1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: As a volleyball player, I trust Adidas to meet my 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: on court needs, but they'll also offer the ultimate in 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: everyday's style from trendy platform sneakers, vibrant track pants, and 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: cozy chic flee sweatshirts from their zny collection, Adidas has 5 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: everything I need to feel comfortable, stylish, and confident. Explore 6 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: all that Adidas has to offer at Adidas dot Com 7 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: or through the adidasa app and receive fifteen percent off 8 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: your first order when you sign up for ADDI Club, 9 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:34,639 Speaker 1: getting access to fantastic perks, including free shipping. Unlock your 10 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: style with Adidas today. Hi, I'm timniyo Oshinsky, and this 11 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: is serving pancakes with League one Volleyball. With the inaugural 12 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: Love Season just around the corner, over the next few weeks, 13 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: we'll be following some of the biggest women's college volleyball 14 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: games featuring schools that our players attended. Today's episode features 15 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: Lsu Alm and current Love Houston middle blocker Anita On 16 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: we see. A native of Houston, Anita's towns shined early 17 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,119 Speaker 1: when she was a member of the USA Volleyball junior 18 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: national team and won gold at the North SEKA Women's 19 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: U twenty Continental Championships. She then took her talents to 20 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: the Louisiana by You, playing five seasons at LSU, where 21 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 1: she was named to the twenty twenty three SMU Invitational 22 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: All Tournament Team and received the ABCA South All Region 23 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: Honorable Mention. In twenty twenty two, she graduated among the 24 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: top ten Tigers all time in blocks, block assists, and 25 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: hitting percentage, and now she's coming back to her hometown 26 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: to play for Love Houston. Anita, Welcome to Serving Pancakes. 27 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for being here. 28 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me. 29 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: Very excited to have you. What's it like being back 30 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 1: in Houston. 31 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 2: It's been amazing being able to spend time with my 32 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: family and my loved ones and being able to have 33 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 2: a home cooked meal every day. So I've been having 34 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 2: a great time being back home and being able to 35 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 2: play volleyball and home too. 36 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: Are you in the facility right now? Is that we're 37 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: doing the interview from? 38 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 2: I am not in the facility. 39 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: Where are you? You look like you're in a very 40 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: comfy location. 41 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: I'm at the nail salon. 42 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: Oh no way, what are you doing? What are you 43 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: getting done currently? 44 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 2: I'm doing a pedicure, basic pedicure. 45 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: Do you do your finger nails too? I always found 46 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: that whenever I got my nails done, I always chip 47 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: them or broke them whenever I played. 48 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:27,399 Speaker 2: Uh No, I don't. I did early on in college, 49 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,959 Speaker 2: but I stopped. It was too much money to keep 50 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 2: going back and forth. 51 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: So yeah, petticure all the way. Especially when you're jumping 52 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: so much on your feet, you gotta get the massage too. Yes, 53 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: all right, Well back to volleyball. What have the practice 54 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: has been like so far? 55 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: Honestly, so far, the practice has been really good. I 56 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: know coming into it, I wanted to be able to 57 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,559 Speaker 2: take in the information that was given, especially from those proopotes. 58 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: I've been playing for ten plus years, five plus years, 59 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 2: and being able to learn from them and also be 60 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,239 Speaker 2: teammates with them is honestly so real. Middle school a 61 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 2: Needo would not imagine being in this position right now. 62 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 2: So I'm glad that I'm able to do this, especially 63 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 2: in my hometown. 64 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: Has there been any sort of adjustment coming to this 65 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: new team with all new players, all different ages and 66 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: career lengths. 67 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: I think the biggest adjustment I would say is we 68 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 2: have I believe seven or eight different countries in our team. 69 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: So being able to help the girls understand what we're 70 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 2: saying in English, but also understand what they're saying has 71 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: been like one of the biggest challenge, but also something 72 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 2: that we're all willing to get to understand each other 73 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: and get to know each other better too. So other 74 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 2: than that, we're all there to play volleyball. We all 75 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 2: love volleyball, so that hasn't been an issue at all. 76 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: Volleyball is the love language of the team, right, Yeah, 77 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: I was gonna actually say, because your team is so diverse. 78 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: I mean you mentioned in different countries, but there's also 79 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: girls from all over the country, like the United States, 80 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: different colleges, your head coaches from Italy. Have you found 81 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: this to be a really cool and unique situation because 82 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: in school, I'm assuming that you know, you didn't have 83 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 1: as many people from all over the world. So what's 84 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: it like having this group together. 85 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's definitely a change from college because everyone is 86 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: I think I have one teammate that was outside the country, 87 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 2: but now there's multiple so it's like and the people 88 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 2: that are from different parts of the world, they're from 89 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: different countries, so everyone speaks different languages, so it's being 90 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 2: able to like communicate and understand what each other needs 91 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: to know. And like you said, volleyball is like our 92 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 2: similar language that we all have in common. So that's 93 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 2: a great start. But everyone is all welcome to getting 94 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 2: to know each other and being able to understand each 95 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 2: other better. That's going to really helpful. 96 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: Now let's go back to kind of your origin story. Now, 97 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 1: I know that your parents are from Nigeria. You're a 98 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: first generation college graduate. How important is your background and 99 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: culture and defining who you are? 100 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 2: So for me, I say, it's really important because I 101 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: too how hard my parents work all my life and 102 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: my brothers they did not play sports, but I took 103 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: the leap of faith and I wanted to begin doing 104 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 2: a sport. And it's not really common in the culture 105 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 2: of Nigeria, Like parents usually want you to go to 106 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 2: college and get a degree and straight out of college 107 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 2: go straight to work. But I'm taking a different rout. 108 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 2: So my parents were kind of get the coe first, 109 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 2: Like after they saw how successful I was continuing becoming, 110 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,799 Speaker 2: it was more reassuring and they trusted my college coaches 111 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 2: to be able to train me and take care of me. 112 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 2: And also now that I'm back home in Houston, it's 113 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 2: even better because now they can be able to come 114 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 2: see me play, and they're also like able to see 115 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: like how successful college was and trust that like Okay, 116 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 2: yes this is something that she loves and she will 117 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 2: continue to do. Like they're very confident about the whole 118 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 2: process and very proud. 119 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure, I love that. Have you been to Nigeria. 120 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 2: I have not. I hope to go soon, but I 121 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 2: have not been. 122 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: It looks like a beautiful country. I was looking at 123 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: pictures while I was doing research for this interview on 124 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 1: seems like a really cool place. 125 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 2: Now. 126 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 1: I do love a good origin story. So can you 127 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: talk about your parents just briefly, Like were they athletes 128 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: and what made them decide to eventually come to the 129 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: United States and ultimately choose to set on Houston. 130 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 2: For my knowledge, in Nigeria, they have what we call 131 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: high school. They call it secondary school, So they have 132 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 2: a school where like everyone participated in some school of sport, 133 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 2: but it wasn't anything serious. I remember my mom telling 134 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: me about how she played with her classmates and they 135 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: played in the yard of soccer, volleyball. Like when I 136 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: first said, like I was interested in volleyball, and I 137 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: was like, I remember play volleyball when I was younger, 138 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 2: like it was something that they did. But back then 139 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 2: it was like such care free. There was no aau, 140 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 2: there was no club or anything of the store, so 141 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: everything was fun and care free. And my parents decided 142 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 2: to come to the United States. It was for them 143 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 2: to give us, my brothers and I a great opportunity 144 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: here in America. So they decided to come, and so 145 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 2: far they've done amazing job with all of us, and 146 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: we're so appreciative of them. 147 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: Definitely said, you were the one that got into sports, 148 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: So how did you end up finding volleyball and falling 149 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: in love with it. 150 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: I did start in seventh grade, but I didn't start 151 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 2: competitively till my freshman summer of high school. So I 152 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 2: was playing in seventh grade and I was not the best. 153 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 2: I was not good at all, so it was it 154 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 2: was really fun though. I played it, and a lot 155 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 2: of people that was on my team were my friends, 156 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 2: so it was really cool to be like, oh, we 157 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 2: had a class together and then go after school. Well, 158 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 2: like played volleyball, and I remember, I think it was 159 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 2: my eighth grade year. I was very hesitant on continue 160 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: because I was little embarrassed. But I remember one time 161 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 2: I blocked the serve and I was like, that was 162 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 2: so embarrassing because they the ref blew the whistle and 163 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 2: I was like, what did I do wrong? And then 164 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 2: they explained I couldn't block the serve and I was like, 165 00:08:57,880 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 2: to me, I think that's a road that should change. 166 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 2: Was so easy the service probably the easiest thing to block. 167 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 2: It's coming from such a long distance. You have enough 168 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 2: time to see where it's gonna go. And I was like, 169 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 2: I was so excited when I blocked with it. After 170 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 2: that I was like, oh my gosh, this is embarrassing, 171 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 2: but I loved it because it was a action of 172 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 2: getting the block. I was like, Okay, I can block. 173 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 2: I have the skill. And then from then on being 174 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 2: trained from different club coaches, high school coaches, trainers, and 175 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 2: I continue to see myself getting better. So it was 176 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 2: a very motivating and promising journey. 177 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: So that's amazing. I would love if you could block 178 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 1: a serf. I remember when I was playing. My fault 179 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: when I was first learning was a ball was going 180 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: out of bounds and you know you're supposed to let 181 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: the ball fall out of bounds and I didn't realize this, 182 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: so I caught it, and then the other team got 183 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,599 Speaker 1: the point and my team just yelled at me, like 184 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,599 Speaker 1: what what are you doing? And I'm like, sorry, you 185 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: didn't realize that that was what you're supposed to do. 186 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,439 Speaker 1: But obviously everything paid off. And I love to know that. 187 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: You know, everybody goes through some sort of learning curve. 188 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: It's not something that's going to come to you always naturally. 189 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,719 Speaker 1: So I love hearing that you know, you began not 190 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 1: knowing much blocking serves and now here you are playing 191 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: professionally in the United States. I think that it's so cool. 192 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: So what ultimately made you decide to choose LSU as 193 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: the school to play at? 194 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 2: So for me, it was on a super long recruiting process, 195 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 2: but I knew I wanted to stay close to home, 196 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 2: Like I was a huge family person and I didn't 197 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 2: want to be in Texas, but I wanted to like 198 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 2: venture out. So after I want to go visit Louisiana 199 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 2: where my parents. I fell in love with the atmosphere. 200 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,719 Speaker 2: The family oriented FIOD comes to Louisiana. A lot of 201 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 2: people talk about like that's the reason why they end 202 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 2: up committing to OSU. But for me, I enjoyed like 203 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 2: the family atmosphere. I also felt comfortable, Like as soon 204 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 2: as I was there, I was like, this is somewhere 205 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 2: that I want to be. So that's and that's actually 206 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:12,319 Speaker 2: why I committed there. 207 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: So what was the experience like for you? 208 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 2: So at LSU, I enjoyed all five years I saw 209 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 2: myself throw. I enjoyed having like all the coaches that 210 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 2: I was able to play under because they all came 211 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:32,079 Speaker 2: with different learning aspects also different information I was given. 212 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,839 Speaker 2: So when I first came at LSU, I probably played 213 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:39,439 Speaker 2: club honestly for two years. So I was like, I'm 214 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 2: not gonna play. I didn't think I was gonna play, 215 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 2: and I was okay with that, but I was like, 216 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 2: I eventually wanted to play because I loved playing. I 217 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 2: loved playing with my teammates. So after that, I started 218 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 2: playing more and started becoming more confident. But the first 219 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 2: few times playing I was so nervous. I was like, 220 00:11:58,120 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 2: I don't want to mess up. I know was na 221 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 2: troll to mess up, but I was like, if I 222 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 2: was a point, they're gonna hate me. 223 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: Like this, it is like I was so. 224 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 2: Scared to do anything wrong. But volleyball is a game 225 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: of mistakes. Is who can make the less mistakes is 226 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 2: ultimately what the goal is. 227 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: How did you overcome that mindset where you were like 228 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: I've barely played and I'm kind of nervous to be playing. 229 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 2: For me, I would say it was being patient with 230 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: myself and also having grace understanding like there's people that 231 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 2: have been playing here for three four years, and also 232 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:36,839 Speaker 2: on top of that, how long I have been playing. 233 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 2: I had to give myself the opportunity to practice because 234 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 2: I wasn't able to get where I needed to go 235 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 2: and become who I wanted to be unless I practice. 236 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 2: And in order to do that, I had to put 237 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,599 Speaker 2: in the work in practice and trust myself. And I 238 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 2: ultimately did that based off of like my mind to 239 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 2: how I came into the gym every day, if I 240 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:00,559 Speaker 2: came into the gym knowing I didn't and one hundred 241 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:02,719 Speaker 2: percent I knew the next day that I had to 242 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 2: come in twice as harder to replenish and make up 243 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 2: for the day before, and also taking note of the 244 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,439 Speaker 2: people that were older than me and asking them questions. 245 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 2: I'm always asking questions, always trying to understand like, hey, 246 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 2: like how were you able to hit that shot? What 247 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 2: do you see? And continue to try and use what 248 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 2: the coaches have told us, Like, I know, a big 249 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: thing I struggled with, for example and the being in 250 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 2: my career was watching the ball as I'm going in 251 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 2: for the set. Now it's very natural for me, but 252 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,559 Speaker 2: at first it was something that I really struggled with 253 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 2: and like I really wanted to but it was really 254 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 2: comfortable for me to not watch the ball. But if 255 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 2: you've watched the setter, you go in and like you 256 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 2: never know where to fall. Is the setter company running 257 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: forward and you're watching the sutter, then you're not going 258 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 2: to be able to connect. But being able to figure 259 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 2: it out the connection with watching the ball and like 260 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 2: it will take you to where the setter is, that 261 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 2: was like a game changer for me, amongst other things, 262 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 2: but that was like a big thing for me. 263 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: While you were learning your groove on the core, you 264 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: also majored in kinesiology with the concentration in Physical Activity 265 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: and health with a minor in psychology. Correct. Yes, and 266 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: you're currently pursuing your master's degree in business administration. 267 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 2: Yes, I actually finished my masters. 268 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: Oh so you've congratulations, I mean, what inspired you to 269 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: pursue this? 270 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 2: So my bachelors, I wanted to be able to focus 271 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 2: on one of my passions, which is helping people. I 272 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 2: knew I wanted to go into the medical field, and 273 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 2: I had a few occupations that I was looking into, 274 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 2: but I was able to come across physical therapy, which 275 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 2: was a really big occupation of a big area that 276 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 2: I really liked because it was similar to sports medicine. 277 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 2: But I knew I didn't want to work in sports 278 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 2: because I knew after I was on playing sports that 279 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 2: I would be done, and I wanted to focus more 280 00:14:55,280 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 2: so on other people than athletes. So I also love 281 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 2: working with children, so I wanted to become a pediatric 282 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 2: physical therapist. So yes, working with kids that are going 283 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 2: through any cancer like treatment and trying to regain their 284 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 2: ability of walking, or kids I get into car accidents 285 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 2: or fall up their bike things of the sort. So 286 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 2: that's like a really big thing for me. And being 287 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 2: able to shadow other physical therapists and see it, I 288 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 2: knew for sure like this is something I wanted to do. 289 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 2: And then the minor psychology. I always enjoyed learning more 290 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 2: about the human psyche and our mentality, and it's really 291 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 2: helped to minor in that while I was in college, 292 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 2: and it helped me too in volleyball, learning about why 293 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 2: we think the way we think and talk the way 294 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 2: we talk. And then my business masters, we had the 295 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 2: opportunity to take the COVID year. So I originally wanted 296 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 2: to do something relating to cheminology, but I couldn't because 297 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 2: all the programs were two years. So I ended up 298 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 2: going into the NBA program because it was a one 299 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 2: year program, and I believe it was a skill that 300 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 2: I could use later on after doing like medical terminology 301 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 2: type courses all throughout college, I was like, I'm going 302 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 2: to do something different. 303 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: I could understand that you're doing the good work helping 304 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: out people. It's super inspiring and I'm so excited for you. 305 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: I mean, I want you to keep playing volleyball for 306 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: a while, but when you do decide to go to 307 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: the next chapter in your life, it's going to be 308 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: super exciting and super rewarding. So what ultimately made you 309 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: decide to continue playing volleyball and to go pro. 310 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 2: I got reached out by Janie al Scott, and she 311 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 2: was someone that I was posed by in the USAGM 312 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 2: for the collegiate national team, and after working with her 313 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 2: and she reached out. She was so helpful during the 314 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 2: time there. And then finding out there was going to 315 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 2: be a team in Houston and like there was pro 316 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 2: coming to the United States, I was like, this is 317 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 2: honestly an opportunity from God. Like it being in my 318 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 2: home city. I'm able to go from home to the 319 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 2: practices and matches, my family's able to come to games, 320 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 2: my friends are able to come to games. Like it 321 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 2: was something that I truly believe was an opportunity provided 322 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 2: and a blessing provided, so I couldn't pass it up. 323 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, you seem to have this very good smart mentality 324 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: when you're in college about learning from your peers and 325 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 1: the older players. Going into Houston. You're one of the 326 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: youngest players on Love Houston's team, So how are you 327 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: hoping to grow and evolve your game from this roster 328 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: of super talented players. 329 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 2: So I'm planning on doing that by taking as much 330 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 2: notes as possible, watching everyone, not only my position, but 331 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 2: all the players, learning more about like what it is 332 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: to play on a professional level, because coming from collegiate 333 00:17:56,080 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 2: volleyball into the professional level there's more that goes into it, 334 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 2: and honestly, learning from my mistake seem graceful for myself, 335 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 2: allowing myself to go for it and if I fall down, 336 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 2: get back up and try the bruline. But just like 337 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 2: my main goals coming into it up. 338 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,160 Speaker 1: So a great thing that I love about this podcast 339 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 1: is that not only do we get to talk volleyball, 340 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,360 Speaker 1: but I also get to learn about you ladies off 341 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: the court as well. So obviously I know that you 342 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: like to get your nails done, you like to get pedicures, 343 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: but what else do you like to do in your 344 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 1: spare time? 345 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 2: So I also like to game? I am a gamer. Nope, 346 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 2: I yes, I play basketball, video games. I play simms. 347 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 2: I like the game with my siblings. I like to 348 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 2: blame with my friends. I also enjoy spending quality time 349 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 2: with my family, so watch movies, watching sports. Me and 350 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:06,160 Speaker 2: my family oftentime watch football on Sundays. So that's something 351 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 2: that I enjoy doing. 352 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: That's cool. And just say, you know, my six year 353 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: old is a gamer and is obsessed with Mario Karts. 354 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:17,439 Speaker 1: So if you ever find yourself doing the global whatever 355 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: it is the Internet connected you, maybe you'll raise him. 356 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: Oh cool. Well, I want to talk about food because 357 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: your love profile says that you love cooking and trying 358 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 1: different cultural dishes. So what's the best meal you've ever had? 359 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 2: Jeel off rice? I love jelap rice hands down, is 360 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 2: an Angerian dish, and my mom cooks the best jaalaf rice. 361 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 2: I have also cooked a loaf rice, so jeelafrice is 362 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 2: one of my favorite dishes of all time. 363 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: For sure, you're gonna make it for your team if 364 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: they would like. 365 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 2: I wouldn't mind. 366 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: Is that your go to meal to impress people? 367 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 2: No, it's not. I like to offer the idea of 368 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 2: like my mom college. I would offer like my mom 369 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 2: k Majial operas because she's always willing to. But it's 370 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 2: up to if anyone's interested in it, because not everyone. 371 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 2: Some people are picky eater, so not everyone's interested. 372 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: True. Now, In a similar vein in your love profile, 373 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 1: it also said that you enjoy traveling. So what's the 374 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: coolest place you've ever traveled? 375 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 2: I would say when we went to Mexico. That was 376 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 2: something that was super cool. To experience the culture too, 377 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 2: and getting to meet all the people that were at 378 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 2: the games, helping out and seeing the different scenery. I 379 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 2: definitely say Mexico was one of the coolest places. 380 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: What's a place on your bucket list that you really want. 381 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 2: To go to? A place on my bucket list I 382 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 2: was saying, Nangeria. We talked about it earlier. Nanguria is 383 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 2: somewhere on my bucket that I would love to go to. 384 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: What about if you could choose a country to go to, 385 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: specifically for the food. What country would you want to 386 00:20:59,359 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: go to? 387 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 2: We first came to mind was Japan. I think they 388 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 2: would have like a wide variety of snaps and food, 389 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 2: So Japan. 390 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: I like it all right, Well, last question to wrap 391 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: it up, we're going to bring it back to love. 392 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: What are you hoping to showcase in the inaugural season 393 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: and what do you hope the public, the fans, the 394 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: media get to learn and see. 395 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 2: I'm hoping to showcase how amazing the sport of volleyball 396 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 2: is and hoping that more people see that if a 397 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 2: sport we're watching and that it will be one of 398 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 2: the next biggest sports here in America. And to showcase 399 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 2: the talent that's across all teams and how competitive the 400 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 2: league is. So really looking forward. 401 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: To it awesome. Well, Anita, thank you so much for 402 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: taking the time to speak with me. 403 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 2: Thank you to thank you. 404 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: Serving Pancakes is an iheartwomen's sports production in partnership with 405 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 1: Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on 406 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. 407 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: Production by League one Volleyball, I'm your host Tiffany Oshinsky. 408 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 1: Anya Alvarez is our senior producer. Our executive producers are 409 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: Carrie Stett, Tamaradike, and Lindsay Hoffman. Our marketing lead is 410 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:26,399 Speaker 1: Jawara Parker. Sound editing and mixing by Daniel Gonzalez. Our 411 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: theme music is Pancakes. 412 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 2: By Eric W. 413 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: Mast Junior Special thanks to Anita A. Lucie. Stay tuned 414 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: for another episode of Serving Pancakes. Thanks for listening.