1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Tifny Oshinsky, and this is Serving Pancakes with 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: League one Volleyball, with the inaugural Love season just around 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: the corner. Over the next few weeks, we'll be following 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: some of the biggest women's college volleyball games featuring schools 5 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: that our players attended. In today's episode, I'll be going 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: over the thrilling five set victory for number two Nebraska 7 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: over number ten per Due with Big ten Networks Emily Emon, 8 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: and then Love Omaha's head coach Susie Fritz will join 9 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: me to talk about the inaugural season, her career, and 10 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: so much more so. First, let's talk to Nebraska Purdue. 11 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: Emily Even, welcome back to Serving Pancakes. So happy you're here. 12 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 2: So happy to be here. Always down to chats men'saavolleyball. 13 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 2: It's been a crazy season so. 14 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: Far, absolutely insane, and this match was equally insane, with Nebraska, 15 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,959 Speaker 1: who was number two, coming back from being down two 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: to one to beat Purdue twenty five, twenty two, twenty 17 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: two to twenty five, twenty three, twenty five, twenty five, 18 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: twenty two, and then the insane it's set seventeen fifteen. 19 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 1: So let's talk big picture. First, Emily, what stood at 20 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: to you the most in this match? 21 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 2: To be honest, the biggest thing to me was watching 22 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 2: this match. It didn't feel like Nebraska won. It felt 23 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 2: like Purdue lost it. You know, they were up two 24 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: to one in one of the toughest places to play 25 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: in the entire country at the Devani Center. They're up 26 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: ten to eight and set five and then kind of 27 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: let it slip away. The biggest thing to me was 28 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: produce service errors. You know, they had four in that 29 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 2: fifth set alone, four in a period of the first 30 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: seven points, So they were just handing Nebraska, you know, 31 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 2: part of that fifth set. And when you look at 32 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: the numbers, Purdue pretty much outplayed them. I mean in 33 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 2: terms of blocks fifteen to five and a half, they 34 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: out blocked Nebraska. They out hit them three eleven to 35 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 2: two forty two. And that's a really good Nebraska defense. 36 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 2: And if you're going to be able to hit above 37 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: three hundred against them, to me, you have to be 38 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: able to capitalize on that. Eva Hudson and kloeesha Coin 39 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: produce outsides are just absolutely insane. One of the best 40 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 2: duos in the country combined for nearly fifty kills the difference. Though, 41 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 2: again those service errors for Purdue, they had nineteen of 42 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 2: them in the entire match. If you have the opportunity 43 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 2: to take down the number two team in the country 44 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: and you're kind of out playing them in almost every capacity. 45 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 2: In the fifth set, you're up ten to eight, you 46 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 2: have to find a way to close it. So it's 47 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 2: kind of, you know, for the Boilers, letting it slip away. 48 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 2: But I mean, what a fun volleyball match. The defense 49 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: was outstanding. It's so fun when you see players like 50 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 2: Hudson and Shaquoigne go off, and then you're playing in 51 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: one of the best atmospheres in college volleyball. I mean, 52 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: it doesn't get much better than that in a seventeen 53 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 2: to fifteen fifth set. 54 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: There's so many things I want to touch on that 55 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: you just mentioned. I want to break things down first. 56 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: Let's start with the most recent thing that you just said, 57 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: playing at the Davanny Center. You've been there. You know 58 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: you can feel the electricity coming from your screen while 59 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 1: watching games in Nebraska, but can you just explain what 60 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: it is like to actually be there, especially when you 61 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: have such a wild match like this was. 62 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, the Davanni Center is second to none. To me, 63 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: it's the most intimidating place to play in all of 64 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 2: college volleyball. I mean, the bells and whistles there are incredible. 65 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 2: It's an incredibly nice facility. It seats about eighty five 66 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 2: hundred or nine thousand with standing room only, and they 67 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: sell out every single night. They're closing in on three 68 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty consecutive sellouts, which is a Division One 69 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 2: Athletics women's record, not just for volleyball but all of 70 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 2: women's athletics. It is crazy. Those fans know volleyball so 71 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 2: so well. They're so knowledgeable about the game. You know, 72 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 2: they know in a chair, and then if the other 73 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 2: team's doing well, like it's real quiet in there, but 74 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,119 Speaker 2: it is. It's crazy. I mean, when you have nine 75 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: thousand fans screaming at you in that kind of environment, 76 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: it is so so tough to play in and that 77 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 2: really becomes a difference maker when you enter a fifth set, 78 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: when things are close, when you can get that crowd 79 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: momentum behind you. That's one of the reasons why it's 80 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 2: one of the best home court advantages in all of sports. 81 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: I mean, they've won thirty five straight there, so you know, 82 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: watching this game and hearing this crowd, I can completely 83 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: understand how much of a home field Advanta is now 84 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: one of the heroes for Nebraska. Merrit Pison. She had 85 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: a season high twenty two kills in this game. We've 86 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: seen how good she is. We know how good she is, 87 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: but can you explain why teams struggle to stop her? 88 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: Mayor Beson's a gamer. I mean, she is one of 89 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 2: the most difficult attackers to stop in the country. She's 90 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 2: very rangey, meaning she can vary up her attack well. 91 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 2: She hits deep corners, she can barrel things down the line. 92 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: Whatever set is given to her, she does a really 93 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 2: nice job of adjusting to that. She also has really 94 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 2: great court vision, so it doesn't matter the defense in 95 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 2: the block you put in front of her. She's able 96 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 2: to see the block really well. If there's a small seam, 97 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 2: she'll hit right through it. Does a nice job at 98 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: targeting fingertips. She's always just got a heavy arm. I mean, 99 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: if you give her a received to rip through, she's 100 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 2: put in the putt in a hole in the floor. 101 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 2: She is just absolutely incredible. One thing that I think 102 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: Nebraska hasn't necessarily utilized enough but they started to during 103 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 2: that match against Purdue is getting her going in the 104 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 2: back court. They've been rotating her out with a DS 105 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: in the back row, which last year she was so 106 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: effective back there. She was one of the best backcourt 107 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 2: attackers in the country. And now this year they've been 108 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: using a DS because they have a plethora of just 109 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: incredible littles on that team. But Beson really got it 110 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: going in the back row, especially when it mattered most 111 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: when those sets are really tight, especially in that fifth set, 112 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 2: they left her back there, and I mean she was 113 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,679 Speaker 2: just going off. But I mean, she's a gamer, she's rangy, 114 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 2: she's athletic, she can just fly jump out of the gym. 115 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 2: She's so much fun to watch. 116 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: And talk about Andy Jackson because she's also been absolutely unstoppable. 117 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 3: Oh my god. 118 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: I mean she's like nearly unstoppable. There's one point in 119 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 2: that match I think I want to say it was 120 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 2: a third set she was hitting like nine hundred. I mean, 121 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 2: Andy Jackson right now is in a league of her 122 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: own in terms of middles. Her slide attack is the 123 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: best that I've seen in the country. I mean, the 124 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 2: way that she's able to fly up there and even 125 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: if it's not the perfect set, manages to find something 126 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 2: to do with. But she added three inches to her 127 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 2: vertical in the offseason. She now touches ten ten, which 128 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 2: is crazy for an attacker that's only six ' three. 129 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 2: She can jump out of the gym. She's really rangy. 130 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 2: She's very explosive, strong arm, and her connection with rossettter 131 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 2: Berg and Riley is incredible. You know, they had time 132 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 2: to practice it over the summer playing in the USA 133 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 2: gym obviously a lot of you know, time just in 134 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: the Nebraska gym as well. But Andy Jackson's incredible. Her 135 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 2: offense has taken just massive strides in the last year, 136 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 2: and her blocking too has gotten a lot better. 137 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: You mentioned Eva Hudson and kloe Cha Coin on Perdue. 138 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: They both had double doubles in that match. They also 139 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: looked unstoppable. I mean, if I didn't know the score, 140 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: I would have thought that Perdue had it just based 141 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: on how they were hitting. Even though they lost this match. 142 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: How dangerous is this Perdue team with them? 143 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 2: They're so dangerous. I mean, the key to stopping Perdue 144 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: is to slow down Eva Hudson and kloes Ha Coin, 145 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,359 Speaker 2: which teams can't do. You know, it's so incredible because 146 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 2: if you look at Chloe Hacoin, she's an attacker that's 147 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 2: about five to nine, and I would say that's like 148 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 2: a generous five nine. She's more like a five eight, 149 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 2: but she jumps through the gym. It doesn't matter that 150 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 2: you know that the ball is going to either of 151 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: them in the outside or the backcourt, you still can't 152 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 2: find a way to stop them. Which is what makes 153 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 2: this Purdude teams so fun is you know where the 154 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: ball is going. They set a vast majority of their 155 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 2: sets to the outside, to one of the two, and 156 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 2: they just find ways to put it down in a 157 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 2: fifth set, in the beginning of the first set, it 158 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 2: doesn't matter. They're gonna get a ton of swings. They're 159 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 2: just ballersm You know, I always think about who would 160 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: I not ever want to play against, and those are 161 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 2: two players that I just would never want to face 162 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 2: on the other side because you know they're getting the ball, 163 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 2: they're still going to put it down. They also just 164 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 2: have that look in the rye that you know they're 165 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 2: going to take their game to the next level. And 166 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 2: as an opponent, I would be completely terrified. 167 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: I mean, Shaquinn being five, eight, five nine or whatever is. 168 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: I think it says she's five to ten on on 169 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: the roster, but I also know as someone who's five 170 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: to three, who was once put in a book as 171 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: five to six. I know people like to be a 172 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: little generous, but I mean she's going up against Mary 173 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: Beeson who's six three I believe, and Andy Jackson six floor. Like. 174 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: I mean, the fact that she can get those hits 175 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: down and have that many in a match against girls 176 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: who are that tall is insane. 177 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: It's crazy, And to be honest, for both of those 178 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 2: players too, it's not only just their front court play, 179 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 2: but it's like having two liberos in the back court 180 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 2: as well. They are so good defensively, they fly around 181 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: the back court. I mean, Chaquhanna is making saves in 182 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: that fit set that you could have got prdue the win. 183 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 2: Obviously didn't, but I mean she is incredible in the 184 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: back court as well. Both of them are, for sure. 185 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: And then their middle hitter, Raven Colvin. She didn't have 186 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: the best night hitting, but she did lead with eleven blocks. 187 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: So again same question when it comes to Raven, how 188 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: dangerous is she on this team? 189 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 2: Raven Colvin's incredible I mean, she's a very undersized middle 190 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 2: She's just about six feet tall, maybe five to eleven, 191 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 2: but she plays so much bigger than she is because 192 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 2: she's a little bit shorter. She really has to make 193 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 2: sure to be very disciplined. That's what she's really good at. 194 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 2: Blocking wise, she makes really explosive movements. She doesn't move 195 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 2: until she knows where the ball is going, and that's 196 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 2: led to just stuff after stuff. I mean right now, 197 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 2: she's second in the NCAA and blocks percont at about 198 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 2: one point seven, which is just absolutely unheard of. Again, 199 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 2: second in the country, that's first in the Big Ten. 200 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 2: She is incredible, and also when they can get her 201 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 2: going offensively, it really changes the game for Purdue. She's 202 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 2: good enough to where the ball doesn't have to be perfect. 203 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 2: Purdue oftentimes talks about just getting it in a window 204 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 2: for her to hit, because she's so athletic and dynamic 205 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 2: that if you can just get the ball to her, 206 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 2: she'll figure out something to do. 207 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: With for sure. Now, Perdue was dominant in the second 208 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: and third set, beating Nebraska in those two, But what 209 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: happened in the final two, especially in that fifth set 210 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 1: where they were up fifteen fourteen one point a way 211 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: to seal the game. What went wrong with the Boilers. 212 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 2: To be honest, Nebraska started making plays, and it took 213 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 2: them up until that point to really do it. They 214 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: were kept in that set because of produe service errors. 215 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 2: You know, up until about the seven point mark, Purdue 216 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 2: had handed Nebraska for service airs, so they were already 217 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,199 Speaker 2: kind of in the set, and then all of a 218 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 2: sudden at ten to eight, they found a way to 219 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 2: turn it on. Their front row really started making plays, 220 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 2: and it was a really balanced effort. It's not like 221 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,199 Speaker 2: one person really ended up just going off at the 222 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 2: end to get it done. 223 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 3: You know. 224 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 2: Mayor Beeson had those last two kills for Nebraska, But 225 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 2: up until that point they just found ways with other people. 226 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 2: Whether that was Andy Jackson getting it killed, you know 227 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 2: twice late in that set, Harper Marie showed up big. 228 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 2: The biggest thing for Nebraska is when it's tight, they 229 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 2: turn it on, and sometimes they struggle with that starting 230 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 2: off matches a little bit slow. But again, also if 231 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 2: you're playing in a fifth set at the Devani Center 232 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 2: and it's that close and you've got the crowds momentum 233 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 2: behind you, that definitely helps your team turn it on 234 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 2: a little bit. 235 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: All right, Well, time for the serving pancakes. Pancake counter 236 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: and in this match, I only counted one pancake. It 237 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 1: was in the fourth set by Landychboy. Nebraska was up 238 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: nine to five when Chilboy came out of nowhere to 239 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,199 Speaker 1: just get that pancake and dig the ball up. Unfortunately, 240 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: Nebraska did not get the point on that effort, but 241 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: it was a valiant effort by her, and I went 242 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,559 Speaker 1: to comment her on that. But talking about defense in general, 243 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: I know we talked about Hudson and shit Coin, but 244 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: what did you see in the defense from both teams? 245 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 1: What really stood out to you? 246 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean you know Nebraska's defense always stands out. 247 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,839 Speaker 2: You mentioned a player like Landy CHOBOI just absolutely incredible. 248 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,199 Speaker 2: I think they did a really nice job in the backcourt, 249 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 2: which they always do, just racking up dig after dig. 250 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 2: Lexi Rodriguez to me, she's hands down the best libarro 251 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 2: in the country. I thought Perdue was doing a good 252 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 2: job keeping the ball in Bergen Riley in the back court. 253 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 2: Her dig numbers were really high, trying to get Nebraska 254 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 2: out of system. But really what stood out the most 255 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 2: was the blocking from Perdue. I mean, they did an 256 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 2: incredible job really from start to finish, and that's what 257 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 2: this Purdue team is known for. They just put up 258 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,959 Speaker 2: block after block. They ended with fifteen of them against 259 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 2: Nebraska is about five and a half, so that really 260 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 2: stood out. You know, Raven Colvin again just a phenomenal blocker. 261 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 2: She really led that charge for Perdue and was just 262 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: absolutely lead up front. She wrecked up nine stuff. So 263 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 2: you know, it's a backcourt defense for Nebraska the front 264 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 2: court defense for Purdue that really stuck out. 265 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: Lastly, Emily, there has been so much parody in women's 266 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: college volleyball this season, so many upsets in your opinion, 267 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: Why is that and what does it mean for the 268 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: rest of the regular season going into the tournament. 269 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 2: Well, parody means that it's going to be really fun 270 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 2: as we head into the rest of the season. But 271 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 2: it's been really cool to see because over the last 272 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 2: three or four years, we're seeing upsets like we've never 273 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 2: seen before and so much more parody top to bottom. 274 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 2: You know, a lot of conferences, take take the ACC 275 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 2: for example, used to be a very top heavy conference. 276 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 2: You had Pitt, you had Louisville, and then Georgia Tech, 277 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 2: you know, is always kind of in the mix, but 278 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 2: now there's so many conferences and teams where it's anyone's game. 279 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 2: You can't take a night off because top to bottom, 280 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 2: these conferences are getting so much stronger, and not only 281 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 2: are the top teams getting better, but the middle teams 282 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,079 Speaker 2: are now pushing the top teams, and the teams that 283 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 2: are normally at the bottom of conferences are pushing those 284 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 2: middle teams taking sets off of the top teams across 285 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,559 Speaker 2: the board. Right now, you can't take a night off 286 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 2: because we've seen upset after upset time and time again, 287 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 2: which for us as fans, I mean, it makes it 288 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 2: so exciting. It's you know, every night we're seeing massive upsets, 289 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 2: which is going to you know, pay dividends for a 290 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 2: lot of teams down the line in the tournament too, 291 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 2: and probably some pretty big upsets once once postseason play starts. 292 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: Very excited to say that that tournament is going to 293 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 1: be a lot of fun to watch. Well, thank you 294 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: so much, Emily, appreciate you taking the time to speak 295 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: with me and talk some women's collin volleyball. 296 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love it. Happy back Anto time. Thanks for 297 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 2: having me. 298 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: Great analysis by the extremely knowledgeable Emily Emon. Now let's 299 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: talk about professional women's volleyball in Nebraska. Love Omaha head 300 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: coach Susie Fritz is here. Coach Fritz has the resume 301 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: and experience you want in a head coach. Born and 302 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 1: raised in Kansas, coach Fritz began her coaching career in 303 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety four at Florida Atlantic. She eventually found her 304 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: way back home, becoming the assistant coach of Kansas State 305 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety seven, then took over the program in 306 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: two thousand and one. After twenty five seasons with the Wildcast, 307 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: she became an assistant coach at Arkansas. During her tenures, 308 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: she led nationally ranked teams to eighteen NCAA tournament appearances 309 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: with her players, including sixteen All American selections, twenty six 310 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: All Region selections, and fifty six All Big twelve selections. 311 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: And now League One Volleyball is lucky to have her lead. 312 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: Love Omaha Coach Fritz. Welcome to Serving Pancakes. Thanks so 313 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: much for me here. 314 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. I'm so excited to be here. Tiffany, 315 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 3: thank you for having me. 316 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: Now, thank you so much, coach. I have to start 317 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: by asking, after such a storied career in college ball, 318 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,239 Speaker 1: why did you decide to go to the pros, specifically 319 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: with League one Volleyball? 320 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, so many, so many things, you know, 321 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 3: the one just the people involved in League One where 322 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 3: I think as I as I kind of started to 323 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 3: get more into it and meeting. My first initial meeting 324 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 3: actually was with Danielle Scott, who you know, five time Olympian, 325 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 3: phenomenal human being, and just her excitement for how League 326 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 3: one was building, and Tom Hogan and his team. They're 327 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 3: just phenomenal people, and I think that's where it started. 328 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 3: I knew volleyball. Volleyball is in my heart, it's what 329 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 3: I love. Coaching is the family business, right But the 330 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 3: college landscape is changing, and I think this was the 331 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 3: next logical step for me that made a lot of 332 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 3: sense to do what I love, but have it look 333 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 3: a little different if I'm being honest. 334 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: So what are you expecting to be the biggest difference 335 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: between college and pro Yeah? 336 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 3: I think what I noticed right away and in conversations 337 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 3: with the with the women on the team is just 338 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 3: this desire for collaborative work, right is you know these 339 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 3: guys are professionals. They've played all over the world. They 340 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 3: have far more international plane experience than I have. I 341 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 3: have a lot of volleyball experience, But I think the 342 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 3: collaborative piece of it is, and you take away the 343 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 3: academic piece, which is a big part of the student 344 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 3: athlete experience, right, So I think the collaborative just where 345 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 3: you these guys know what they want, they know what 346 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 3: they need, they communicate it openly and honestly, and I 347 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 3: love just the direct model and the really clear vision 348 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 3: of where they want to go. So I think those 349 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 3: are the big pieces right now. 350 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: This is the inaugural season of League one. So what 351 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: have been some of the challenges you've faced planning for 352 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: a first time team in a first time league. 353 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I heard someone say you're building the 354 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 3: plane as you fly it, right, there's a little bit 355 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 3: of that where because you're I do feel to be honest, 356 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 3: really comfortable with just the all the pieces in the parts, 357 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 3: you know. I think when I became a head coach, 358 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:11,120 Speaker 3: I tell people often that it took me probably five 359 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:14,479 Speaker 3: to seven years to get my arms wrapped around all 360 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:19,360 Speaker 3: of the entities there are involved in an athletic program, 361 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 3: whether it be collegiate internationally, and you start thinking about 362 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 3: the marketing and promotions and the ticketing and the events 363 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 3: and the strength and conditioning, athletic training, right, and the 364 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 3: list goes on and on and on, and really, I 365 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 3: think as a head coach you want to have at 366 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 3: least some minimal knowledge of these things. So everybody's doing 367 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 3: that for the first time in all of these different areas, 368 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 3: and the communication and the collaboration that's required to do 369 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 3: that is what I noticed right off the bat, right, 370 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 3: is that we're all but the intention within the organization 371 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 3: is phenomenal and everybody's in it together trying to problem 372 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 3: solve quickly as things arise, and that part of it, 373 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 3: I think is pretty huge for the organization period to 374 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 3: be successful. 375 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: Well, we're only a few weeks out from preseasons starting, 376 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: So what are you doing to prep for this first. 377 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 3: Preseason planning practice? You know, I mean, I'm trying to 378 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,479 Speaker 3: stay focused on the volleyball things. There's a lot of 379 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 3: things to be focused upon, but I'm trying to really 380 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 3: just stay focused on the volleyball things. And you know 381 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 3: what the structure of practice is going to look like, 382 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 3: Starting to set a schedule for the women on the 383 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:35,199 Speaker 3: team and working with League One in terms of what 384 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 3: their requirements of the athletes are going to be. There's 385 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 3: and I'm sure you're familiar with it, but there's a 386 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:44,919 Speaker 3: tremendous amount of just resources and opportunity that these women 387 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 3: have access through League One and some of the programming 388 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 3: that they have done just from the pro level all 389 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 3: the way down to the club level is phenomenal. So 390 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 3: just getting organized, I think more than anything, is the 391 00:18:58,680 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 3: simple answer. 392 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: Do you sort of have like a mentality of what 393 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 1: you want to build in this first year? 394 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 3: Yeah, I do. You know, I want to be really 395 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 3: competitive and I want you know, there's a there's a 396 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 3: desire in me in some ways right to represent women 397 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:19,679 Speaker 3: in sports and desire to you know, I know a 398 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 3: lot of the women on my team are so excited 399 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 3: to represent something where young players can look to and say, hey, 400 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 3: I can do that someday. And I think there's still 401 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 3: a little bit of that in me that if you 402 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 3: want to be a volleyball coach and you want to 403 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 3: coach at the highest level and you want to stay 404 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 3: in the United States to do it, that opportunity is 405 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 3: there for you, and there's not a lot of women 406 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 3: professional coaches and that representation for me really matters. And 407 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 3: I'm excited to be able to have a chance to 408 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 3: be a great coach and do it in a great 409 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 3: league with a tremendous group of women. 410 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 1: I love that well. Especially Nebraska is one of, if 411 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: not the hotspot for women's volleyball. I mean, watching the 412 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 1: Nebraska Perdue game on Friday, there were so many cutaways 413 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: of the younger generation holding sign saying stuff like future 414 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:16,160 Speaker 1: Nebraska volleyball player. You know, they're just so excited about 415 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 1: the sport and they want to be part of it. 416 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: So now you've coached at Kansas State for a long 417 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: time in your career, but you also had the opportunity 418 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: to play in Nebraska. So what are you expecting when 419 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: you get to come coach in Omaha. 420 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. I tell people a lot like I've been external, 421 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 3: like just in arms reach, watching it for a really 422 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 3: long time, and I think until you're in it, you 423 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 3: don't really totally get it. Just the fandom that exists 424 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 3: in the state of Nebraska, and it's you know it. 425 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 3: I mean Creighton University. Kirsten Berenthal is a phenomenal coach 426 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 3: and she's got her team playing exceptionally well and Matt 427 00:20:56,760 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 3: Buttermore at UNO. And this is out side of the Huskers, right, 428 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,199 Speaker 3: who have traditionally been a powerhouse, and John does a 429 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 3: phenomenal job there and so the university filtering system, if 430 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 3: you will, and they're all successful all the way down 431 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 3: to the club level. The high schools in Omaha play 432 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 3: tremendous volleyball. Just fandom is the best word that I 433 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 3: can explain it. They're true volleyball fans. They love volleyball 434 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 3: there and I just feel blessed to be, you know, 435 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:31,679 Speaker 3: part of it and embed ourselves in that community. It's phenomenal. 436 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: Well, speaking of some of the players on your team, 437 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: you get to coach four time Olympic medalist Jordan Larson 438 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: and two time Olympic medalist Justine wang Arantez. So let's 439 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 1: start with Jordan, who is known as the governor of Nebraska. 440 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: What are you excited about when it comes to coaching Jordan. 441 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, it's been a really neat experience to 442 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 3: get to know Jordan on a level outside of maybe 443 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 3: her as a volleyball player, you know, and just the 444 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,640 Speaker 3: journey that she has been on from a career perspective. 445 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 3: And admire that and use that in some ways to advance, 446 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 3: if you will, right, the experience of our team and 447 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 3: myself and our program. And she is an amazing human 448 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:22,159 Speaker 3: being with this desire to give back to the Nebraska 449 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 3: community that helped build her and put her in a 450 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 3: position to have this phenomenal volleyball career. And she's committed 451 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,959 Speaker 3: to service and mentorship and legacy, if you will, And 452 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 3: you know, I just feel blessed to be in that 453 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 3: with her, you know. And I think that's the cool part, 454 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 3: right Jordan, is she's going to let me be in 455 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 3: that with her and wants to still be coached and 456 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 3: wants to get better as a player, and wants me 457 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 3: to coach the heck out of her. So it's a 458 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 3: really cool, I think dynamic so far. I have so 459 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 3: much admiration for her and where she's been and the 460 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:01,360 Speaker 3: fact that she's still doing it, So I can't say 461 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,360 Speaker 3: enough good things about it, you know, and the opportunity 462 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 3: to do that with. 463 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: Her, Yeah, and with her experience, I mean, how do 464 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 1: you coach somebody with that much experience? 465 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 3: Well, Jordan knows exactly what she wants and what she 466 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 3: needs for the most part, right, I think a lot 467 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 3: of times with an elite level player like that, it's 468 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 3: not necessarily about doing more with her, you know. In 469 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 3: some ways, it's about helping her refine, if you will. 470 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 3: You're not asking her to do more, You're asking her 471 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 3: to do really specific things, really really well, you know, 472 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 3: and helping her create that list. You know, what is 473 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 3: she thinking about, what is she working on? How can 474 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 3: we help her do that? And I don't think that 475 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 3: list is very long for her anymore, you know, for 476 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 3: a lot of the women on the team, right is 477 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 3: just what's your list right now? Where do you want 478 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 3: us to help you? And that's where I think that 479 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 3: collaborative piece really comes into play with these guys. Is 480 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:58,919 Speaker 3: at this point they kind of know who they are 481 00:23:58,960 --> 00:23:59,919 Speaker 3: and what they want. 482 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 1: M for sure. And then Justine Wangarantez best libero at 483 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: the Olympics in Tokyo. She's the all time digs leader 484 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 1: in Nebraska, another queen of the state, if you will, 485 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 1: when it comes to volleyball, do you think that you 486 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 1: have a huge edge right there with your libero situation? 487 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,919 Speaker 3: Wait feels like it, right, it feels like it. But 488 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 3: they're all good, you know, And just a shout out 489 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 3: to you know, Maggie upright and Danielle Michelle Chapman, right Smith, 490 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 3: those were the recruiters that went out and got these 491 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 3: phenomenal athletes on all the teams Omaha included. And I 492 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 3: just think they've done such a phenomenal job of getting 493 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 3: the right talent to be able to make this thing go. 494 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 3: And yeah, I do. I think I have a little edge, right, 495 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 3: she's the best. Who doesn't want the best? 496 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 1: We're going to be seeing elite volleyball, elite players and 497 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: not just you know, in Omaha, but all over the league. 498 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,120 Speaker 1: As you were saying talking about the recruiting and trying 499 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,199 Speaker 1: to get these women to join the league, there's just 500 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 1: so many amazing players. So specifically talking about Omaha, who 501 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: on your team are you most excited to coach and 502 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 1: to introduce to the States? 503 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, that would be impossible for me to answer, you 504 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 3: know that, Yeah, that would be impossible for me to answer. 505 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 3: There are just the diversity within the roster. I'm excited 506 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:38,959 Speaker 3: about the international players and their opportunity to experience the 507 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 3: sport culture in the US. When you talk to them, 508 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 3: that's something that they're just really amazed by and looking 509 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 3: forward to being part of that. So I think there's 510 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 3: a piece of that for sure, But even more than that, 511 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 3: just the community aspect of League One and the ability 512 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:59,919 Speaker 3: to have it be more than just volleyball. Those are 513 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 3: all things I'm really excited about. I don't know as 514 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 3: if I can, if you ask me to pull out 515 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 3: one player, right, I just don't think that's possible. I'm 516 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:10,919 Speaker 3: excited to get to know all of them and be 517 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 3: part of this process for all of them and hopefully 518 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 3: help them advance their careers and have a tremendous experience. 519 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 1: Well, there are ten women who were on the US 520 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: Olympic team this past summer who are spread out among 521 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: the sixth League one teams. You know, there are international 522 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 1: Olympians in the league, as well as other top players 523 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 1: from all over. So with all of these players out there, 524 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 1: which teams do you think will be the hardest to 525 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: compete against? And who are you most excited to face? Yeah? 526 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 3: All of them? I don't know. That's the cool thing 527 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:48,160 Speaker 3: about it, right is I don't know, and all of them? 528 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 3: You know, the answer is all of them, And right now, 529 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 3: if I'm being frank, I'm not really thinking too much 530 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 3: about anybody else, Right is all of our time and effort. 531 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 3: I've got this tremendous staff that we put together in Omaha. 532 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 3: Remy is from France and he's got a ton of 533 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:08,119 Speaker 3: international experience. And we were able to bring in Corey 534 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 3: Tetzlaf who was an All American at Creighton and she's 535 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 3: part of our staff. And Joby Ramos was currently at 536 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 3: Iowa Western Community College. And I've got this beautiful, amazing staff, 537 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 3: and I just right now, we're going to build our 538 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:27,120 Speaker 3: own plane, you know, and we'll worry about everybody else 539 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 3: is when we get there. 540 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: Now, looking back at your career, both as a player 541 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: and a coach, what things have you learned that you're 542 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 1: bringing to love Omaha. 543 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, the list would be too long too. I often 544 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 3: say I've screwed it up so many times, right is. 545 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 3: I think where I'm at from a career perspective right 546 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 3: now is that early on, I think I over coached everybody. 547 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 3: You know, that anything that was coming into my it 548 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,560 Speaker 3: was You're trying to fix everything at once. And I 549 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 3: think what I've learned is it's just better to do 550 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:07,719 Speaker 3: less well. And so maybe both from a coaching perspective 551 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 3: and a life perspective, I'm on this mission to do 552 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:16,919 Speaker 3: less better and I think just really being intentional about 553 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 3: what you want to accomplish that day, what you want 554 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 3: to accomplish that practice, what are the most important things, 555 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:27,640 Speaker 3: and how do you create an environment that allows everyone 556 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 3: to be successful within that? And I think for me 557 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 3: that's priority one. I'm philosophically. I know who I am 558 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,879 Speaker 3: from a coaching perspective. I know what I want to 559 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 3: do and what I don't And it's a really wonderful 560 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 3: place to be and to feel like you've done a 561 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 3: lot of trial and error and you've made a lot 562 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 3: of mistakes and you're in a place where you feel like, yeah, no, 563 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 3: this is the way we want to do it. And 564 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 3: so I think that's where I'm at right now. 565 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 1: Would you say you learn most of this from coaching, 566 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 1: like in your career, because you said earlier that your 567 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: family is you know, you're from a family of coaches. 568 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 1: Do you learn any of this from them too, or 569 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 1: did you learn anything specifically from them that you've brought 570 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: to your coaching. 571 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, a lot, you know our family. That's it's an 572 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 3: interesting dynamic, right because you're always talking a lot of 573 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 3: this stuff. I feel like I learned from my family 574 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 3: was the relationship culture building pieces. Right. They're football coaches 575 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 3: and basketball coaches and tracking field coaches, right. So from 576 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 3: a sport perspective, I think that's just stuff I learned 577 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 3: along the way. I had some tremendous mentors and people 578 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 3: that were really really influential in my life and shaping 579 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 3: how I wanted to teach and how I wanted to 580 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 3: learn about volleyball. Just from a philosophical perspective, what are 581 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 3: the most important things? How do you go about teaching 582 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 3: and training them? How do you develop your own principles 583 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 3: within that and yet not lose who you are as 584 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 3: a coach? You know, I have to be me and 585 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 3: but you're always just grabbing pieces and parts from different 586 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 3: places along the way. And I think I'm to a 587 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 3: really nice place where I want to keep learning, but 588 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,000 Speaker 3: I want it to be within a certain framework now. 589 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: So going back to the beginning of your coaching career, 590 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: you kind of had this unique way of becoming a coach, 591 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 1: because I've read that you actually started coaching while you 592 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 1: were still playing. So can you tell me. 593 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:21,640 Speaker 3: You went six and twenty one that year? It was 594 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 3: just really terrible? 595 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, well, how did you go from becoming a 596 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 1: player to a coach? Can talk about that transition, what 597 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: it was like, especially since you were playing, you were 598 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: like a player manager in baseball in that regard, But 599 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:38,160 Speaker 1: talk about that and also just how you got into 600 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 1: the sport in general, because I also read that you 601 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 1: considered yourself a late bloomer to the sport. 602 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,640 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, you know, it was different than the club systems, 603 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 3: particularly in rural America, were not established in the nineteen eighties. 604 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 3: You know, I'm dating myself a little bit, but so 605 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 3: I think if I really think back that far right, 606 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 3: it just was different. And so I went to junior 607 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,960 Speaker 3: college route initially as a player, and then I ended 608 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 3: up at Florida Atlantic University and I played for this 609 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 3: Venezuelan guy. His name was Leo usgata Key and if 610 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 3: you say who's got the key really fast, that's how 611 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 3: you say his name. And he was just the coolest. 612 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 3: I played for Ray Bichard, who's the volleyball coach at 613 00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 3: the University of Kansas, and then I worked for him 614 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 3: for a couple of years, and I worked for Jim 615 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 3: McLaughlin for a few years at Kansas State as an 616 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 3: assistant and with my dear friend Jason Watson, who is 617 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 3: an amazing, just brilliant coach at the University of Arkansas, 618 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,920 Speaker 3: and along the way was introduced to Marv Dumfy and 619 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 3: Carl McGowan and a lot of these guys just really 620 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:44,400 Speaker 3: shaped how I feel about volleyball. And I think back 621 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 3: to that time of yeah, sure, I want to be 622 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:51,520 Speaker 3: a volleyball coach, and unfortunately they had fired Leo uscati 623 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:55,960 Speaker 3: Key and had hired a the assistant women's basketball coach. 624 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 3: This actually happened back then to coach the volleyball team, 625 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 3: and the problem was she just didn't know anything about volleyball. 626 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 3: So I came on basically to run practice, but with 627 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 3: my teammates. 628 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 2: They were the. 629 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 3: Players that I had played with the year before, and 630 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 3: it was complex, and we weren't very good, and I 631 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 3: was terrible, and you know, it was a really difficult start, 632 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,720 Speaker 3: if you will. But I left there thinking, Okay, why 633 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:25,120 Speaker 3: would anybody do this? This is terrible? And I got 634 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:27,880 Speaker 3: really lucky that I landed a couple of jobs after that, 635 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 3: and it's turned into be this beautiful, imperfect journey, career, 636 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 3: journey that I wouldn't give up for the world. 637 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 1: Did you know that when you were a player coach 638 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 1: that coaching was the next step or did it sort 639 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: of take you a few practices a little bit of 640 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 1: time before you realized, like, this is my path. 641 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:47,560 Speaker 3: I think it took me a lot. Yeah, I think 642 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:50,160 Speaker 3: it took me a long time, to be honest. I 643 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 3: think you know that you have a disposition for teaching 644 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:58,000 Speaker 3: and mentorship and development. I think you know you have 645 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:00,800 Speaker 3: this disposition. I learned pretty quick that if I wasn't 646 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:03,520 Speaker 3: if it wasn't volleyball, I'd be teaching something. I think 647 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 3: I see myself as a teacher and so, but it 648 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 3: took a while to gain both the knowledge and the 649 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:13,800 Speaker 3: experience to feel comfortable in the role. It's not something 650 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 3: you know learn overnight for sure. 651 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 1: Now, going back to two thousand and three, I read 652 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 1: that you were named the Big Twelve Coach of the 653 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 1: Year after you led Kansas State to their first ever 654 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:27,920 Speaker 1: conference title. You were on your way to coaching the 655 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 1: Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament, and you were one month 656 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 1: away from giving birth. So, being that it was two 657 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 1: thousand and three, what was it like being so far 658 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:42,720 Speaker 1: along in your pregnancy, having a young child, and coaching 659 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: at such a high level. What type of support did 660 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 1: you get? 661 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I remember that it's chaos, you know. I mean, 662 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 3: I think it's just this, it's just this chaos that 663 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:58,640 Speaker 3: you're living in. And I remember just constantly thinking finding 664 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:01,240 Speaker 3: joy in the chaos, right, find joy in the chaos. So, 665 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 3: you know, what was it like being pregnant? You know, 666 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:06,640 Speaker 3: it was just being pregnant. I don't know as if 667 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:10,360 Speaker 3: it was anything other than that, right I At that time, 668 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:12,800 Speaker 3: that was my second pregnancy, so I knew a little 669 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:15,080 Speaker 3: bit more what to expect. The first one was probably 670 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:17,960 Speaker 3: a little tougher because you don't know what's coming, but 671 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:20,160 Speaker 3: the second one you kind of know what to expect. 672 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 3: I do remember seeing my physician and going, hey, can 673 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:26,840 Speaker 3: I get on this plane and fly to you know, wherever? 674 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 3: Do you have to come with me? What's going to 675 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:33,520 Speaker 3: happen here? And so organizing that. But my doctors were great, 676 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:37,240 Speaker 3: My team was great. I don't if I'm being honest, 677 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:40,000 Speaker 3: I was just coaching and happen to be pregnant, you know. 678 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:44,759 Speaker 3: And now when after you have the babies, right, and 679 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:47,160 Speaker 3: then they're alive, then you have to try to keep 680 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 3: them alive. And that's a whole different set of things. Right. 681 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:54,920 Speaker 3: So one of my funniest stories is having probably my 682 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 3: four year old with us in the back of the 683 00:34:57,640 --> 00:34:59,919 Speaker 3: van and the team was always so great with them, 684 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 3: and having them in the back of a van and 685 00:35:02,719 --> 00:35:06,800 Speaker 3: having him get sick and like really getting sick, virtually 686 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 3: got sick in the van, and having my team just 687 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 3: be a bunch of champs, and thinking, oh my gosh, 688 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 3: you know, God love them. But you know, those teams 689 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:17,920 Speaker 3: along the way when my kids are little, they helped 690 00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 3: me raise my kids. They ran around in the gym, 691 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 3: and the athletic trainers helped me, and the assistant coaches 692 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:26,560 Speaker 3: helped me, and the ops people helped me, and my 693 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:29,960 Speaker 3: parents helped me, and it was it was a team 694 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 3: effort to try to get those boys right to maybe 695 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:37,239 Speaker 3: to school, if you will, right. So I had a 696 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 3: lot of hands and a lot of help. 697 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,120 Speaker 1: I love that. I mean it's now twenty years later, 698 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:44,440 Speaker 1: and I feel like there's, you know, still a stigma 699 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:49,440 Speaker 1: attached to working moms or athletes being moms, but you know, 700 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:53,719 Speaker 1: speaking specifically about love. Sarah will Hyde Parsons of Love. 701 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 1: Madison is pregnant with her first child. 702 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:57,560 Speaker 3: Off the top of my head. 703 00:35:57,600 --> 00:35:59,439 Speaker 1: You know, there are a lot of moms in the league, 704 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:03,279 Speaker 1: like Carley Low and Julienne Fossett, and in general, you're 705 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:06,879 Speaker 1: seeing a lot of professional women athletes in like the 706 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:11,440 Speaker 1: WNBA or n WSL who are becoming moms and working moms. 707 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 1: So over the course of your coaching career, how have 708 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:19,760 Speaker 1: you seen working moms supported and athletics. How has it evolved? 709 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:24,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, it's interesting. I have you know, won 710 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:28,040 Speaker 3: they're athletes. They're athletes first, you know, I mean, they're well, 711 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:31,400 Speaker 3: maybe they're moms first, right, but they're but they're athletes, 712 00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 3: and I guess my thought is they absolutely can do 713 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:39,799 Speaker 3: it right now. They have some physical demands that pregnancy 714 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 3: complicates that. You have to be pretty committed to coming 715 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 3: back after a pregnancy because you've got to get back 716 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:49,680 Speaker 3: in shape, you've got to meet the physical demands of 717 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:53,520 Speaker 3: your sport. And but the ones that do it, it's 718 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 3: just it's absolutely possible. It's no different than putting on 719 00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:00,480 Speaker 3: a suit and going to work, and it is just 720 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:03,799 Speaker 3: what they choose to do. So I have you know, 721 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:07,000 Speaker 3: that's how I feel about it. There's no reason why 722 00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:11,279 Speaker 3: these women can't go have a family and do this too. 723 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:14,719 Speaker 3: You know, we have to well we don't have to, 724 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:18,480 Speaker 3: but many of them choose to carry them, right, and 725 00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:21,080 Speaker 3: so that complicates it. It's going to take you out. 726 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:23,439 Speaker 3: Like Sarah, right, she's going to take a year off 727 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 3: and then she's going to get back in shape and 728 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:28,680 Speaker 3: she's going to come back. And being a parent makes 729 00:37:28,719 --> 00:37:31,840 Speaker 3: you a better person, you know. So she's going to 730 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:34,400 Speaker 3: come back and learn some things along the way and 731 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:37,760 Speaker 3: try to figure out how to balance being a working mom, 732 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:40,520 Speaker 3: and she'll do it just like you know, thousands of 733 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:41,400 Speaker 3: women to come before. 734 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:46,600 Speaker 1: Speaking of kids, I saw that your son is was 735 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:48,640 Speaker 1: a caddie at Whistling Streets. 736 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:51,080 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, yeah last summer. 737 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 1: Are you guys big golfers? Uh? 738 00:37:53,719 --> 00:37:55,759 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I don't want to say I'm a 739 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:59,080 Speaker 3: good golfer, but I'd like to play golf. Right, He's 740 00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:02,040 Speaker 3: a big golfer. My husband's a big golfer, and so 741 00:38:02,239 --> 00:38:04,719 Speaker 3: it was an amazing experience for him last summer. He 742 00:38:04,760 --> 00:38:06,640 Speaker 3: loved it. He absolutely loved it. 743 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:09,920 Speaker 1: That's amazing. You know, Jordan Larson picked up golf during 744 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:13,240 Speaker 1: the pandemic. I feel like, maybe, yeah, you guys should 745 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:16,680 Speaker 1: start some sort of you know, team bonding experience getting 746 00:38:16,680 --> 00:38:17,400 Speaker 1: out on the links. 747 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:20,399 Speaker 3: Yeah, it takes a minute, right to get good at golf. 748 00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:23,520 Speaker 3: I don't know if the beginning golfers would think the same, 749 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:26,520 Speaker 3: but you know, but I go hack it around pretty 750 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:28,160 Speaker 3: I go hack it around when I can. 751 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:30,839 Speaker 1: Oh, I love it. I love golf. I'm not very 752 00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:32,239 Speaker 1: good at it either, but it's a lot of fun 753 00:38:32,239 --> 00:38:33,000 Speaker 1: to play. 754 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:36,000 Speaker 3: I think I may need to get to retirement because 755 00:38:36,040 --> 00:38:37,640 Speaker 3: it takes some time to get good at it. 756 00:38:37,920 --> 00:38:42,840 Speaker 1: True. Well, lastly, going back to volleyball, what do you 757 00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:45,840 Speaker 1: hope to showcase in this inaugural season and what do 758 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:49,840 Speaker 1: you want fans and the public to see, learn and know? 759 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:54,279 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I hope that we can showcase just 760 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:57,840 Speaker 3: a phenomenal level of play, you know, simply. I hope 761 00:38:57,880 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 3: that we can put all of our pieces together and 762 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:05,759 Speaker 3: in a short period of time and really show showcase 763 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:11,680 Speaker 3: this beautiful combination of international athletes and American athletes and 764 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:15,320 Speaker 3: varied levels of experiences, and put all of our pieces 765 00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:17,920 Speaker 3: together and just simply play phenomenal volleyball. 766 00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:18,239 Speaker 2: Right. 767 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:20,800 Speaker 3: If you ask me what I really want to accomplish, 768 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:24,000 Speaker 3: that's it, right, And I want the fans and the 769 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:28,080 Speaker 3: people to see how amazing. These women are just there. 770 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:31,840 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh. They are so much more than volleyball players, 771 00:39:32,160 --> 00:39:38,400 Speaker 3: and they're amazing volleyball players, but they're also these incredibly driven, smart, 772 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:43,080 Speaker 3: talented humans that I think are tremendous role models just 773 00:39:43,440 --> 00:39:46,360 Speaker 3: for people, not just little girls, but just for people 774 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:50,399 Speaker 3: in terms of how they're driven to be successful, how 775 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:53,880 Speaker 3: they honed their craft, how hard they work to be 776 00:39:53,960 --> 00:39:57,560 Speaker 3: good at it, and how well they failed and recovered 777 00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:00,480 Speaker 3: and go again. And so I guess that's what I 778 00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:03,319 Speaker 3: want people to know and see. But mostly I just 779 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:06,000 Speaker 3: want to put all the pieces together and be really 780 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:06,760 Speaker 3: good at volleyball. 781 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:09,759 Speaker 1: I love it. Well, Coach Fritz, thank you so much 782 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:12,320 Speaker 1: for coming on Serving Pancakes. It was a pleasure speaking 783 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:12,640 Speaker 1: with you. 784 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:14,520 Speaker 3: It's so nice to meet you, Tiffany. 785 00:40:14,560 --> 00:40:18,719 Speaker 1: Thank you. Serving Pancakes is an iheartwomen's sports production in 786 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:22,439 Speaker 1: partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find 787 00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,600 Speaker 1: us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts for wherever you 788 00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:30,200 Speaker 1: get your podcasts. Production by League one Volleyball, I'm your host, 789 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:35,200 Speaker 1: Tiffany Oshinsky. Anya Oliverrez is our senior producer. Our executive 790 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:39,960 Speaker 1: producers are Carrie Stett, Tamaradiki and Lindsay Hoffman. Our marketing 791 00:40:40,040 --> 00:40:44,359 Speaker 1: lead is Jawara Parker. Sound editing and mixing by Daniel Gonzalez. 792 00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:48,440 Speaker 1: Our theme music is Pancakes by Eric W. Mast Junior 793 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:53,240 Speaker 1: Special thanks to Emily Emon and coach Susie Fritz. Stay 794 00:40:53,239 --> 00:40:56,440 Speaker 1: tuned for another episode of Serving Pancakes. Thanks for listening.