve defense 0:15:04.280 --> 0:15:07.880 at veteran presence. So how important is it for a 0:15:07.960 --> 0:15:11.240 hitter to know that you have someone like that in 0:15:11.280 --> 0:15:14.080 your back row for such critical moments. 0:15:14.480 --> 0:15:15.800 I think it's so important. 0:15:15.880 --> 0:15:18.200 I think the reason the success of the U I 0:15:18.280 --> 0:15:22.400 say it's because their bench is literally stacked. It is 0:15:22.520 --> 0:15:26.360 a whole another team like waiting, and so even in 0:15:26.400 --> 0:15:29.920 this match and the previous ones, maybe they would have 0:15:30.000 --> 0:15:32.400 like one or two moments that they were not one 0:15:32.440 --> 0:15:35.120 hundred percent, they were able to go off and knowing 0:15:35.200 --> 0:15:40.280 that their sub is bet is just as good or 0:15:40.560 --> 0:15:46.000 better or that for that moment is very very It's 0:15:46.040 --> 0:15:49.240 good they keep the pressure at a minimum. And so 0:15:49.280 --> 0:15:51.800 I think that you know, having her being able to 0:15:51.840 --> 0:15:54.320 come and come into the game and have a consistent, 0:15:55.120 --> 0:16:00.640 strong serve and not having to take the pressure every 0:16:01.040 --> 0:16:05.280 to serve that ball's it's very great. It's very important 0:16:05.320 --> 0:16:10.320 for the team, and it's cool that Jordan is able 0:16:10.360 --> 0:16:12.640 to come in and do that for the team. It's very, 0:16:12.720 --> 0:16:13.920 very great for sure. 0:16:14.320 --> 0:16:15.760 And I don't know if you know this, but the 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:18.520 announcer said this early on in the game. But I 0:16:18.560 --> 0:16:22.800 guess Catherine Plummer was dealing with the flu or she 0:16:22.960 --> 0:16:25.200 had flu like symptoms, so this is this is like 0:16:25.240 --> 0:16:31.240 her flu game in a way, because I mean, as 0:16:31.240 --> 0:16:35.520 an outside hitter, can you imagine going up and playing 0:16:35.560 --> 0:16:38.120 this intense level game having the flu? 0:16:38.400 --> 0:16:41.400 I feel like I think every athlete I wouldn't say 0:16:41.440 --> 0:16:43.520 the flu. I've never had the flu, but I have. 0:16:43.600 --> 0:16:47.760 There's many right, there's many games that I have talked 0:16:47.760 --> 0:16:50.400 to so many players and like their best game has 0:16:50.440 --> 0:16:54.440 been when they are have been sick or like something 0:16:54.480 --> 0:16:57.840 has happened, like you know, maybe the menstrual cycle or 0:16:58.680 --> 0:17:00.880 I don't know, some kind of stick are food placing, 0:17:00.920 --> 0:17:04.320 and they still go and play a fever and they're 0:17:04.359 --> 0:17:06.240 just like, you know what, I'm trying to get all 0:17:06.240 --> 0:17:08.000 these points so I can go home, and then they 0:17:08.080 --> 0:17:12.240 end up racking like thirty points or passing all the balls. 0:17:12.240 --> 0:17:16.280 So I'm not saying that it's something I would do. 0:17:16.440 --> 0:17:17.359 I mean I have done it. 0:17:17.440 --> 0:17:20.200 I don't know about the flu. The flu might be 0:17:20.280 --> 0:17:22.920 the top of mine. Might be a little bit too much, 0:17:22.960 --> 0:17:25.240 like kudos to Caking for doing that. 0:17:25.320 --> 0:17:27.639 But yeah, for sure. 0:17:27.840 --> 0:17:31.960 Now the US will play Italy for gold on Sunday. 0:17:32.520 --> 0:17:35.440 You played in Italy. You know how these players are. 0:17:35.520 --> 0:17:38.960 We've watched Team Italy play this tournament. So what type 0:17:39.000 --> 0:17:41.199 of game plan do you think that the US is 0:17:41.200 --> 0:17:43.440 going to bring against this team. 0:17:43.840 --> 0:17:45.960 I think it's a little unique because a bunch of 0:17:46.000 --> 0:17:46.359 the U and. 0:17:46.400 --> 0:17:49.080 I say girls have played in Italy, so they've already 0:17:49.080 --> 0:17:53.000 played against some of these girls. So it will definitely be, 0:17:53.280 --> 0:17:55.520 you know, the powerhouse. Obviously, Paula will do what she's 0:17:55.560 --> 0:17:57.479 gonna do and Sylvia's going to do what she's going 0:17:57.560 --> 0:17:59.920 to do. So I think it's going to be down 0:18:00.119 --> 0:18:03.800 to the very like hitting, hitting the sides of the 0:18:04.000 --> 0:18:07.600 arms and hitting through the blocks, very tactical in order 0:18:07.640 --> 0:18:10.399 to win because they're they're both powerhouse teams, and so 0:18:10.440 --> 0:18:12.359 it's going to come down to the scout and down 0:18:12.400 --> 0:18:15.480 to the bench, you know, quality to come in for 0:18:15.520 --> 0:18:19.159 both teams. I really have no Obviously I will love 0:18:19.240 --> 0:18:21.200 USA to win, but I have no prediction. 0:18:21.280 --> 0:18:24.320 I'm just hoping for a good game because I love 0:18:24.400 --> 0:18:25.480 I love watching the new game. 0:18:25.720 --> 0:18:28.720 So we'll see how that how that goes rooting for 0:18:28.840 --> 0:18:32.159 USA obviously, but yeah, technical, technical skill I think is 0:18:32.160 --> 0:18:32.800 what it's going to be. 0:18:33.160 --> 0:18:34.919 Just making it through the block and all that kind 0:18:34.920 --> 0:18:36.160 of stuff and getting the balls up. 0:18:36.560 --> 0:18:39.800 Yeah, I could definitely see that those both both teams. 0:18:39.840 --> 0:18:41.800 Their block is insane. And I feel like, yeah, the 0:18:42.000 --> 0:18:46.000 the tools, this light touches, and really watching gaming points 0:18:46.000 --> 0:18:48.600 for both of these teams, because yeah, otherwise you're going 0:18:48.680 --> 0:18:49.320 up against the wall. 0:18:49.480 --> 0:18:52.520 So it's the wall versus the wall, like on both teams, 0:18:52.560 --> 0:18:56.200 and so I'm really really curious on how both teams 0:18:56.200 --> 0:18:59.440 will deal with that because they're very stacked on in Italy. 0:18:59.480 --> 0:19:02.359 When I was playing there, most of our defense was 0:19:02.600 --> 0:19:05.119 learning how to block and learning how to seal and 0:19:05.200 --> 0:19:11.919 close and read, so they have perfected the blocking for sure, Nelia. 0:19:12.240 --> 0:19:15.240 You'll be playing with current US Olympic team member Chiaco's 0:19:15.280 --> 0:19:18.840 bagu as well as twenty sixteen bronze medalist Carli Lloyd 0:19:18.880 --> 0:19:22.080 and Austin. So how cool is it to see someone 0:19:22.160 --> 0:19:24.919 like Chiaka out there knowing that you're going to be 0:19:24.920 --> 0:19:25.960 on the same team as her. 0:19:26.320 --> 0:19:28.159 I'm I'm still in shock. 0:19:28.480 --> 0:19:30.919 Like me and my mom are watching the games, and 0:19:30.960 --> 0:19:33.600 obviously she knows, like, these are gonna be my teammates. 0:19:33.600 --> 0:19:35.919 So she's like when she blocks the ball and she 0:19:36.040 --> 0:19:39.480 hits or whatever, she's like, we've been watching these girls play. 0:19:39.280 --> 0:19:41.359 For a long time now, actually we'll be watching you 0:19:41.440 --> 0:19:44.360 play with them, and so it's it's so so cool. 0:19:44.400 --> 0:19:46.960 It's definitely like a circle, a full circle moment for me. 0:19:48.280 --> 0:19:48.879 I'm excited. 0:19:48.920 --> 0:19:52.480 I'm excited to practice next to them, I'm excited to 0:19:52.480 --> 0:19:55.080 get better with them, compete with them. 0:19:55.440 --> 0:19:58.399 It's just I say, it's a real moment for sure. 0:19:59.000 --> 0:20:01.439 Now, nine of the play on Team USA are going 0:20:01.480 --> 0:20:03.560 to be playing in league and volleyball the coming years. 0:20:03.600 --> 0:20:05.399 So you act, you act it's gonna be on your team, 0:20:05.920 --> 0:20:07.640 but you have eight other girls. 0:20:07.440 --> 0:20:09.439 Who are going to be on the other side, on 0:20:09.480 --> 0:20:10.240 the other side. 0:20:10.280 --> 0:20:13.560 So do you kind of find yourself watching these Olympic games? 0:20:13.640 --> 0:20:15.919 Are you watching them more as a fan or is 0:20:15.960 --> 0:20:18.640 there a lot of scouting? 0:20:18.800 --> 0:20:20.880 For sure? We're scouting for sure. 0:20:20.920 --> 0:20:23.560 We're like, Okay, she keeps doing this, all right, I mean, 0:20:24.119 --> 0:20:26.280 let me put this down at this girl is able 0:20:26.320 --> 0:20:26.879 to do this. 0:20:26.880 --> 0:20:31.200