November 18, 2025 • 45 mins
Women’s volleyball reporter Michella Chester joins Sarah to discuss what makes undefeated Nebraska so good, the biggest storylines of the NCAA season, and the crowded, complicated pro volleyball landscape. Plus, Swedish success, making good on a “Promise,” and competing for your own award. Again.
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Watch Alysa Liu's short program from Skate America here
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Watch the moment between Laufey and Liu here
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Watch the 11 nominees for “The Marta” and vote for your favorite here
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Relive Marta’s goal from the 2024 NWSL semifinals here
- Read about Sabrina's Mrs. Doubtfire prank here
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Watch Michella’s interview with Harper Murray here
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Follow Michella on Instagram here
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Still confused about volleyball rotations? Read Michella's story on the topic here
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Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com
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Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're gently
reminding got them FC that this is when they need
to start making plans for a championship parade. We don't
want to jinx y'all, but we also don't want to
repeat of twenty twenty three. It's Tuesday, November eighteenth, and
on today's show will be chatting with women's volleyball reporter
Michela Chester about the biggest storylines of the NCAA season,
whether she's confident enough to pick Nebraska over the field,
(00:23):
and her take on the crowded, complicated pro volleyball landscape,
plus Swedish success making good on a promise and competing
for your own award again. It's all coming up right
after this welcome back slices. Here's what you need to
(00:44):
know today. Let's start with golf. Sweden's Lynn Grant won
the Anica on Sunday, taking the final event of the
LPGA regular season with a three shot victory over Jennifer
cup Chow. It marks the second career LPGA title for Grant,
who's receive the trophy from fellow Swede and tournament host
Anka Sorenstam. Grant also becomes the twenty ninth different player
(01:06):
to win an LPGA event this season. The tour comes
to a close this coming weekend, with the top sixty
players competing at the CME Group Tour Championship for a
total purse of eleven million dollars to the ice and
figure skating American Alissa Liu won the women's title at
Skate America this weekend, continuing a strong trend of results
ahead of the Milan Courtina Winter Olympics in just a
(01:27):
few months now. Quick refresher on Lieu for those of
you who aren't familiar with her story. She first rose
to prominence in twenty nineteen, when, at just thirteen years old,
she won the women's title at US Championships, making her
the youngest ever US women's national champion. She won Nationals
again in twenty twenty, and then went on to make
her Olympic debut in twenty twenty two at age sixteen,
(01:47):
finishing seventh in the individual event. A few months after
the Olympics, Lee retired from skating, saying that she was
satisfied with her career and ready to do other things
like enroll at UCLA. But two years later, in March
of twenty twenty four, where she announced that she was
back on the ice training. She went on to compete
at the twenty twenty five World Championships, winning a surprise
gold medal with a fan favorite performance. Leu's short program
(02:09):
at Skate America and at Worlds is to the song
Promise by Lave and Icelandic Artists, And there was this
really fun moment post World Champs where Leo attended a
Layve show wearing the short program dress and her gold medal.
We'll link to a video of that beautiful Skate America
short program and that moment at Lave's concert in the
show notes, and maybe we'll see another reunion for those
two now that the Promise program has won Leo gold again.
(02:32):
It's been really fun to see her back on the ice.
We're excited to see her keep skating in the lead
up to the Olympics. More winter sports news. The long
track speed skating season got underway over the weekend, with
Salt Lake City, Utah, playing host to the first stop
on the World Cup circuit. Athletes from the Netherlands had
a particularly good showing on the women's side, winning both
five hundred meter races. Both fifteen hundred meter races and
(02:53):
the three thousand meter event. American Mia Manganello won the
mass start. Team Japan won the team pursuit, and the
American trio of Manganelo, Britney Bow and Greena Myers took
third in the team pursuit, smashing the American record in
the process. To Soccer, the nominees for FIFA's second annual
Marta Award have been unveiled, and for a second straight year,
(03:14):
the nominees include the award's namesake, Orlando Pride forward Marta.
The Marta honors the most spectacular goal in women's soccer
scored for either club or country, and the qualifying period
runs from August to August of each year. Fittingly, Marta
won the inaugural Marta in twenty twenty four thanks to
an incredible long range goal she scored during a friendly
between Brazil and Jamaica back in June twenty twenty four.
(03:36):
This year, she's nominated for a goal she scored with
the Orlando Pride, specifically her game winner against Kansas City
during the twenty twenty four NWSL semifinals. You must remember it.
She sent four current players to the pitch trying to
stop her navigating through their bodies before tapping the ball
in net. We'll link to it in the show notes
because frankly, you can't watch it too many times. There
(03:58):
are eleven nominees for the Marte in total, including Ali
Sentinor's goal for the US national team against Columbia in February,
she believes cup and Jordan Bugs goal for the Seattle
Rain in a two one win over the North Carolina
Courage in March. You know what, We'll link to all
eleven goals in the show notes. You could see if
one beats Marts's best. Fans can vote on a favorite
between now and December. Third. Finally, to surfing, Carisa Moore
(04:20):
has announced that she's returning to competition. Moore, a five
time world champ who also won the first ever Olympic
gold medal awarded in surfing back in twenty twenty one,
stepped away from the sport after the twenty twenty four Olympics,
in which she competed while two months pregnant. She gave
birth in February, and in a press release announcing her return,
she said, quote, I want my journey to show my
(04:41):
daughter and hopefully other women that we can do anything.
We can keep chasing our dreams even as life evolves.
End quote. Moore is expected to compete in two qualifying
Series events later this year and has been given a
full season Championship Tour wildcard for the twenty twenty sixth season,
which begins in April in Australia. We got to take
(05:01):
a quick break. When we come back, we talk all
things college bebes with mckellichester joining us now. She's a
freelance sports reporter, host and digital reporter the NCAA digital
host and reporter for college volleyball, softball and baseball, and
a digital host for Big Ten Network College Baseball and Softball.
(05:22):
She worked as a sideline reporter for the inaugural season
of Love Pro Volleyball and ESPN and the twenty twenty
four NCAA Volleyball Regionals on ESPN. A Georgia grad, where
she was captain of the club lacrosse team. Based on
her insta, she's definitely in her traveling to a friend's
destination wedding every other weekend. Face of adulthood. It's Micklichester.
I'm mcklla Hi.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
I don't think anybody has nailed my life that perfectly.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
That was crazy.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
You're going to some good places for those weddings, though
they look glamorous. I am. You know.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's like I should be complaining, But at least it
keeps you traveling and it keeps you going to wonderful places.
It's definitely busy with my schedule, but you got to
try and balance work in life, and I'm just in
that phase now, so doing the best we can.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I feel like at a certain age, most of your
money just goes to paying for other people's weddings.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Oh, it's gone, all of it's gone.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
It's in an airline pocket somewhere.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Before we get into some vibestock, I do want to
talk about how you got into sports reporting and when
you first started dreaming about working in sports. How far
back do we have to go?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Oh, you got to go pretty much my entire life.
I don't remember a time in my life where this
wasn't what I was dreaming of. My dad was very
hands on when we were younger on picking what we
wanted our career paths to be. He always said, in
order to be successful, you've got to pick something that
you're naturally talented at. So when we were younger, he
was like, what are you good at? And for me,
it was always storytelling. I wanted to tell stories when
(06:41):
I was really little. I wanted to be an author,
and I was just always loved talking to people.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I could talk to a brick wall. So he was like,
all right, there's your talent.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
What do you like?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
And I loved sports.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I played every sport under the sun when I was younger,
from dancing all the way to lacrosse, like you mentioned,
which is what I took the longest into my life.
So that was what I wanted to do. And then
my dad had three girls. He was the biggest sports guy.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I knew.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
He had me sitting down every weekend watching the Giants
as we grew up in New York.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
So I remember sitting on the ottoman one day.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I don't remember how young I was, but it was
definitely pre middle school and saying that's it. And I
never changed my mind or wavered in that path for
as long as I can remember. And here I am,
it's pretty surreal to be actually doing what you dreamed of.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
That's amazing. Yeah, I remember I took a more circuitous path.
But I remember, like when people always ask me, when
did you realize or like think that you made it.
The one for me was when I got to put
on my tax forms that my job was sports reporter
because like every other year, I was working at it,
but technically I had to write like waitress, hostess as
(07:50):
you being a gig yeah, even like you know, production assistant.
And when I finally just got to put like reporter
as my occupation, I was like, I made it, even
though I made no money and no one knew who
I was. I was like, it's got to be pretty good. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I still have moments.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
I think there's times where I'm always like, oh, like
when I get to where I want to be one
day and I've just had to bring myself down to earth.
There's been a few times where friends or family have
said to me, why do you keep saying that, Like
you're doing it, and it's hard to process that you're
doing it because you're always just thinking about the next school.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Well, you didn't ask me for advice, but since you're
a youngster, I'll give you my best advice for this business,
which is you have to find the right balance of
ambition and satisfaction. It's because there's always going to be
someone to compare yourself to. There's always gonna be another
better job or opportunity or event to cover. And if
you're never satisfied, then you're gonna miss all the years
where you're actually doing something completely amazing that so many
(08:39):
other people would dream about. So don't give up on
the ambition, but make sure you're make sure you're still.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Being where your feet are and being proud of yourself
where you are. Yeah, I need to take that advice.
I definitely have heard it, but it's one I need
to take to heart.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
So thank you. Well, there aren't a lot of folks
on the college volleyball beat, so I'm happy to get
your perspective. What's the toughest part of trying to keep
pep up with all the teams and storylines.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Yeah, so volleyball, I would agree, not a ton of
people on the beach. And when I first started doing
it about six years ago, I think there was actually nobody,
especially on the digital space, talking about it. It has
grown so much in the past six years in terms
of how many people are now.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Talking about it.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So it feels crazy saying not a ton to me,
it feels like there's a lot now, but that's just
because when we started there was nobody. But I will
say now that I've been in it for so long,
volleyball is definitely the easiest sport for me to cover,
just because I feel like I'm so immersed in it.
And we go on a road trip with the NCAA,
so you're with a new team and meeting all these
players and you're just kind of forced to be watching
(09:41):
games a week after week.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
I would say in the beginning.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The hardest part was actually one watching all of these games,
and I think, you know, when you're doing your rankings
and your rotation of the week and trying to keep
up with your life at the same time, then being like, no,
I actually have to watch them to know it, like
you can't just look at school is because it really.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Is like volleyball, especially because the box score is just
really not going to tell you a story the same
way some other sports minds.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
It doesn't.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
And that is the exact point I was getting at,
is a box score does not tell the story, and
you really do have to watch and understand the game
to be able to report on.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
It and have an opinion.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Which so even when I am doing life things and
going to weddings.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Like you mentioned in your open, I really.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Do have to make a point too, on Sunday nights
or on Monday mornings, make sure I am watching back
the games, because it doesn't do it justice by any
means to not do so.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Thank goodness for DVRs and digital streaming and all the
ways we can now go back and watch things when
it's a little more convenient for us. I wouldn't survive
without it me neither. We've been talking a bit about
Nebraska on our show. Nebraska the only team left in
Division one volleyball with a perfect record, an unbelievable streak
without dropping a set as well. So they're doing this
in style. What makes them so good?
Speaker 3 (10:56):
It's everything. And when you look I remember going to the.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
ABCA First Served Showcase and it was the first couple
of games at the season.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I think that.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
There are teams that are just now at this point
in the season reaching the level of play that Nebraska
was playing at at that first game. And when you
think about this Nebraska core, which I like to say
is Berg and Riley their setter, Andy Jackson their middle,
and Harper Murray their star outside.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
They started as freshmen together.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
To think that as freshmen they led their team to
the national championship with no experience, and to be bringing
that entire core back into their junior season, it's just
not even fair.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Top to bottom.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
This team is leaps and bounds ahead of anyone in
the country. They overpower you in every part of the game,
and it doesn't matter how good you are, Like every
part of their game is just that much better. They're passing,
and passing doesn't get enough credit, and that's it's sad
to say that, Like the ABCA National Player of the
Year watch list doesn't have any liberos on it, because
(11:58):
it's just so easy to look at those flashy numbers
and think that these outsides and middles are putting up
numbers that impact.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
The game so much.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
But Nebraska wouldn't be what it is without its passing.
And I mean, they're just giving Berg and Riley dimes.
And yes, she's a fantastic setter, but she's able to
run that offense so well because of how.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Good their backcourt is.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
They just give her perfect passes right over the head,
right on the money, and she's able to just dish
it out to her weapons and then you have the
most talented players in the country. So how are you
not just bouncing balls and hammering balls into the floor.
They're hard to stop the best talent, I mean top
to bottom. Their setters one of the best in the country.
Their outsides are the best in the country, and their
(12:40):
middles are probably leaps and bounds the best in the country.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I think you can no fun intended.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Yeah, literally, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I mean, I'm describing it, but it's If they don't
win the national championship, it would be because they didn't
play their best game.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Yeah, well, we'll get to that and who might challenge them?
But for those who are not VIBS specialists, tell us
about a libero. Help us understand how they maybe don't
get enough love, but they are such a vital part
of successful twos. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So, if you're watching volleyball, the libero is in a
different colored jersey, and that's because they have unlimited substitutions.
There's two middle blockers that are technically in the starting lineup,
but a middle doesn't go all the way around, meaning.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Doesn't play six rotations.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
So they'll play three rotations in the front row, and
then when they.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Rotate to the back row.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Typically a team is putting in and out the Libero,
but they're just staying on the court because they have
unlimited substitutions. So Libero only plays in the back row.
They cannot hit past the ten foot line. That would
be an illegal attack. And that's why they have that
different jersey on as well. And they're just ballers. They
keep everything off the floor. They're so fun to watch.
(13:50):
I feel like they're getting a lot more fans nowadays
than they used to. Their defense is crazy. And then
like I said, passing, which when I say passing that
me serve receive.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
So the other team is.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Trying to put a really tough serve over the net
to get your team out of system. Out of system
meaning it is a really hard ball to set. It's
not a perfect pass to the setter and then to
an outside, right side or middle middle blocker, so out
of system meaning either your outside has to pass it.
It's a ball off the net, pulling the setter off
the net, making it a tougher ball to set to
(14:24):
the outside or right side. So passing means serve receive.
You are passing the serve keeping your team in system
to run a smooth offense.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
That that's really good sense, Yeah, it was really good.
I mean, the libero's not going to get every ball
because sometimes the serve is just going to be that
crazy about Like a lot of times you're hoping that
your libero is patrolling that back line, setting up your
setter so that the setter has an easy job of
them hoping to set up for a kill. Correct, And
liberos haven't always been around as far as like them.
(14:55):
The rules changing in terms of substitutions and stuff, right,
that's relatively new.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, I wouldn't say relatively. I would have to go
back pretty far to get to that, probably past the
rally scoring error which started long before my time of.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, I just feel like I've talked to older volleyball
players and been guessing their position and guessing like libero
based on height or lack thereof, and them saying like
that wasn't an official thing when I played, So I
feel like maybe it was a time within reason when
it or maybe they maybe they didn't play somewhere that
you know, was as elevated in terms of strategy.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
But and yeah, that's very specialist too, that better subbed
in just to play defense and when I say passing.
Oftentimes the other team is going to target other back
row players. They're not going to serve to your liberro
because that's your best passer. But the libero's job is
to play defense and to get the ball to the center.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Yeah. Okay, so you already told us a couple But
if a listener wants to tune in and check out
a Huskers game, what should they pay special attention to.
Whether it's a player who's really great at something, whether
that's a style that makes I'm better than everybody.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Yeah, if I was watching a Nebraska game for the
first time, I would say, you have to watch Harper Murray,
who is their top outside hitter. And then Andy Jackson.
Andy Jackson is a middle blocker. She is the best
middle blocker in the country. I don't think anybody's going
to come after me.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
For that take. It's not that hot of a take.
She's that good.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I love she is one of the best offensive middle blockers.
So if you're watching for the first time, look out
for what is called a slide attack. So she's in
the middle, but a slide attack is when she will
run behind the setter and then attack from the right side.
It's very deceptive because you can't see it happening from
the other side of the net because she's running behind
(16:40):
the setter, and then all of a sudden, that setter
can look like she's going to push the ball to
the outside, meaning the left pin, but she's going to
push it behind her to the right side with Andy.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Jackson running behind. She is the best to do it
in college volleyball. So watch out for that slide attack.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
You'll see her running behind Berg and Riley, and then
watch out for Harper Murray.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
The most fun thing about watching her play is that.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
If she gets super competitive, you could just see her
flip a switch mid match. We saw it with UCLA
this past weekend. UCLA was the first team to take
a set from Nebraska in over forty sets in September,
which is stupid that we even have to keep track
of that because that shouldn't even be a thing. But
they're that dominant. But I think once you saw Harper
(17:23):
get a little mad that UCLA was even, you know,
on a level playing field with them at one point
in the match, she just turned it on and then
it's dominants the switch.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Well, Harper Murray is someone we've talked about on this show.
There was a documentary on ESPN and E six he
called No Place Like Nebraska that talked about her sort
of journey with mental health, some of the trip ups
that she's had while trying to be at the top
of the game and deal with, you know, some off
the court incidents. What have you heard about her this season,
settling in sort of finding her way on and off
(17:57):
the court.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah. I did a sit down with Harper Murray at
the beginning of the season and we really dove into
all of that and her mental health and how much
she's grown as a person. And she's somebody who has
become really honest with everything that she's gone through and
really sharing with the world what she went through and
how she overcame it. And I think that that's really special,
(18:20):
especially in women's sports, because it was hard what she
went through. And I think women's sports are starting to
become mainstream in the way that now these athletes are
having to deal with things and deal with the public
in ways that it wasn't like in the past. And
we have people that are talking about you now constantly
(18:41):
on social media, and as we know, social media can
be a really dark place, and we go through it
as public faces and females in the space, and I
can't even imagine how much amplified that is as an
athlete and somebody like Harper Murray who deals with it
day in and day out. So yeah, she really opened
up to me, and she's opened up to her following
(19:02):
and just the Nebraska fans in general about what she's
gone through, how proud of herself she is for the
woman she's grown into.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
She talks about her why.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
In the beginning, a lot of it was her parents
and her dad who she lost when she was younger,
and then she said she lost it for a little bit,
and then the last two years she regained that why,
which she shared this with me, and she said it
was for her players. So she always wrote Lexi Rodriguez,
who was star Lebarro that has since graduated and is now.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
A pro player, with love.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
But she would write Lexi's name on her finger before
every game to remind herself that she wants to be
better for her teammates that were able to give her
love and were able to, you know, just accept her
and help her through that time. Players like Merret Beeson,
who's now playing professional as well. So she gives her
credit back to her teammates and credits that they were
able to one get her through a harder time in
(19:55):
her life and make her a better person an athlete
because of it. And I just think now we're seeing
her dominie. She's really settled into who she is as
a person. And she said to me that she's not
really getting better as a volleyball player, but she's just
become such a better teammate and so much more confident,
and you see it on the court, and that's why
we're seeing her dominate.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
It's amazing. And I think finally in the last couple
of years, we've started to talk about how you bring
all of that other stuff onto the court and it
can make you a much better player if everything else
is more resolved on the outside. Where can we find
that sit down?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Easiest way is probably like I collab on most things
on Instagram, so it's like less to scroll through of
all the stuff, but it's all NCAA volleyball platforms and
probably on YouTube as well.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Cool. So we're talking about Nebraska's undefeated starts since nineteen
eighty one, only four women's college volleyball programs finished the
regular season undefeated and went on to win the national championship.
Nebraska's one of them back in two thousand. Yes, do
you see this year's Nebraska team becoming the fifth?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
So I don't want to say yes, because I do
think we've gotten to a place with volleyball where it's
not so obvious anymore. Like, yes, this Nebraska team feels
the best in the country, and I've been very straightforward
about that and not afraid to say it by any means.
But I always think that anything can happen in the tournament.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Do I think that they could do it?
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Absolutely, And looking at the rest of their Big Ten
schedule and just the fact that I think the Big
Ten not that they've fallen off, but I think is
not as strong as it has been in the past.
Penn State having a little bit of an off year,
which is typically one of Nebraska's biggest rivals and challengers,
and we saw them win the championship last year and
(21:40):
knock off Nebraska in the national semifinals. So with them
having an off year, Wisconsin, they're definitely peaking now that
their setter is back, but they're typically one to challenge
Nebraska in the regular season, and they've been struggling a
little bit with injuries through the mid part of the season.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
So I do think that they can go and they should.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
I say should because if they are having a good game,
I don't think anyone in the country can beat them.
I think it can happen. As far as who can
challenge them, I think it's Kentucky and maybe Texas.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Yeah. There's a difference between being the favorite and picking
the favorite over the field, right, you have to be
so far and away above to pick one team over
every other competitor. Ye, but they are the favorite to win. Oh,
you mentioned Kentucky. They're sitting in second right now at
twenty and two, Pittsburgh third at twenty one and three. Yeah,
Texas and fourth at nineteen and two, and Stanford rounding
out the top five. They're in fifth at twenty two
and three. So Kentucky is the one that you think
(22:35):
could present the biggest challenge to Nebraska.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
I do, and that is because I think to win
a national championship you have to have production on the outside,
meaning two outside hitters which play the left pins and
usually go all the way around, and Kentucky has the
two best outside hitter duos in the country with Eva
Hudson and Brooklyn Delay. It's hard to stop them because,
(22:57):
similar to Nebraska, they do have so much weapons, and
Kentucky has great defense, has a great liberro in Molly Tuzzo.
I don't think they're as good in the middle as
Nebraska is, but those outside hitters are just lethal. Eva
Hudson and Brooklyn Delay are extremely good, two of the
best players in the country, so you can't just stop
(23:21):
one of them. Whereas Pittsburgh you have Olivia Babcock. Yes,
she's I think gonna win records left, yeah, and I
think she's gonna win National Player of the Year again understandably. So,
I mean, she puts up forty five kills against a
top ten team in Louisville and Arrival and it's like, yeah,
they're trying to stop her.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
It doesn't work, it doesn't matter. She goes up and
over the block. But to win a national.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Championship, I think you got to have more than that,
And what pitt lacks is that production on the outside.
Olivia is a right side hitter, so outside meaning left
side pins so Eva Hudson, Brooklyn Delay, Kentucky has that,
and that's why I think they are the team that's
going to be most able to challenge Nebraska, and they
have already this season. We saw it with a five
set battle earlier in the year. Kentucky went up two
(24:05):
sets to none and was pretty dominant, and then Nebraska
came back and reverse swept. So that was already I
would love to see it again.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
That would be a pretty cool rematch.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
You talk about the left pins and how helpful it
is for a team to have successful outside hitters players
on the left pins. Is that because the position is difficult,
particularly for right handed players to be hitting from. Why
is that a tougher place to find talent.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
I wouldn't say it's a tougher place to find talent.
I just think that the outside position is so important
because one, they typically go all the way around, so
they're typically playing six rotations. If they are good enough defenders,
they will go all the way around. So you're impacting
the game in so many different ways. You're having to
play defense, and teams are going to target those outside
(24:54):
hitters when they're in the back court because they know
they're trying to keep it away from the barrow and
the defense a specialist, right.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
So you have to be also a talented passer and
serve receiver.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Yeah, you've got to be a talented passer, receiver and defender.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Two. I mentioned out of system play earlier.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Most of the game is played out of system, and
you know it's not going to be perfect every time,
but most of the out system sets, So if a
libero is having to touch the second ball and set
it is going to go to the outside. They always
say that the outside hitter has to take out the
garbage they're getting, you know, just way more set.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
They're getting the trash stuff that isn't perfect exactly.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
And I think with really good teams you see like
we see Kentucky, they have really Malli Tuzzo's their libero.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
She's a really good out of system setter.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
So when she's getting the second ball, teams might be like, oh,
it's going to the outside obviously because the setter is
not setting it. But Molly Tuzzo is really good at
She'll set a back row attack shell.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
She's just a really.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Good out of system setter. So that's like another dimension
a team can can reach. But most of the time,
the trash is going to the outside, So the outside
just has to be really productive in order for a
team to be next level good.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Yeah, makes sense. Well, Nebraska's stealing a lot of headlines
because of that undefeated record. But are there some other
good storylines or teams we should know about across college
vibes this season? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I think you really, I really love the storyline of one.
The SEC Tournament is back for the first time, and
I don't even know how many years all of the
Power four conferences haven't done a conference tournament. They just
take the regular conference winner and that's the team that
gets to the auto bid for the tournament. Well, the
SEC Tournament is bringing back the tournament for the first
(26:40):
time out of all the Power four conferences.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
It starts this Friday.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
So Texas, let's see, Kentucky is the one seed, Texas
A and M has the two seed, and Texas has
the three seed, which is crazy because Texas is ranked
above Texas A and M.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
But Texas A and M has the head.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
To head win. Yeah. Texas started out on a nice
defeated streak as well, but it was the back to
back losses that kind of sent them down the rankings
a bit.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Yeah, and they lost to Kentucky and Texas A and
M in the SEC, so understandably those are gonna get
the one in two seeds just because it's based on
head to head in the SEC and not overall resume
for the season. So yeah, I think watching those three
teams are three teams that are just so good. Texas
getting possibly another go at Kentucky who swept them. The
(27:28):
SEC Tournament's gonna be fun and it's like so many games.
It's gonna be interesting because the coaches were fighting for it,
but it will be it is hard. They're gonna have
to the top seeds potentially play three games in three days.
That's a lot of swings that some of the top
players in the country are taking in November right before
the tournament. Tory Stafford another player I think that you
(27:49):
have to watch at Texas. She's unbelievable. I mentioned Olivia Babcock,
Harper Murray, Tory Stafford is right up there with them.
So that's one storyline. SEC Tournament's gonna be fun. It's
gonna be SEC Network all week. I will be there
sideline reporting, So I'm excited for that one. And then
after that, I think the ACC is pretty messy right now. Pitt, Louisville,
(28:12):
and Stanford just three teams that I was doing my
Power ten rankings this morning and I was like, I
have no idea what to do here, and.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Throw SMU in the mix.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I mean, they can all beat each other on any
given night, and these are all teams that can compete
for a national title. I mean it is after Nebraska,
it is anybody wide open. It is anybody's game in
the top ten, and that's really cool. I think the
tournament's going to be super fun because of that.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
We'll get to the tournament bracket in a second. But
you know you mentioned earlier in Nebraska almost feeling like
unfair returning all this talent. We've seen the college basketball
world change a lot as the results of the transfer portal.
Is college volleyball seeing a lot of big name transfers
as well in the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
Absolutely, and that has changed the game a ton Tory
Stafford was the second biggest transfer last year. She was
at Pitt with Olivia Babco, so they were one of
the most dangerous duos.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
She transferred to Texas.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Texas also brought in Ramsey Gary, one of the best
liberos in the country, and then Kennedy Martin was at Florida,
one of the best right sides in the country. She
went to Penn State. The movement has been crazy. When
you bring up Nebraska.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
They didn't have any anybody leave.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
This past year with legendary head coach John Cook leaving.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
And that is crazy.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
And I always say it was the best coaching change
I've ever seen in.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Collegiates, like as far as a transition.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Yeah, So John Cook is one of the most legendary
coaches to ever grace the sport.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
And I mean there's a statue of.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Him now outside of Bob Devaney Center, and they named
John Cook Arena like he is that legendary. And when
he stepped down, within thirty minutes, Danny Busboom Kelly, who
was Louisville's head coach and a Nebraska alum run a
national championship under John Cook, was named as head coach,
and then Dan Meski, the assistant at Louisville, was named
(30:03):
head coach at Louisville, and not one player left from
either program. Wow, it was perfect, Like it was seamless,
and it seemed like that was kind of been in
the works for a really long time. I think everybody
knew that DBK would be the successor for Nebraska, and
then Dan Meski was probably or arguably the best assistant
coach in the country. I'm sure he turned down hundreds
(30:26):
of head coaching jobs leading up to taking over to
take over, Yeah, that's great, it was awesome.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Speaking of coaches, you mentioned last year Penn State winning
it All and coach Katie Schumacher Cowley became the first
female head coach to lead a D one volleyball team
to an NCAA title while she was undergoing treatment for
breast cancer. An incredible story. We know a lot of
women's sports don't have nearly enough women in coaching roles,
but volleyball has long been one of the worst offenders,
which is especially wild because it's a sport where we
(30:55):
automatically default to women, particularly an indoor as being the
dominant gender for this important the way when we talk
about it, both in the college game and the pros
is there something about volleyball that has led to this
that defies logic.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
It is pretty bizarre, But I do think that we
are seeing a new wave, Like Mary Wise at Florida
was a big one for that. She just retired and
is now working at ESPN, But she was really one
of the first females to be making huge waves in
the coaching space and doing so. I think we're seeing
more and more of female coaches that are moms and
(31:30):
grandmothers and still managing.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
And now DBK at Nebraska is.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Probably gonna completely change that narrative because I gotta imagine
she's gonna hang a few banners in her tenure at
Nebraska and she's a mom.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
Yeah, and I love to see I feel like.
Speaker 1 (31:46):
That often is the thing that we come back to
is whether or not the job is being made possible
for someone who also has other responsibilities in life, And
hopefully that continues to change and evolve so that there
are more women who feel like they don't have to
make that. You mentioned the SEC tournament, but we've also
got the bracket reveal for the major NCAA women's volleyball tournament.
(32:08):
It's coming up at the end of the month. Can
you explain what seems like a very complicated process for selection?
You don't have to get too nanty gritty, but like,
why isn't it just a very simple process both for
the actual selection committee, and for you when you were
making your faux bracket.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
Oh, they don't even get me started on my faux bracket.
I have to do another one.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
So I just always say to myself, all right, this
is going to be the worst day and night of
my life.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
And I say that every time I do it. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
So the committee's seeds differently, obviously than what the rankings
would be. They come out with a top sixteen reveal
to give an idea as to where their heads are at,
and I think it looked a lot different than a
lot of people were expecting. So when I'm doing my
bracket projection, I'm trying to go by their criteria and.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
That makes it difficult too.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
But they the top sixteen seeds are the most important
part because those are the ones that are going to
host a first and second round regional, and then the
top four seeds would host moving forward after the first
two rounds. Then I think what the difficult part is
of the bracket, and I think it's gonna, hopefully in
the future, just continue moving away from this as the
(33:17):
sport gets more and more popular and gets more and
more investments into it. But they see the first I
want to say thirty two teams, and I should know
this because of my bracket projection.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Yes, it looks like they'll identify the top thirty two
and then they yeah, the top sixteen or in rank
order and a seed grouping.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
Yep, and then it's broken down into eight seeds.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
So now they make it so that one of the
four to eight seeds has to go to one of
the four to one seeds, one of the four to
seven seeds has to go to one of the four
two seeds. So that is to create more parity. Whereas
in the past they had a four hundred mile travel rule,
so you weren't technically getting a true one, two, three,
(33:59):
and four seed in each regional because a lot of
those Northeastern schools.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Had a lot of those.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Mid major or conference champions that are much lower in RPI,
all within four hundred miles, so like Penn State or
pitt was getting like three four seeds in their regional.
So they now changed it that they see through thirty
two and now at least you're going to get a
one and a two seed in each regional. Before that, yeah,
(34:28):
but that's the hardest part. After that, then again it
becomes that travel role and.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Then they also are trying to avoid conference matchups in
the first and second round, which is smart because if
you're you've seen those teams play each other, and if
there's a ton of talent in one conference, you don't
want them all, you know, pouncing each other before they
get to the later rounds.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Exactly before we let you go, I want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
You know, you covered AU volleyball this season, you covered
the inaugural season of LOVE. Now we've got Major League
Volleyball absorbing PVFY. It's just like, how do you see
the pro volleyball landscape? Where's the best talent and what's
the draw or appeal of the different leagues? Like can
they all coexist? It's all very confusing to me. I
can't decide that they're cannibalizing each other or for eventually
(35:11):
one of them is just gonna buy all the other ones.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
Yeah, very confusing topic to talk about. Obviously, we started
with PVF MLV that hadn't started yet, Love League One Volleyball,
and then AU now MLV.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
Like you said, consumed PVF.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
I don't know what the right word is for that, right, absorbed,
absorbed like a twin in the Womb. Yeah, and then AU,
I think you can look at that one a lot different.
I look at it, and I think they do too,
as it's kind of like an All star league. It's
it's yeah, it's kind of like they play in a
different format. There's no coaches, there's team captains, it's only
five weeks long.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
It's a tune up for the best.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Yeah, and I think it's like a like an all
star competition because one player wins, it's not a team
that wins.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
So AU I look.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
At as different, and I think that that is a
different conversation. It's really cool that there's an opportunity like
that for these players to continue playing in the US
in the off season. And it's cool because we get
to show like both leagues and bring them together.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Right.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
So I love the AU and I think that that's awesome,
But I wouldn't consider it the same as what MLV
and LOVE are now competing for, which is to be
the premier professional league in the United States. When you
look at League one versus MLV. Obviously I sidelined for
League one, so I'm a little bit more well versed
in that League one has all the Olympians, and I
(36:36):
would say the most the more talented of the two leagues,
but MLV is more Americanized.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Maybe you can say all the.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
Volleyball that was successful was all overseas, like these players
used to have to go play in Italy and Turkey,
and League One is trying to compete with those leagues
and trying to pull those talent so that the systems
a little different and it doesn't seem as Americanized, but
they have the talent.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
And americanized based on where the players come from, or
like rules or something.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Logos, uniforms like mascots like I think you know you're
looking at MLV and you have like the Indie ignite
and the Atlanta vibe, whereas Love is like love Atlanta,
love whatever, with all the logos like it. The uniforms
look like the ones overseas. Like it's just a little
(37:29):
bit different. But the the thing about it that people
don't understand with Love is that they're trying.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
They're going to get there. It's a very long term process.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
They wanted to keep the teams as blank slates so
that they could bring in gms and owners that can
really own and create those brands based on learning the market,
So I think Love is really playing a long game
in that way, and they have the talent they I
mean they got last year when they started, they called
it the Love six, but they got the best six.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Players from college volleyball, and that's a cool thing.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
What's the drive to go to PVF then? Is it
those who aren't invited or can't make love or is
there a reason why some of the best Why are
most of them choosing Love? In your opinion, I.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Would say there's more opportunities with MLV. Probably there's more teams.
They've been playing longer, so there's gonna be more spots.
I think money is a factor in terms of I
don't know what everybody's getting offered. I'm not on the
inside in that type of way, but I'm sure that
that's a factor. And then it's just opportunity and what
(38:37):
they think is best for them. I think a lot
of players do see it as a cool thing, like, yeah,
there's two leagues that are competing, but it's also really
awesome that there's more opportunities for these women to play
in the United States and not have to go overseas,
and to be able to create families like a bunch
of the Olympians.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
That played for Love.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
And I only know these stories because again I sidelined
for League one. But players Kelsey Robinson Cook and Jordan Poulter,
they're Olympians, they're the best volleyball players, some of the
best in the world, and they've been overseas for the
past ten years and they've said, you know, we haven't been.
Speaker 3 (39:13):
With our families.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
We haven't been you know, celebrating Christmas at home, we
haven't been able to think about having a family. Kelsey
Robinson Cook just announced her pregnancy and like she's still
involved with Love like things that she now has the
opportunity to do and for her family to be at games.
So yeah, it's not ideal that there's two leagues competing,
but it's a positive spin on it is.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
There's a lot of opportunity.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Yeah, and I.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
Don't think it'll go on like this eventually. I don't
think they'll combine. I don't think that will happen, but
eventually there will probably be just one. I think a
lot of pro sports.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
Do that eventually.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
Yeah. Yeah, we had Jordan Poulter on the show and
she talked about just like it was amazing to play
a game and then sleep in her own bed. Yeah,
and that she hasn't hasn't done that. Okay, last question
for I know I already said that, but you're giving
me so much to think about. When we had Jordan
and we also had Rosie Spaulding on and we sort
of were introducing the idea of Love as this new league,
and we were talking to them about what are some
of the services resources that are coming along with creating
(40:12):
this new professional opportunity. When we say professional, that means
getting a salary, but we also then anticipate facilities, resources,
health insurance benefits, things that have been sticking points in
negotiations in more established leagues like the WNBA and WSL,
things like that. In volleyball, does it seem like players
are satisfied with those elements of the pro landscape or
is that some place that either Love or PVF or
(40:35):
somewhere can take a step ahead by getting further and
more involved in terms of the full professional landscape that
they're offering.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Yeah, and I'm not totally well versed on what they're
able to offer in terms of health benefits and things
like that.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
I don't know the ins and outs of that.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
I do know that there's probably more money to be
offered overseas if those players are at that level. Right
Like players like Catherine Plumber are getting offered probably a
lot more money to play overseas. But what love and
what MLV is offering is like, sure, take a pay cut,
you're already established, you're already an Olympian, But like here,
you get to be home and you're selling a different brand.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Yeah, you're selling a different aspect of it.
Speaker 2 (41:14):
And I think the goal is to become a pro
league that can offer a career and that can get
to that standard of offering that amount for those athletes.
But right now, it's like the big seller is being
home and less so the money and the benefits and
all of that. It's like these players didn't have another
(41:35):
option to play here, So theres is like, yeah, some
of the best of the best playing overseas or getting
probably a crap ton of money and a huge deal,
but it's like, are you wanting to come home? Are
you willing to maybe relinquish some of that to be here?
And that's the seller. And I think the hope and
the dream is that they can get to the point
(41:56):
where they could build the league to a point where
you know this is this is it like, this is
where you getting.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
Well the talent is coming here, which is certainly a
good place to start. It is Micaala, I learned so much.
Thank you so much for coming out and talking vibes
with us.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
It was a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (42:10):
You had great questions. That was a fun convo. Thanks
again to Mkala for taking the time.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
Also, if anyone like me is still a little confused
about how exactly rotations work in NCAA Volleyball, will link
to a helpful explainer in the show notes.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
We got to take another break when we come back.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
If it looks like a duck and it shoots like
a duck, it's probably Sabrina. Stick around. Welcome back, Slaces.
We love that you're listening, but we want you to
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good gameplay of the day. Cast your vote for the Marta,
(42:50):
and you don't have to actually vote for Marta the player,
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voting is open till December third check out the show
notes for the link to the ballot and videos of
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(43:11):
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Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
It's real easy. Watch Sabrina Quacking up the Fans at Oregon,
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Escoopole to Missus doubtfire on the Matthew Night Arena, Faithful
on Sunday donning an elaborate disguise to surprise fans at
her alma mater. During halftime of the Oregon Ducks eighty
fifty five win over the Army Black Knights, a dark haired,
(43:56):
bespectacled woman announced as Jennifer scone step to compete in
a free throw contest. She promptly airball to practice attempt,
then sunk ten free throws in a row with picture
perfect form. A totally believable Chad Powers esque disguise, complete
with fake nose and chins, had the entire crowd fooled,
but eventually the New York Liberty Star revealed herself to
(44:19):
a massive cheer, and she earned two thousand dollars for
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Good game, Melissa. You that moment when you realize you
agree with Marjorie Taylor Green but just about like one thing,
just like one little thing, not most things. Good Game
(44:44):
with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find
us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers
are alex Azie Grace, Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones.
Our executive producers are Christina Everett Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan,
and Emily Rutterer. Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Britney Martinez
(45:07):
and Gianna Palmer. Production assistants from Avery LOFTUS and I'm
Your Host Sarah Spain
Welcome to good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're gently
reminding got them FC that this is when they need
to start making plans for a championship parade. We don't
want to jinx y'all, but we also don't want to
repeat of twenty twenty three. It's Tuesday, November eighteenth, and
on today's show will be chatting with women's volleyball reporter
Michela Chester about the biggest storylines of the NCAA season,
whether she's confident enough to pick Nebraska over the field,
(00:23):
and her take on the crowded, complicated pro volleyball landscape,
plus Swedish success making good on a promise and competing
for your own award again. It's all coming up right
after this welcome back slices. Here's what you need to
(00:44):
know today. Let's start with golf. Sweden's Lynn Grant won
the Anica on Sunday, taking the final event of the
LPGA regular season with a three shot victory over Jennifer
cup Chow. It marks the second career LPGA title for Grant,
who's receive the trophy from fellow Swede and tournament host
Anka Sorenstam. Grant also becomes the twenty ninth different player
(01:06):
to win an LPGA event this season. The tour comes
to a close this coming weekend, with the top sixty
players competing at the CME Group Tour Championship for a
total purse of eleven million dollars to the ice and
figure skating American Alissa Liu won the women's title at
Skate America this weekend, continuing a strong trend of results
ahead of the Milan Courtina Winter Olympics in just a
(01:27):
few months now. Quick refresher on Lieu for those of
you who aren't familiar with her story. She first rose
to prominence in twenty nineteen, when, at just thirteen years old,
she won the women's title at US Championships, making her
the youngest ever US women's national champion. She won Nationals
again in twenty twenty, and then went on to make
her Olympic debut in twenty twenty two at age sixteen,
(01:47):
finishing seventh in the individual event. A few months after
the Olympics, Lee retired from skating, saying that she was
satisfied with her career and ready to do other things
like enroll at UCLA. But two years later, in March
of twenty twenty four, where she announced that she was
back on the ice training. She went on to compete
at the twenty twenty five World Championships, winning a surprise
gold medal with a fan favorite performance. Leu's short program
(02:09):
at Skate America and at Worlds is to the song
Promise by Lave and Icelandic Artists, And there was this
really fun moment post World Champs where Leo attended a
Layve show wearing the short program dress and her gold medal.
We'll link to a video of that beautiful Skate America
short program and that moment at Lave's concert in the
show notes, and maybe we'll see another reunion for those
two now that the Promise program has won Leo gold again.
(02:32):
It's been really fun to see her back on the ice.
We're excited to see her keep skating in the lead
up to the Olympics. More winter sports news. The long
track speed skating season got underway over the weekend, with
Salt Lake City, Utah, playing host to the first stop
on the World Cup circuit. Athletes from the Netherlands had
a particularly good showing on the women's side, winning both
five hundred meter races. Both fifteen hundred meter races and
(02:53):
the three thousand meter event. American Mia Manganello won the
mass start. Team Japan won the team pursuit, and the
American trio of Manganelo, Britney Bow and Greena Myers took
third in the team pursuit, smashing the American record in
the process. To Soccer, the nominees for FIFA's second annual
Marta Award have been unveiled, and for a second straight year,
(03:14):
the nominees include the award's namesake, Orlando Pride forward Marta.
The Marta honors the most spectacular goal in women's soccer
scored for either club or country, and the qualifying period
runs from August to August of each year. Fittingly, Marta
won the inaugural Marta in twenty twenty four thanks to
an incredible long range goal she scored during a friendly
between Brazil and Jamaica back in June twenty twenty four.
(03:36):
This year, she's nominated for a goal she scored with
the Orlando Pride, specifically her game winner against Kansas City
during the twenty twenty four NWSL semifinals. You must remember it.
She sent four current players to the pitch trying to
stop her navigating through their bodies before tapping the ball
in net. We'll link to it in the show notes
because frankly, you can't watch it too many times. There
(03:58):
are eleven nominees for the Marte in total, including Ali
Sentinor's goal for the US national team against Columbia in February,
she believes cup and Jordan Bugs goal for the Seattle
Rain in a two one win over the North Carolina
Courage in March. You know what, We'll link to all
eleven goals in the show notes. You could see if
one beats Marts's best. Fans can vote on a favorite
between now and December. Third. Finally, to surfing, Carisa Moore
(04:20):
has announced that she's returning to competition. Moore, a five
time world champ who also won the first ever Olympic
gold medal awarded in surfing back in twenty twenty one,
stepped away from the sport after the twenty twenty four Olympics,
in which she competed while two months pregnant. She gave
birth in February, and in a press release announcing her return,
she said, quote, I want my journey to show my
(04:41):
daughter and hopefully other women that we can do anything.
We can keep chasing our dreams even as life evolves.
End quote. Moore is expected to compete in two qualifying
Series events later this year and has been given a
full season Championship Tour wildcard for the twenty twenty sixth season,
which begins in April in Australia. We got to take
(05:01):
a quick break. When we come back, we talk all
things college bebes with mckellichester joining us now. She's a
freelance sports reporter, host and digital reporter the NCAA digital
host and reporter for college volleyball, softball and baseball, and
a digital host for Big Ten Network College Baseball and Softball.
(05:22):
She worked as a sideline reporter for the inaugural season
of Love Pro Volleyball and ESPN and the twenty twenty
four NCAA Volleyball Regionals on ESPN. A Georgia grad, where
she was captain of the club lacrosse team. Based on
her insta, she's definitely in her traveling to a friend's
destination wedding every other weekend. Face of adulthood. It's Micklichester.
I'm mcklla Hi.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
I don't think anybody has nailed my life that perfectly.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
That was crazy.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
You're going to some good places for those weddings, though
they look glamorous. I am. You know.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's like I should be complaining, But at least it
keeps you traveling and it keeps you going to wonderful places.
It's definitely busy with my schedule, but you got to
try and balance work in life, and I'm just in
that phase now, so doing the best we can.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I feel like at a certain age, most of your
money just goes to paying for other people's weddings.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Oh, it's gone, all of it's gone.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
It's in an airline pocket somewhere.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Before we get into some vibestock, I do want to
talk about how you got into sports reporting and when
you first started dreaming about working in sports. How far
back do we have to go?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Oh, you got to go pretty much my entire life.
I don't remember a time in my life where this
wasn't what I was dreaming of. My dad was very
hands on when we were younger on picking what we
wanted our career paths to be. He always said, in
order to be successful, you've got to pick something that
you're naturally talented at. So when we were younger, he
was like, what are you good at? And for me,
it was always storytelling. I wanted to tell stories when
(06:41):
I was really little. I wanted to be an author,
and I was just always loved talking to people.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I could talk to a brick wall. So he was like,
all right, there's your talent.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
What do you like?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
And I loved sports.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I played every sport under the sun when I was younger,
from dancing all the way to lacrosse, like you mentioned,
which is what I took the longest into my life.
So that was what I wanted to do. And then
my dad had three girls. He was the biggest sports guy.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I knew.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
He had me sitting down every weekend watching the Giants
as we grew up in New York.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
So I remember sitting on the ottoman one day.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I don't remember how young I was, but it was
definitely pre middle school and saying that's it. And I
never changed my mind or wavered in that path for
as long as I can remember. And here I am,
it's pretty surreal to be actually doing what you dreamed of.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
That's amazing. Yeah, I remember I took a more circuitous path.
But I remember, like when people always ask me, when
did you realize or like think that you made it.
The one for me was when I got to put
on my tax forms that my job was sports reporter
because like every other year, I was working at it,
but technically I had to write like waitress, hostess as
(07:50):
you being a gig yeah, even like you know, production assistant.
And when I finally just got to put like reporter
as my occupation, I was like, I made it, even
though I made no money and no one knew who
I was. I was like, it's got to be pretty good. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I still have moments.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
I think there's times where I'm always like, oh, like
when I get to where I want to be one
day and I've just had to bring myself down to earth.
There's been a few times where friends or family have
said to me, why do you keep saying that, Like
you're doing it, and it's hard to process that you're
doing it because you're always just thinking about the next school.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Well, you didn't ask me for advice, but since you're
a youngster, I'll give you my best advice for this business,
which is you have to find the right balance of
ambition and satisfaction. It's because there's always going to be
someone to compare yourself to. There's always gonna be another
better job or opportunity or event to cover. And if
you're never satisfied, then you're gonna miss all the years
where you're actually doing something completely amazing that so many
(08:39):
other people would dream about. So don't give up on
the ambition, but make sure you're make sure you're still.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Being where your feet are and being proud of yourself
where you are. Yeah, I need to take that advice.
I definitely have heard it, but it's one I need
to take to heart.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
So thank you. Well, there aren't a lot of folks
on the college volleyball beat, so I'm happy to get
your perspective. What's the toughest part of trying to keep
pep up with all the teams and storylines.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Yeah, so volleyball, I would agree, not a ton of
people on the beach. And when I first started doing
it about six years ago, I think there was actually nobody,
especially on the digital space, talking about it. It has
grown so much in the past six years in terms
of how many people are now.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Talking about it.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So it feels crazy saying not a ton to me,
it feels like there's a lot now, but that's just
because when we started there was nobody. But I will
say now that I've been in it for so long,
volleyball is definitely the easiest sport for me to cover,
just because I feel like I'm so immersed in it.
And we go on a road trip with the NCAA,
so you're with a new team and meeting all these
players and you're just kind of forced to be watching
(09:41):
games a week after week.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
I would say in the beginning.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The hardest part was actually one watching all of these games,
and I think, you know, when you're doing your rankings
and your rotation of the week and trying to keep
up with your life at the same time, then being like, no,
I actually have to watch them to know it, like
you can't just look at school is because it really.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Is like volleyball, especially because the box score is just
really not going to tell you a story the same
way some other sports minds.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
It doesn't.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
And that is the exact point I was getting at,
is a box score does not tell the story, and
you really do have to watch and understand the game
to be able to report on.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
It and have an opinion.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Which so even when I am doing life things and
going to weddings.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Like you mentioned in your open, I really.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Do have to make a point too, on Sunday nights
or on Monday mornings, make sure I am watching back
the games, because it doesn't do it justice by any
means to not do so.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Thank goodness for DVRs and digital streaming and all the
ways we can now go back and watch things when
it's a little more convenient for us. I wouldn't survive
without it me neither. We've been talking a bit about
Nebraska on our show. Nebraska the only team left in
Division one volleyball with a perfect record, an unbelievable streak
without dropping a set as well. So they're doing this
in style. What makes them so good?
Speaker 3 (10:56):
It's everything. And when you look I remember going to the.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
ABCA First Served Showcase and it was the first couple
of games at the season.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I think that.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
There are teams that are just now at this point
in the season reaching the level of play that Nebraska
was playing at at that first game. And when you
think about this Nebraska core, which I like to say
is Berg and Riley their setter, Andy Jackson their middle,
and Harper Murray their star outside.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
They started as freshmen together.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
To think that as freshmen they led their team to
the national championship with no experience, and to be bringing
that entire core back into their junior season, it's just
not even fair.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Top to bottom.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
This team is leaps and bounds ahead of anyone in
the country. They overpower you in every part of the game,
and it doesn't matter how good you are, Like every
part of their game is just that much better. They're passing,
and passing doesn't get enough credit, and that's it's sad
to say that, Like the ABCA National Player of the
Year watch list doesn't have any liberos on it, because
(11:58):
it's just so easy to look at those flashy numbers
and think that these outsides and middles are putting up
numbers that impact.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
The game so much.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
But Nebraska wouldn't be what it is without its passing.
And I mean, they're just giving Berg and Riley dimes.
And yes, she's a fantastic setter, but she's able to
run that offense so well because of how.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Good their backcourt is.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
They just give her perfect passes right over the head,
right on the money, and she's able to just dish
it out to her weapons and then you have the
most talented players in the country. So how are you
not just bouncing balls and hammering balls into the floor.
They're hard to stop the best talent, I mean top
to bottom. Their setters one of the best in the country.
Their outsides are the best in the country, and their
(12:40):
middles are probably leaps and bounds the best in the country.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I think you can no fun intended.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Yeah, literally, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I mean, I'm describing it, but it's If they don't
win the national championship, it would be because they didn't
play their best game.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Yeah, well, we'll get to that and who might challenge them?
But for those who are not VIBS specialists, tell us
about a libero. Help us understand how they maybe don't
get enough love, but they are such a vital part
of successful twos. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So, if you're watching volleyball, the libero is in a
different colored jersey, and that's because they have unlimited substitutions.
There's two middle blockers that are technically in the starting lineup,
but a middle doesn't go all the way around, meaning.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Doesn't play six rotations.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
So they'll play three rotations in the front row, and
then when they.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Rotate to the back row.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Typically a team is putting in and out the Libero,
but they're just staying on the court because they have
unlimited substitutions. So Libero only plays in the back row.
They cannot hit past the ten foot line. That would
be an illegal attack. And that's why they have that
different jersey on as well. And they're just ballers. They
keep everything off the floor. They're so fun to watch.
(13:50):
I feel like they're getting a lot more fans nowadays
than they used to. Their defense is crazy. And then
like I said, passing, which when I say passing that
me serve receive.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
So the other team is.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Trying to put a really tough serve over the net
to get your team out of system. Out of system
meaning it is a really hard ball to set. It's
not a perfect pass to the setter and then to
an outside, right side or middle middle blocker, so out
of system meaning either your outside has to pass it.
It's a ball off the net, pulling the setter off
the net, making it a tougher ball to set to
(14:24):
the outside or right side. So passing means serve receive.
You are passing the serve keeping your team in system
to run a smooth offense.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
That that's really good sense, Yeah, it was really good.
I mean, the libero's not going to get every ball
because sometimes the serve is just going to be that
crazy about Like a lot of times you're hoping that
your libero is patrolling that back line, setting up your
setter so that the setter has an easy job of
them hoping to set up for a kill. Correct, And
liberos haven't always been around as far as like them.
(14:55):
The rules changing in terms of substitutions and stuff, right,
that's relatively new.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, I wouldn't say relatively. I would have to go
back pretty far to get to that, probably past the
rally scoring error which started long before my time of.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, I just feel like I've talked to older volleyball
players and been guessing their position and guessing like libero
based on height or lack thereof, and them saying like
that wasn't an official thing when I played, So I
feel like maybe it was a time within reason when
it or maybe they maybe they didn't play somewhere that
you know, was as elevated in terms of strategy.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
But and yeah, that's very specialist too, that better subbed
in just to play defense and when I say passing.
Oftentimes the other team is going to target other back
row players. They're not going to serve to your liberro
because that's your best passer. But the libero's job is
to play defense and to get the ball to the center.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Yeah. Okay, so you already told us a couple But
if a listener wants to tune in and check out
a Huskers game, what should they pay special attention to.
Whether it's a player who's really great at something, whether
that's a style that makes I'm better than everybody.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Yeah, if I was watching a Nebraska game for the
first time, I would say, you have to watch Harper Murray,
who is their top outside hitter. And then Andy Jackson.
Andy Jackson is a middle blocker. She is the best
middle blocker in the country. I don't think anybody's going
to come after me.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
For that take. It's not that hot of a take.
She's that good.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I love she is one of the best offensive middle blockers.
So if you're watching for the first time, look out
for what is called a slide attack. So she's in
the middle, but a slide attack is when she will
run behind the setter and then attack from the right side.
It's very deceptive because you can't see it happening from
the other side of the net because she's running behind
(16:40):
the setter, and then all of a sudden, that setter
can look like she's going to push the ball to
the outside, meaning the left pin, but she's going to
push it behind her to the right side with Andy.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Jackson running behind. She is the best to do it
in college volleyball. So watch out for that slide attack.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
You'll see her running behind Berg and Riley, and then
watch out for Harper Murray.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
The most fun thing about watching her play is that.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
If she gets super competitive, you could just see her
flip a switch mid match. We saw it with UCLA
this past weekend. UCLA was the first team to take
a set from Nebraska in over forty sets in September,
which is stupid that we even have to keep track
of that because that shouldn't even be a thing. But
they're that dominant. But I think once you saw Harper
(17:23):
get a little mad that UCLA was even, you know,
on a level playing field with them at one point
in the match, she just turned it on and then
it's dominants the switch.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Well, Harper Murray is someone we've talked about on this show.
There was a documentary on ESPN and E six he
called No Place Like Nebraska that talked about her sort
of journey with mental health, some of the trip ups
that she's had while trying to be at the top
of the game and deal with, you know, some off
the court incidents. What have you heard about her this season,
settling in sort of finding her way on and off
(17:57):
the court.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah. I did a sit down with Harper Murray at
the beginning of the season and we really dove into
all of that and her mental health and how much
she's grown as a person. And she's somebody who has
become really honest with everything that she's gone through and
really sharing with the world what she went through and
how she overcame it. And I think that that's really special,
(18:20):
especially in women's sports, because it was hard what she
went through. And I think women's sports are starting to
become mainstream in the way that now these athletes are
having to deal with things and deal with the public
in ways that it wasn't like in the past. And
we have people that are talking about you now constantly
(18:41):
on social media, and as we know, social media can
be a really dark place, and we go through it
as public faces and females in the space, and I
can't even imagine how much amplified that is as an
athlete and somebody like Harper Murray who deals with it
day in and day out. So yeah, she really opened
up to me, and she's opened up to her following
(19:02):
and just the Nebraska fans in general about what she's
gone through, how proud of herself she is for the
woman she's grown into.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
She talks about her why.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
In the beginning, a lot of it was her parents
and her dad who she lost when she was younger,
and then she said she lost it for a little bit,
and then the last two years she regained that why,
which she shared this with me, and she said it
was for her players. So she always wrote Lexi Rodriguez,
who was star Lebarro that has since graduated and is now.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
A pro player, with love.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
But she would write Lexi's name on her finger before
every game to remind herself that she wants to be
better for her teammates that were able to give her
love and were able to, you know, just accept her
and help her through that time. Players like Merret Beeson,
who's now playing professional as well. So she gives her
credit back to her teammates and credits that they were
able to one get her through a harder time in
(19:55):
her life and make her a better person an athlete
because of it. And I just think now we're seeing
her dominie. She's really settled into who she is as
a person. And she said to me that she's not
really getting better as a volleyball player, but she's just
become such a better teammate and so much more confident,
and you see it on the court, and that's why
we're seeing her dominate.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
It's amazing. And I think finally in the last couple
of years, we've started to talk about how you bring
all of that other stuff onto the court and it
can make you a much better player if everything else
is more resolved on the outside. Where can we find
that sit down?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Easiest way is probably like I collab on most things
on Instagram, so it's like less to scroll through of
all the stuff, but it's all NCAA volleyball platforms and
probably on YouTube as well.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Cool. So we're talking about Nebraska's undefeated starts since nineteen
eighty one, only four women's college volleyball programs finished the
regular season undefeated and went on to win the national championship.
Nebraska's one of them back in two thousand. Yes, do
you see this year's Nebraska team becoming the fifth?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
So I don't want to say yes, because I do
think we've gotten to a place with volleyball where it's
not so obvious anymore. Like, yes, this Nebraska team feels
the best in the country, and I've been very straightforward
about that and not afraid to say it by any means.
But I always think that anything can happen in the tournament.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Do I think that they could do it?
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Absolutely, And looking at the rest of their Big Ten
schedule and just the fact that I think the Big
Ten not that they've fallen off, but I think is
not as strong as it has been in the past.
Penn State having a little bit of an off year,
which is typically one of Nebraska's biggest rivals and challengers,
and we saw them win the championship last year and
(21:40):
knock off Nebraska in the national semifinals. So with them
having an off year, Wisconsin, they're definitely peaking now that
their setter is back, but they're typically one to challenge
Nebraska in the regular season, and they've been struggling a
little bit with injuries through the mid part of the season.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
So I do think that they can go and they should.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
I say should because if they are having a good game,
I don't think anyone in the country can beat them.
I think it can happen. As far as who can
challenge them, I think it's Kentucky and maybe Texas.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Yeah. There's a difference between being the favorite and picking
the favorite over the field, right, you have to be
so far and away above to pick one team over
every other competitor. Ye, but they are the favorite to win. Oh,
you mentioned Kentucky. They're sitting in second right now at
twenty and two, Pittsburgh third at twenty one and three. Yeah,
Texas and fourth at nineteen and two, and Stanford rounding
out the top five. They're in fifth at twenty two
and three. So Kentucky is the one that you think
(22:35):
could present the biggest challenge to Nebraska.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
I do, and that is because I think to win
a national championship you have to have production on the outside,
meaning two outside hitters which play the left pins and
usually go all the way around, and Kentucky has the
two best outside hitter duos in the country with Eva
Hudson and Brooklyn Delay. It's hard to stop them because,
(22:57):
similar to Nebraska, they do have so much weapons, and
Kentucky has great defense, has a great liberro in Molly Tuzzo.
I don't think they're as good in the middle as
Nebraska is, but those outside hitters are just lethal. Eva
Hudson and Brooklyn Delay are extremely good, two of the
best players in the country, so you can't just stop
(23:21):
one of them. Whereas Pittsburgh you have Olivia Babcock. Yes,
she's I think gonna win records left, yeah, and I
think she's gonna win National Player of the Year again understandably. So,
I mean, she puts up forty five kills against a
top ten team in Louisville and Arrival and it's like, yeah,
they're trying to stop her.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
It doesn't work, it doesn't matter. She goes up and
over the block. But to win a national.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Championship, I think you got to have more than that,
And what pitt lacks is that production on the outside.
Olivia is a right side hitter, so outside meaning left
side pins so Eva Hudson, Brooklyn Delay, Kentucky has that,
and that's why I think they are the team that's
going to be most able to challenge Nebraska, and they
have already this season. We saw it with a five
set battle earlier in the year. Kentucky went up two
(24:05):
sets to none and was pretty dominant, and then Nebraska
came back and reverse swept. So that was already I
would love to see it again.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
That would be a pretty cool rematch.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
You talk about the left pins and how helpful it
is for a team to have successful outside hitters players
on the left pins. Is that because the position is difficult,
particularly for right handed players to be hitting from. Why
is that a tougher place to find talent.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
I wouldn't say it's a tougher place to find talent.
I just think that the outside position is so important
because one, they typically go all the way around, so
they're typically playing six rotations. If they are good enough defenders,
they will go all the way around. So you're impacting
the game in so many different ways. You're having to
play defense, and teams are going to target those outside
(24:54):
hitters when they're in the back court because they know
they're trying to keep it away from the barrow and
the defense a specialist, right.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
So you have to be also a talented passer and
serve receiver.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Yeah, you've got to be a talented passer, receiver and defender.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Two. I mentioned out of system play earlier.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Most of the game is played out of system, and
you know it's not going to be perfect every time,
but most of the out system sets, So if a
libero is having to touch the second ball and set
it is going to go to the outside. They always
say that the outside hitter has to take out the
garbage they're getting, you know, just way more set.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
They're getting the trash stuff that isn't perfect exactly.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
And I think with really good teams you see like
we see Kentucky, they have really Malli Tuzzo's their libero.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
She's a really good out of system setter.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
So when she's getting the second ball, teams might be like, oh,
it's going to the outside obviously because the setter is
not setting it. But Molly Tuzzo is really good at
She'll set a back row attack shell.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
She's just a really.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Good out of system setter. So that's like another dimension
a team can can reach. But most of the time,
the trash is going to the outside, So the outside
just has to be really productive in order for a
team to be next level good.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Yeah, makes sense. Well, Nebraska's stealing a lot of headlines
because of that undefeated record. But are there some other
good storylines or teams we should know about across college
vibes this season? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I think you really, I really love the storyline of one.
The SEC Tournament is back for the first time, and
I don't even know how many years all of the
Power four conferences haven't done a conference tournament. They just
take the regular conference winner and that's the team that
gets to the auto bid for the tournament. Well, the
SEC Tournament is bringing back the tournament for the first
(26:40):
time out of all the Power four conferences.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
It starts this Friday.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
So Texas, let's see, Kentucky is the one seed, Texas
A and M has the two seed, and Texas has
the three seed, which is crazy because Texas is ranked
above Texas A and M.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
But Texas A and M has the head.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
To head win. Yeah. Texas started out on a nice
defeated streak as well, but it was the back to
back losses that kind of sent them down the rankings
a bit.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Yeah, and they lost to Kentucky and Texas A and
M in the SEC, so understandably those are gonna get
the one in two seeds just because it's based on
head to head in the SEC and not overall resume
for the season. So yeah, I think watching those three
teams are three teams that are just so good. Texas
getting possibly another go at Kentucky who swept them. The
(27:28):
SEC Tournament's gonna be fun and it's like so many games.
It's gonna be interesting because the coaches were fighting for it,
but it will be it is hard. They're gonna have
to the top seeds potentially play three games in three days.
That's a lot of swings that some of the top
players in the country are taking in November right before
the tournament. Tory Stafford another player I think that you
(27:49):
have to watch at Texas. She's unbelievable. I mentioned Olivia Babcock,
Harper Murray, Tory Stafford is right up there with them.
So that's one storyline. SEC Tournament's gonna be fun. It's
gonna be SEC Network all week. I will be there
sideline reporting, So I'm excited for that one. And then
after that, I think the ACC is pretty messy right now. Pitt, Louisville,
(28:12):
and Stanford just three teams that I was doing my
Power ten rankings this morning and I was like, I
have no idea what to do here, and.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Throw SMU in the mix.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I mean, they can all beat each other on any
given night, and these are all teams that can compete
for a national title. I mean it is after Nebraska,
it is anybody wide open. It is anybody's game in
the top ten, and that's really cool. I think the
tournament's going to be super fun because of that.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
We'll get to the tournament bracket in a second. But
you know you mentioned earlier in Nebraska almost feeling like
unfair returning all this talent. We've seen the college basketball
world change a lot as the results of the transfer portal.
Is college volleyball seeing a lot of big name transfers
as well in the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
Absolutely, and that has changed the game a ton Tory
Stafford was the second biggest transfer last year. She was
at Pitt with Olivia Babco, so they were one of
the most dangerous duos.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
She transferred to Texas.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Texas also brought in Ramsey Gary, one of the best
liberos in the country, and then Kennedy Martin was at Florida,
one of the best right sides in the country. She
went to Penn State. The movement has been crazy. When
you bring up Nebraska.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
They didn't have any anybody leave.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
This past year with legendary head coach John Cook leaving.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
And that is crazy.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
And I always say it was the best coaching change
I've ever seen in.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Collegiates, like as far as a transition.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Yeah, So John Cook is one of the most legendary
coaches to ever grace the sport.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
And I mean there's a statue of.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Him now outside of Bob Devaney Center, and they named
John Cook Arena like he is that legendary. And when
he stepped down, within thirty minutes, Danny Busboom Kelly, who
was Louisville's head coach and a Nebraska alum run a
national championship under John Cook, was named as head coach,
and then Dan Meski, the assistant at Louisville, was named
(30:03):
head coach at Louisville, and not one player left from
either program. Wow, it was perfect, Like it was seamless,
and it seemed like that was kind of been in
the works for a really long time. I think everybody
knew that DBK would be the successor for Nebraska, and
then Dan Meski was probably or arguably the best assistant
coach in the country. I'm sure he turned down hundreds
(30:26):
of head coaching jobs leading up to taking over to
take over, Yeah, that's great, it was awesome.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Speaking of coaches, you mentioned last year Penn State winning
it All and coach Katie Schumacher Cowley became the first
female head coach to lead a D one volleyball team
to an NCAA title while she was undergoing treatment for
breast cancer. An incredible story. We know a lot of
women's sports don't have nearly enough women in coaching roles,
but volleyball has long been one of the worst offenders,
which is especially wild because it's a sport where we
(30:55):
automatically default to women, particularly an indoor as being the
dominant gender for this important the way when we talk
about it, both in the college game and the pros
is there something about volleyball that has led to this
that defies logic.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
It is pretty bizarre, But I do think that we
are seeing a new wave, Like Mary Wise at Florida
was a big one for that. She just retired and
is now working at ESPN, But she was really one
of the first females to be making huge waves in
the coaching space and doing so. I think we're seeing
more and more of female coaches that are moms and
(31:30):
grandmothers and still managing.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
And now DBK at Nebraska is.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Probably gonna completely change that narrative because I gotta imagine
she's gonna hang a few banners in her tenure at
Nebraska and she's a mom.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
Yeah, and I love to see I feel like.
Speaker 1 (31:46):
That often is the thing that we come back to
is whether or not the job is being made possible
for someone who also has other responsibilities in life, And
hopefully that continues to change and evolve so that there
are more women who feel like they don't have to
make that. You mentioned the SEC tournament, but we've also
got the bracket reveal for the major NCAA women's volleyball tournament.
(32:08):
It's coming up at the end of the month. Can
you explain what seems like a very complicated process for selection?
You don't have to get too nanty gritty, but like,
why isn't it just a very simple process both for
the actual selection committee, and for you when you were
making your faux bracket.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
Oh, they don't even get me started on my faux bracket.
I have to do another one.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
So I just always say to myself, all right, this
is going to be the worst day and night of
my life.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
And I say that every time I do it. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
So the committee's seeds differently, obviously than what the rankings
would be. They come out with a top sixteen reveal
to give an idea as to where their heads are at,
and I think it looked a lot different than a
lot of people were expecting. So when I'm doing my
bracket projection, I'm trying to go by their criteria and.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
That makes it difficult too.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
But they the top sixteen seeds are the most important
part because those are the ones that are going to
host a first and second round regional, and then the
top four seeds would host moving forward after the first
two rounds. Then I think what the difficult part is
of the bracket, and I think it's gonna, hopefully in
the future, just continue moving away from this as the
(33:17):
sport gets more and more popular and gets more and
more investments into it. But they see the first I
want to say thirty two teams, and I should know
this because of my bracket projection.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Yes, it looks like they'll identify the top thirty two
and then they yeah, the top sixteen or in rank
order and a seed grouping.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
Yep, and then it's broken down into eight seeds.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
So now they make it so that one of the
four to eight seeds has to go to one of
the four to one seeds, one of the four to
seven seeds has to go to one of the four
two seeds. So that is to create more parity. Whereas
in the past they had a four hundred mile travel rule,
so you weren't technically getting a true one, two, three,
(33:59):
and four seed in each regional because a lot of
those Northeastern schools.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Had a lot of those.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Mid major or conference champions that are much lower in RPI,
all within four hundred miles, so like Penn State or
pitt was getting like three four seeds in their regional.
So they now changed it that they see through thirty
two and now at least you're going to get a
one and a two seed in each regional. Before that, yeah,
(34:28):
but that's the hardest part. After that, then again it
becomes that travel role and.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Then they also are trying to avoid conference matchups in
the first and second round, which is smart because if
you're you've seen those teams play each other, and if
there's a ton of talent in one conference, you don't
want them all, you know, pouncing each other before they
get to the later rounds.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Exactly before we let you go, I want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
You know, you covered AU volleyball this season, you covered
the inaugural season of LOVE. Now we've got Major League
Volleyball absorbing PVFY. It's just like, how do you see
the pro volleyball landscape? Where's the best talent and what's
the draw or appeal of the different leagues? Like can
they all coexist? It's all very confusing to me. I
can't decide that they're cannibalizing each other or for eventually
(35:11):
one of them is just gonna buy all the other ones.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
Yeah, very confusing topic to talk about. Obviously, we started
with PVF MLV that hadn't started yet, Love League One Volleyball,
and then AU now MLV.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
Like you said, consumed PVF.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
I don't know what the right word is for that, right, absorbed,
absorbed like a twin in the Womb. Yeah, and then AU,
I think you can look at that one a lot different.
I look at it, and I think they do too,
as it's kind of like an All star league. It's
it's yeah, it's kind of like they play in a
different format. There's no coaches, there's team captains, it's only
five weeks long.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
It's a tune up for the best.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Yeah, and I think it's like a like an all
star competition because one player wins, it's not a team
that wins.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
So AU I look.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
At as different, and I think that that is a
different conversation. It's really cool that there's an opportunity like
that for these players to continue playing in the US
in the off season. And it's cool because we get
to show like both leagues and bring them together.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Right.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
So I love the AU and I think that that's awesome,
But I wouldn't consider it the same as what MLV
and LOVE are now competing for, which is to be
the premier professional league in the United States. When you
look at League one versus MLV. Obviously I sidelined for
League one, so I'm a little bit more well versed
in that League one has all the Olympians, and I
(36:36):
would say the most the more talented of the two leagues,
but MLV is more Americanized.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Maybe you can say all the.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
Volleyball that was successful was all overseas, like these players
used to have to go play in Italy and Turkey,
and League One is trying to compete with those leagues
and trying to pull those talent so that the systems
a little different and it doesn't seem as Americanized, but
they have the talent.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
And americanized based on where the players come from, or
like rules or something.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Logos, uniforms like mascots like I think you know you're
looking at MLV and you have like the Indie ignite
and the Atlanta vibe, whereas Love is like love Atlanta,
love whatever, with all the logos like it. The uniforms
look like the ones overseas. Like it's just a little
(37:29):
bit different. But the the thing about it that people
don't understand with Love is that they're trying.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
They're going to get there. It's a very long term process.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
They wanted to keep the teams as blank slates so
that they could bring in gms and owners that can
really own and create those brands based on learning the market,
So I think Love is really playing a long game
in that way, and they have the talent they I
mean they got last year when they started, they called
it the Love six, but they got the best six.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Players from college volleyball, and that's a cool thing.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
What's the drive to go to PVF then? Is it
those who aren't invited or can't make love or is
there a reason why some of the best Why are
most of them choosing Love? In your opinion, I.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Would say there's more opportunities with MLV. Probably there's more teams.
They've been playing longer, so there's gonna be more spots.
I think money is a factor in terms of I
don't know what everybody's getting offered. I'm not on the
inside in that type of way, but I'm sure that
that's a factor. And then it's just opportunity and what
(38:37):
they think is best for them. I think a lot
of players do see it as a cool thing, like, yeah,
there's two leagues that are competing, but it's also really
awesome that there's more opportunities for these women to play
in the United States and not have to go overseas,
and to be able to create families like a bunch
of the Olympians.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
That played for Love.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
And I only know these stories because again I sidelined
for League one. But players Kelsey Robinson Cook and Jordan Poulter,
they're Olympians, they're the best volleyball players, some of the
best in the world, and they've been overseas for the
past ten years and they've said, you know, we haven't been.
Speaker 3 (39:13):
With our families.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
We haven't been you know, celebrating Christmas at home, we
haven't been able to think about having a family. Kelsey
Robinson Cook just announced her pregnancy and like she's still
involved with Love like things that she now has the
opportunity to do and for her family to be at games.
So yeah, it's not ideal that there's two leagues competing,
but it's a positive spin on it is.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
There's a lot of opportunity.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Yeah, and I.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
Don't think it'll go on like this eventually. I don't
think they'll combine. I don't think that will happen, but
eventually there will probably be just one. I think a
lot of pro sports.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
Do that eventually.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
Yeah. Yeah, we had Jordan Poulter on the show and
she talked about just like it was amazing to play
a game and then sleep in her own bed. Yeah,
and that she hasn't hasn't done that. Okay, last question
for I know I already said that, but you're giving
me so much to think about. When we had Jordan
and we also had Rosie Spaulding on and we sort
of were introducing the idea of Love as this new league,
and we were talking to them about what are some
of the services resources that are coming along with creating
(40:12):
this new professional opportunity. When we say professional, that means
getting a salary, but we also then anticipate facilities, resources,
health insurance benefits, things that have been sticking points in
negotiations in more established leagues like the WNBA and WSL,
things like that. In volleyball, does it seem like players
are satisfied with those elements of the pro landscape or
is that some place that either Love or PVF or
(40:35):
somewhere can take a step ahead by getting further and
more involved in terms of the full professional landscape that
they're offering.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Yeah, and I'm not totally well versed on what they're
able to offer in terms of health benefits and things
like that.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
I don't know the ins and outs of that.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
I do know that there's probably more money to be
offered overseas if those players are at that level. Right
Like players like Catherine Plumber are getting offered probably a
lot more money to play overseas. But what love and
what MLV is offering is like, sure, take a pay cut,
you're already established, you're already an Olympian, But like here,
you get to be home and you're selling a different brand.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Yeah, you're selling a different aspect of it.
Speaker 2 (41:14):
And I think the goal is to become a pro
league that can offer a career and that can get
to that standard of offering that amount for those athletes.
But right now, it's like the big seller is being
home and less so the money and the benefits and
all of that. It's like these players didn't have another
(41:35):
option to play here, So theres is like, yeah, some
of the best of the best playing overseas or getting
probably a crap ton of money and a huge deal,
but it's like, are you wanting to come home? Are
you willing to maybe relinquish some of that to be here?
And that's the seller. And I think the hope and
the dream is that they can get to the point
(41:56):
where they could build the league to a point where
you know this is this is it like, this is
where you getting.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
Well the talent is coming here, which is certainly a
good place to start. It is Micaala, I learned so much.
Thank you so much for coming out and talking vibes
with us.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
It was a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (42:10):
You had great questions. That was a fun convo. Thanks
again to Mkala for taking the time.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
Also, if anyone like me is still a little confused
about how exactly rotations work in NCAA Volleyball, will link
to a helpful explainer in the show notes.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
We got to take another break when we come back.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
If it looks like a duck and it shoots like
a duck, it's probably Sabrina. Stick around. Welcome back, Slaces.
We love that you're listening, but we want you to
get in the game every day too. So here's our
good gameplay of the day. Cast your vote for the Marta,
(42:50):
and you don't have to actually vote for Marta the player,
but do vote for the Marta the award. Fan input
has weighted at fifty percent of the overall score and
voting is open till December third check out the show
notes for the link to the ballot and videos of
all eleven nominees. Oh and don't forget. We're still soliciting
your favorite annual Thanksgiving traditions, whether they're sweet or silly
(43:11):
or quirky. And we want your holiday hot takes. So
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Hit us up on email, good game at Wondermedia network
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Speaker 3 (43:31):
Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
It's real easy. Watch Sabrina Quacking up the Fans at Oregon,
rating ten out of ten. Fake chins review Sabrini and
Escoopole to Missus doubtfire on the Matthew Night Arena, Faithful
on Sunday donning an elaborate disguise to surprise fans at
her alma mater. During halftime of the Oregon Ducks eighty
fifty five win over the Army Black Knights, a dark haired,
(43:56):
bespectacled woman announced as Jennifer scone step to compete in
a free throw contest. She promptly airball to practice attempt,
then sunk ten free throws in a row with picture
perfect form. A totally believable Chad Powers esque disguise, complete
with fake nose and chins, had the entire crowd fooled,
but eventually the New York Liberty Star revealed herself to
(44:19):
a massive cheer, and she earned two thousand dollars for
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and review. Thanks for listening, See you tomorrow. Good game, Mikella,
Good game, Melissa. You that moment when you realize you
agree with Marjorie Taylor Green but just about like one thing,
just like one little thing, not most things. Good Game
(44:44):
with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find
us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers
are alex Azie Grace, Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones.
Our executive producers are Christina Everett Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan,
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(45:07):
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