March 17, 2025 • 34 mins
After a brief recap of week 10, LOVB Salt Lake youngsters Sophie Fischer and Skylar Fields join the show. They talk about their experiences so far with LOVB, including the teammates who’ve been most helpful with the transition to professional volleyball for Sophie and to opposite hitter for Skylar. They also discuss what it’s like playing for Tama Miyashiro and Bruno Chateau, LOVB Salt Lake’s coaches, and interacting with the team’s fans. The two roommates also open up about their off-the-court lives, including why they’re no longer allowed to go shopping together and who on the team is the best cook.
Follow Skylar on Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
Follow Sophie on Instagram.
Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez
Serving Pancakes 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
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
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with Adidas Today. Hi, I'm Tiffany Oshinsky and this is
(00:42):
serving pancakes with League one Volleyball. The inaugural Love season
is finally here. Each episode will be going over the
matches from the week to keep you up to date
on everything League one Volleyball. Then stick around after the
analysis for interviews with some amazing people in and around
the story. Today's episode features Love Salt Lake, Sophie Fisher,
(01:03):
and Skyler Fields. But let's first recap what all went
down in Week ten. Love Madison continued their hot streak,
winning their fourth match in a row over Love Omaha.
In four sets twenty five, sixteen, twenty five, seventeen, twenty six,
twenty eight, twenty five sixteen. Not only is Madison hitting
(01:26):
their stride, they are hitting spectacularly. In Thursday night's match,
they hit a League one volleyball high four point fifty
with fifty eight kills and only nine errors in one
hundred and nine attacks. And no surprise here. Lefty Annie
Drew Schumacher and outside Sarah Franklin led the team with
nineteen and eighteen kills respectively. To Sarah Franklin, does she
(01:47):
go down the line?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
She does?
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Of course, those numbers don't appear just out of nowhere.
Ceder Lauren Carlini, who earned Player of the Match honors,
has been placing the ball all over the court for
her hitters, accumulating fifty assists plus a kill of her own.
She also had an eighth, two blocks and nine digs.
After the match, she talked about the offensive weapons on
the team that have made them so successful.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Just so many fats of the game that we've been
getting better at week by week, and it's clear here
in how we play, we just have so many weapons.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I feel like it's pretty hard to make a game
plan against.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Us, Well, it's pretty hard to beat you.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Your condition of that ball around to everyone, So congrats.
This win plus the outcome of the rest of the
weekend propelled Madison to third in the standings. Madison will
be back on the court Thursday night versus Love Salt Lake. Meanwhile,
Omaha has now lost seventh straight, falling to four and seven.
Their next match is Friday against Austin as they kick
(02:42):
off the weekend with Love at home. Friday night, we
saw what I dubbed the best rivalry in League one,
Love Houston versus Love Atlanta, with Houston winning in five
sets twenty five, twenty three, twenty five, twenty three, fifteen,
twenty five, nineteen, twenty five, fifteen eight. Houston held off
(03:04):
the reverse sweep, something that they just did to Atlanta
last week, and are now three to zero against Atlanta
this season. Opposite Jordan Thompson was player of the match,
finishing with fourteen points from thirteen kills and a block.
She also had nine digs. JT's biggest impact came in
the fifth set, where she had four kills and this
big block. Despite her impactful plays, Jordan did not think
(03:31):
she deserved the player of the Match honors and said
so after the match, citing teammate Jess Mursey who helped
get her out of her own head. At one point.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Jess was like, Bro, you have to stop looking like
you're not a two time Olympian. I was like, girl,
I'm trying my best out here. By It was rough tonight,
but I think like you have to just keep playing
through it and know that's gonna come. Like I've been
playing for I don't know how many years now, I'm
gonna have rough games. I think we all do, but
just thankfully I have amazing teammates who continue to support
me in the rough moments.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
It was a rough match for both teams, as Houston
only hit one a eighty six with one ace and
eleven serving errors and Atlanta hit two sixteen with seven
aces and twelve errors. Ultimately, Houston was able to come
back and come out on top, which leads us to
Saturday's doubleheader, which both teams participated in. We start with
(04:18):
Atlanta versus Love Salt Lake in another five set battle,
with Atlanta holding on. So when this match twenty five
seventeen twenty three, twenty five twenty five eighteen twenty three
twenty five, fifteen eleven. Atlanta isn't a stranger to these
long matches. This was their third five setter and four
matches and sixth all season, and despite playing in one
(04:39):
twenty hours earlier, Atlanta showed that they can persevere. Kelsey
Robinson Cook was named player of the match thanks to
her season best eighteen kills in team high twenty one digs,
Robinson perfect ball in transition. Atlanta has a two game
lead over Houston with only three games left to play,
so they've secured one of the top two spots in
the Love Finals, which rewards teams with a bye. Their
(05:03):
next match is Saturday in Omaha against Love Austin. Salt
Lake is five and seven with four more games to play.
Their next match is home on Thursday against White Hot Madison.
The last match in Week ten was the Battle of Texas,
with Houston defeating Love Austin in four sets twenty seven
to twenty five. Twenty five eighteen nineteen twenty five, twenty five,
(05:26):
twenty two. Houston improved three to one over their cross
state rival, and after a tight first set, the two
teams each showed their strengths, alternating who would win over
the next three sets, Austin opposite Madison Skinner had twenty
three kills, tying her season high, and middle Chiaco Gago
hit four hundred with ten kills, but despite their best efforts,
(05:47):
Houston still managed to battle back for the win. Jordan
Thompson had another great performance, amassing nineteen kills, three blocks,
eleven digs and an assist, but it was outside Jess
Murzik who earned Player of the match with fourteen kills,
including the game winner to down Houston comes back in
(06:07):
the Horn with the season nearing the end, just shared
how they're going to keep improving and fighting to stay ahead.
Speaker 6 (06:13):
As we get deeper into the season and going into
the finals. We know every team and they know us,
so it's about who's going to do the little things
better more consistently.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Both teams' next matches are against Omaha during the weekend,
with Love with Austin playing Friday night in Houston getting
the first match of Saturday's doubleheader. Well, we're going to
take a short break, but when we come back, Love,
Salt Lake, Skyler Fields and Sophie Fisher join me to
talk about learning from the vests on their team, what
their experience has been like this first season. Who on
(06:42):
Salt Lake is the best cook and so much more?
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
We are back and we're excited to have Love salt Lake,
Sophie Fisher and Skuyler Field on the Pod today. Sophie
hills from Fort Mill, South Carolina, and had a stellar
collegiate career at the University of Georgia as a middle blocker,
where she earned a spot on the ABCA All Southeast
Region team and the twenty twenty four All SEC Team,
her third All SEC honor. She was also named the
(07:23):
twenty twenty three SEC Player of the Year, and before
joining the Bulldogs, she was part of the national championship
team at the University of Kentucky in twenty twenty. Sophie
is one of the Love six going straight from the
college game to the pros, but she's had experience on
the international stage, representing the US women's national team at
the twenty twenty four North Sekapan American Cup Final six,
where she helped secure a silver medal. And Skyler is
(07:46):
an opposite hitter from Missouri City, Texas who is a
three time All American. She earned two while at USC
and one while at Texas in fact, she is one
of only thirteen Trojans to earn multiple First Team All
America Kids. Skyler's international experience dates back to twenty sixteen,
when she went silver at the Norseiica U nineteen Championship
(08:06):
as a member of the US youth national team. She
also won gold at the twenty eighteen Norsica U twenty Championship,
and Skyler has also played professionally in Italy. Now they're
both playing for Love Salt Lake and they're here on
the podcast. Sophie Skyler, Welcome to Serving Pancakes.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yes, thank you, going us.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Very excited to have you too. How long have you
been friends?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
We weirdly like have known each other for like a
really long time.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
So I'm from South Carolina and I actually was originally
committed to you and see and her sister played there,
and so her sister, I think became friends with my
sister because they would do like camps. Yeah, and then
we were introduced and then like just seeing each other
at Club Turgus and then we've kind of just kept
in touch ever since.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So it's cool, like ending up in the same place
and like living together.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Now, did you have any idea you two were going
to be playing together in the pros.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Not originally, I kind of you know, just was in
contact with Sofy, like, oh, what are you.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Gonna be doing? After column?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
She's like, I'm thinking going pro and I was like, oh, like,
we need a middle of like and then it worked
out perfectly and so she came to Soungwake and it
was great.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Yeah, that's awesome. How has your experience been so far
with Love.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's been good, honestly.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Like you mentioned, I've played in Italy last season, so
I've graduated college and then I went to the end
of their season, so it was three months there and
it was really challenging. But I think it really helped
push me and shape me as a not only just
a player, but a person as well. And I think
that just being able to come home and play high
level volleyball in the United.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
States has been something that we're very fortunate to have because.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
A lot of people do go overseas to get that
high level type of volleyball. But I think having a
competition here has been super helpful, and then getting to
play with and against some of the best player in
the world.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
So it's been amazing. Yeah, I mean I'd said the
same thing.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
I don't have any like international professional experience, but I
think it's really cool that I got an opportunity to
play at a super high level with like great teammates
on my team in the United States for my first
year of professional volleyball and then also just like learning
from like great middles in my position too, So I'm
really enjoying it.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I mean, now, Sophie, you straight from college guy there,
like we said that you got to play in Italy
for a year, So what made you guys ultimately want
to join and play for love?
Speaker 6 (10:07):
I think for me, I just like had a great
opportunity and like good coaching, like we have Tama and
Bruno who are incredible coaches, and then like in my
position like Haley Washington and Tory Dixon and strindergreat like
both like all great medals and stuff who I can
learn a bunch from.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
And then just like being able to play in the
United States too. So I feel like there was just
so many.
Speaker 6 (10:26):
More pros than cons, which they say ere my stripes,
but I think that this is a great like almost
like dipping my toe in the water, but also getting
a super high level of competition without having to go overseas.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
So for me, I think just being able to be
a part of history, you know, kind of start the league,
open it up.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
And also, just like Sophie said, is just being around
really great people.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
And you know, we have a great staff and also
a really good team, great people off the court as well,
so it really helps.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
I think they have.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Put us under their wings with kind of like the freshness. Yeah,
like maybe literally that children on the team. So I
think it's been super helpful to have like great people
around us helping push us every day. And then also
if you people have been kicking out that you can
see anybody can win them any night. So I think
having that level of competition is super cool because you know,
(11:20):
like in Italy and Turkey, it's like the top six
teams are killing the rest of the league. So it's
nice to have each team, like the levels be kind
of the same so that maybe, like I said, anyone
can win on any given night.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
So it's good to have to bring your a game
every day. Definitely.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Now you guys said it, you guys are the babies
on the team. Have you found like a mentor someone
who has taken you under their wing? To kind of
show you the ropes of like this world of professional
volleyball with you know, these Olympians on your team and
throughout the league.
Speaker 6 (11:51):
For me, especially Hilly Washington, because whenever I came in,
like she was not really able to play as much,
so she really took me under her wing and like
I feel like I was annoying her with questions, but
she was very well to them and wanted to be
doing something. So it was really nice to have her
and then all the other middles in my position too.
But then even playing with Jordan Poulter, I think that
she provides a bunch of like high level IQ and
(12:13):
so yeah, it's just a great kind of fit.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I'd also say Poulter for me, Haavier said her like,
you know, give you the confidence and just telling you
to like go get it. But also I think the
other opposite of on my team, Haiti, She's ben't really
helpful for me because she's played the opposite of her
whole career. I'm just getting into it, so just you know,
getting some insight from her on what.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
To do with certain situations has been super helpful for me.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
We had Haley and Jordan on the podcast. Jordan I
got to interview back in California over the summer before
the Olympics. Haley came on right around Halloween actually because
her background was all decked up for her Halloween party.
So I have a good understanding of their personalities and
you know who they are as people. Have they shown
you their like true colors off the court with like
(12:57):
Jordan's guitar, piano playing and Haley's reading and all of that.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yes, yeah, we know them in and out. Two great people.
They're hilarious, they're honestly agreed.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
Yeah, Hayley's actually gotten me into reading, and I'm really
not a big reader, but I'm on my second book now.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
So congratulations. What have you read? Oh?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I read The Silent Patient. Yeah, she let me choose
that one.
Speaker 6 (13:22):
But then once I finished that one, she was like, Okay,
I'm gonna pick this one from you. And now it's
a Misery by Stephen King. Scary, but she said it's
a great book, so I'm just gonna it's good so far. Actually,
I'm pretty deep in it. I'm like one hundred pages
when I started two days ago, so that's.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Good for me.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Both kind of like horror psychological thriller books right there
that she's given you. Is that your genre?
Speaker 6 (13:46):
Yeah, I mean that's probably I need something a little
bit thrilling, Like I don't really want to like love
stories are beautiful and amazing, but I'll fall asleep if
I read that, Like that's not my thing.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I need something a little bit like action, keep me,
keep me reading.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
So, Sylvie, I got a whole bookshelf of books that
I could recommend to you because that was literally like
all I read.
Speaker 6 (14:05):
This is kind of like I think I'm starting to
like it, So I.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Drops some recommendations, will do.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
What about you this guy? Are you a reader?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yeah? I actually start reading, I think, like during my
first professional season, just because that's so much down time.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
So yeah, I'm inter reading too.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
I also take Oh, we have a team full of readers,
so I should be taking the recommendation from my teammates
on books that they've read, and you know, just picking
those up and reading. I'm actually not reading anything right now.
I'm going to take the salivation from Sophie and we'll
go from there.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, I think you'll like that one. I remember my
mind was kind of like when I finished that one.
I want to go back to the team. I want
to talk more about like you're off the field ventures
and all that kind of stuff, but I want to
do that a little later. I want to go back
to just love Salt Lake right now. You know you
mentioned coach Tama and Bruno. What is it like having
them as coach. Toma was also on the podcast, you know,
(15:02):
a few months ago, and she's just so cool and
calm and collected. Is she like that as a coach too.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Yes, she really is.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yeah, she's super calm, cool and collected, and I think
that it's nice to have that from a coach because
you know, as as athletes and we just sometimes get
super so having a coach who's been where we want
to be competed at the highest levels, and then also
just being able to give back to us. I think
she's done a great job relaying information but not letting
her emotions get into it so that way we can
hear the reason is that she's saying but not feel
(15:32):
a certain time of way.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
And then Bruno, on the other hand, he's a great contrast.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I think he brings a lot of energy for our
team and he shoots it straight, which we need sometimes.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
You know, and I think he's just great.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
I think everyone needs a Bruno in their life because
even when he's not coaching, he's just goofing around and
you need that sometimes you need a little light in
the gym.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
So he's been great. Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
I think that they both like so clearly like care
about us so much as people too, and not just
as acthletes. I think that's very refined at the professional level,
sometimes even in college. But yeah, I think that they're
both incredible and like, like you said, like everyone needs
a Bruno. He's no matter what day it is, he's
always like joking around, but I mean he has a
very serious Yeah he is get the ball bro, like
(16:14):
block the.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Ball, do it bro. But yeah, they're both incredible.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
So that's amazing. Now, as of this recording, SELT like
has won three of their last four matches, including the
last two. So how are you ladies feeling about that,
especially with only a few more weeks left in the
regular season.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Hey wing always feels good, right, But I think you've
kind of turned a new leaf here, just trying to
focus on one day at a time and taking advantage
of the day. I think that's kind of helped shift
our focus and not really look too far ahead and
you know, think about the end of the season or
like the end of the season tournament. Where we're standing
right now. I think that just being where our feet
(16:55):
are has really helped our team. For Chris, you know,
day to day of practice and then when it comes
to the match, just taking.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
What we do throughout the week and implementing it in
to the match. Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 6 (17:04):
I think just taking it one day at a time
and kind of we've been seeing each day I was
like another opportunity to just get better and improve and
just fine tune some things.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
And I think it's looking good for us so far.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Have you guys, and now I've asked this question or
it's come up in conversation with some of the other
girls I've interviewed, but this idea of like a rivalry
or rivals, they say it's a little tough because everyone's
so supportive of each other and for the most part,
really like each other. Have you found that you do
have a rivalry on the court, especially at this point
where we're you know, ten weeks into the season, you've
(17:36):
seen each other, like you've played each other a lot.
Is there any sort of rivalry that you have.
Speaker 6 (17:40):
Yet, honestly, I think it's tough because, like you said,
like League one is all about like love and like
refor to Kevin and all that stuff, So I think
it's like tough to have a rivalry like that. But
obviously we have teams who we want to kind of
lose a couple more games so then we could.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Get up there a little bit. But it's out of
like deep rivalry just for like ranking standpoints. You don't
want to see anyone fail.
Speaker 6 (18:04):
But at the same time we would like to get
out therapy real but I wouldn't exactly call it a rivalry.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
But maybe as more teams come in here, we'll get
some more blackberries.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Well for me, But honestly, I think just people that
I've played with before, I think that that kind of
is like, Okay, we kind of know each other. We're like,
let's see what we can do now on this stage.
That kind of gets me going. I just love conversation.
So honestly, like even playing against some of the vets
like Jordan Larson, Kelsey Cook, like I really like that
(18:37):
because I think that challenges me as a blocker and
as a hitter to see what I can do against
some of the best players in the world.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
So it's been super cool to play against those players.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
But I think, honestly, like I have a rivalry with everyone. Sorry,
I we want to win.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
So yeah, we'll be right back with more from our
interview with Skylar Field and Sophie Fisher. Well, Skyler, I mean,
(19:15):
you're having a great season so far as of this
recording your second on Salt Lake in Points. What do
you attribute your success to.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
I'd say just my teammates trusting me, trusting the training
that we put in. I think that we do a
really good job of pushing each other in the practice gym,
and I think that that.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Forces me to have to do the same thing in
the matches.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I think that now, like you said, we have ten
weeks into the season, I think teams are starting to
watch more film. You know, you're playing against people still,
They're starting to know your tendency is a little bit
more so. I think that having to switch up what
I'm doing in the practice gym will also help me
just do that in Mattress too, because my teammates are
knowing me, and I'm pretty sure everybody else in the
league is starting to figure out what it is.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
That I'd like to do.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
So I think just having those tools and my tool
kit to help me switch things up.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
And Selphy, you said that you know you're still earning
your stripe, So what are you doing weekend and week
out to improve I just.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
Am a very technical person, so I usually have like
one to four things maybe depending on what Wade is
that I just like really try to focus on and
hone in on. So just kind of trying to take
steps to get to where other people are around me.
So yeah, I'm just trying to focus on more of
like little things that maybe like Haley has had down
(20:28):
Pop for like years now, exaing with Tori and Srina's young,
but she's really good and just things that she's learned.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Just learning off of them too. Something on man trying
to do now.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Also at the time of this recording, so salt Lake
is second in points, kills, blocks and assists, third and
aces and in most of those categories, Atlanta stands at
the top of them. I know you said there's not
really rivalries, but pardon me's kind of thinking Atlanta as
someone that you guys want to knock off. Also, they
are first in the league at this time. But you know,
(20:58):
there's still a few weeks, as we've said, in the season,
So what does your team need to do as a
whole to get past Houston who's now in second, and
Atlanta who's still leading at the top.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Honestly, I think, like we said, just kind of taking
a day in and day out, focusing one day at
a time. I'm not really sure if we win out
our games, if it's even possible to get to first place.
But I mean right now, we don't really want to
peak right now. We kind of want to wait. I mean,
keep getting better as season goes on, but it all
matters at the end of the season tournament. So I
think that as we continue to take advantage of each
(21:30):
day and each our cotinue that we get.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
I think that it'll help us prepare to get to
where we're going to be at the end of the season.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Now, you guys get to play in Salt Lake in
week eleven, and then the last week of the regular
season you have Weekend of Love in Salt Lake. So
what's it like playing over there and with in front
of those fans?
Speaker 2 (21:48):
We love it.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
Yeah, we're in the slick right yeah, no, yeah, yes, Okay,
Well I personally love our gen probably out of every
other gym that we've played in, just because it's smaller,
so like the environment is a lot more intimate and like,
I don't know, there might be how many people do
you think it's in there?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Like when sold out? Maybe the thirty five untrue, Yeah,
but it feels like a million people are in there.
Speaker 6 (22:09):
Like it just the fans are so good and it's
just a small environment so it's really fun to play there.
And also like we're not traveling, so it makes it
really nice.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
But yeah, I love playing in Salt Lake. Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
I wasn't really sure what to expect, you know, playing
here in Salt Lake City, but I think that our
fans have done a great job coming out and supporting us.
But they also are very interactive with the game, and
having found out that a lot of other gyms the
crowds are not like that at all, I think we
have the most interactive hands. So it's been super nice
to have them behind us when we're you know, doing well,
(22:45):
they're getting rowdy and helping disrupt the other team that
we're playing, so it's been really nice to have them
support us. I think they're super excited to have us
back at home next week and then at the end
of the season, you know it's gonna be a great
way to go up.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Yeah. It's funny because Haley told me when I interviewed her,
but she really wants to see this season. Was the
fans not treat this like a tennis match where it's
like silent as it goes back and forth and then
the crowd cheers at the end of a point or whatever.
She's like, I want them to know that volleyball is
like fun and intense and are you're so you're seeing
that right?
Speaker 6 (23:18):
That's as like, I mean, we have our little chance
that we do and like we probably just started from
them anymore, Like they're on it, and yes, they really
get into it, so we love them.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Have you had any fun interactions with fans.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Yeah, we've done club pro integration, so like a lot
of the girls from our club team, we get to
see them when we do those when we go to
their club practices, but also just like after the game,
getting to interact with them, exchange bracelets, I autographs, take
pictures with them.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
They've been super cute, So just getting to talk to them.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
You know, it's been really nice because I feel like
everybody wants to you know, meet their favorite player, get
to take a picture with them. So I think that
for us to be able to do that for them
is like makes it more excited for them, and it
also makes them want to come back because they're like, okay,
like she actually pour it into me, so like I want.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
To go support their team and just keep going.
Speaker 6 (24:08):
We're obviously super grateful for like them coming, so we
want to invest in those relationships. And I do think
like the little things of just like taking a picture
and like signing the ball or like whatever, like means
a lot to them because I know that like whenever
I was younger, if this was going on, that would
be like super cool.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Has it hit you? I know that you guys have
experienced this in college with this idea of you know,
like women's volleyball, women's sports in general, but like especially
women's volleyball is on this rise. There's a lot more fans,
there's a lot more people paying attention, there's a lot
more girls who play at these club levels who look
up to you. Has it kind of hate you that
like you are this face of this movement.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I mean, it's not something that I really think about
that Like when I actually do sit down and like
think about us, I'm like, wow, we really are like
a huge impact. And I think just for seeing the
support for the league for the beginning of it, because
you know, dates all the way back to like twenty
nineteen and they started planning it, I think just having
all of those support from everybody around is really just
put into perspective to us how big this really is.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
This really is a huge deal, and you know, a
lot of people didn't think it was possible, so for
us to be exceeding expectations has been awesome.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
And I think that we're seeing that with people showing
up to matches, whether they're home matches, away matches, even
at the Love Classic where we had at the same
place as the club Durning was. I think just having
it in places where people are has been super good,
and I think that we're attracting a lot of more fants,
not people who are like playing this work, like people
(25:32):
who've never heard of Vallao.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
I know, especially in Salt Lake City, a lot of
people are like ohhoh, I like blub.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
But like now that we are protein, Like I'm really
loving it. So I think it's been super nice to
be a part of this movement and we're grateful for it.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Yeah, I think it's also really cool, like kind of
like what you said, Like I don't just like think
about all the time, but when I do sit back
and think on it, like even especially with our age
and like how much it's grown since like because like
I said, when we were little, we didn't have anything
like this, or like we didn't have any like players
to really look up to or like follow after college.
So now that we have that, I think it's just
(26:06):
like super cool, and like I wish that I had
that when I was younger, Like whenever I think of
it that way, it kind of means a lot more
to me. Maybe I could remind myself that more they
but uh, yeah, it's a really cool opportunity.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Now going back to you guys and your you know,
things that you like to do off the court, you
personally eat, your hobbies and that kind of stuff. I
know that you said, Sophie, you're getting into reading again,
but now that you have like all this downtime, because
I'm sure it's very different from playing in college, and
I mean, Skyler, you experienced this in Italy. There's a
(26:40):
lot of downtime for you guys when you play professionally,
So what are you doing in your spare time when
you're not playing volleyball?
Speaker 6 (26:47):
Well, me and Skyler, they couldn't have roamed two better
people together.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
We're pretty chill.
Speaker 6 (26:54):
We do a lot of things together too, Like we
go out to eat, we go hang out with friends,
we'll cook.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Yeah, Skyler's getting into Hotworks.
Speaker 6 (27:01):
Don't want to see Yeah no, yeah, but that's something
I also might be doing soon.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
What's that hot Works?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Yeah, hot Works. So it's it's like a studio.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
They have like personal saunas you can go to and
you can like select what workout you want to do.
So they have like cypling. I did cycling today, actually
really enjoyed it. It's my first time doing something. They
have like hot pilates, hot yoga, hot buns, hotcore. They
have look at different a lot of different exercise that
you can sum but you just go in there and
I like it because it's very personal, Like you don't
(27:33):
have to be in a class full of people, so
you get.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
To go at your own pace.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
You watch the video that they play in the sauna,
set the sauna to your own temperature, and you kind
of just go at your own pace.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I really enjoy.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Them, not saying that I don't like being around people,
but like when it comes to something being hot and working.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Out, like no, like I need to be in my zone.
And I've really been enjoying that.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
I think.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Another thing that we do a lot is we our
teammates cook for each other, so we'll like do dinner
at someone's house. So it's been really nice, especially for
the girls who like actually live in USA. It's really
really cool to like go to the different parts of
Utah and like see where they live and like, you know,
just like experience like their life.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Because one thing.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
In Italy that we're like just playing overseas is like
we're like foreigners, you know, so like these people have
their own life going on. But it's nice because here
are teammates who are from Utah and like have a
house and stuff.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Like we get to see their life outside of it.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
So it's nice to just experience that and not just
see them in practice like see what they do outside,
you know, at the gym.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
But it's been cool.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
I mean, honestly, like I I'm down to do whatever,
but also I'm down to do.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Nothing at all. So it just depends on the day
we'd like to do some activities.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
It's starting to get warm outside, so we'll probably be
going to the parks more. It's super beautiful year, so
getting some cool views and stuff, just like.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
You know, show it really joy. We used to go
shopping together, but we're not on to do that anymore.
We're just bad. This is yeah on each other. Like
I would be like, skuy, this is so cute, like
should I get in?
Speaker 6 (28:58):
She's like yeah, and then okay, and then she asked
me the question yeah. Then next thing, you know, we
keep saying yeah and somebody she said no, yeah, but.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
We stopped going shopping dealer. Yeah. Yeah. We don't shop
as much.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
But one thing that we also do enjoys points with
the Farmer's Market on Saturday. It's like downtown, so they
actually kind of know what's by name now, just because
we're there every weekend.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
When we can be getting our particular.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Items, whether it's kimbucha, sour dough bread, they have flavors,
we get salceadus, kim chi, butter, you know, just all
kinds of things.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
So we enjoy the farmer's market as well.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
That's amazing. Okay, if you follow up questions first, do
you guys watch Parks and Recreation?
Speaker 6 (29:43):
I've seen some episodes at four, but I haven't watched
it like fully through.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
So two of the characters Don and Eagle and Tom
Haverford do this thing called treat yourself. So one day
year they treat themselves and they go to the mall
or they do whatever they want and they treat themselves
and get whatever they want. And I feel like, you
guys need to do that. If your bad influences on
each other, designate one day, one.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Weeks weeks we got them off for practice. Yeah, let's go.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Going back to the cooking. Who I'm gonna make you guys,
you know, call out somebody, But who is the best
cook on your team? What does she make that's so good?
Speaker 6 (30:31):
We call it comitabana and it's Cuban food, and so
she'll have us over and she'll cook Cuban food and
it's just like it's actually my favorite meal, Like I
don't think like if I could choose any meal.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Death ro it would be comedic obana but only bye habi.
But it's like it's neat, like kind of like a roast.
Speaker 6 (30:55):
It's like meat, potatoes, olives, rice beans, yucca and.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Plantings and plantains, and it's just like it's so good.
It's a comfort meal. It's home cooked me with love.
Like she really puts her foot into it.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah, we just had it recently, a couple of days ago,
but this time she invited us over to watch her
cook it. So we got the RECIPEO and we helped
her like prep everything and cook everything. So like I
was like, Wow, it's a lot of work that goes
into it. But now I see why it tastes so
good is because she makes everything from scratch and she
doesn't use anything. Yeah, everything is from scratching. We're gonna
(31:32):
make the meal one day for her. Well we're gonna tip.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Too, but yeah we know how she does it.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
So yeah we're excited. Yeah, it's amazing. It's made with
love for real. And what's the best thing that you
guys make? Uh, sour dough bread with butter from the
fireside we made.
Speaker 6 (31:56):
We make steak and potatoes a lot, Yeah, and we
like make it's pretty Chris. Yeah, like garlic steak bites
and potatoes. I feel like that's kind of our we
go to we have done it a while because of
traveling and stuff.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
But and then also we do let the spicy vodka
pasta and someone like crispy bread of chicken.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
So like, that's what if those are two standard meals
that work. If we're gonna cook that, we're probably eating
one of those two hands for sure. The vodka pasta
is the check in. It's just really really all right.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
There is one last question I want to ask you guys.
You know, with four weeks in the regular season left
in the finals to come, what are you looking forward
to the rest of this season, this inaugural season.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Honestly, I think just seeing what we can do.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
I think that we have had really high highs and
some pretty low lows.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
So I think just pushing ourselves and you know, seeing
where we can take it.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
It's honestly the first year of this league, so you know,
wanting to do our best and like put an emphasis
on continue to grow this.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
League and show people that this volleyball can be high level.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I mean, obviously everybody wants to win, and so when
it comes down to that, we will do our best
to try and do that. But I think just taking
everything that we can from this experience. I mean, it's
been what six months, and it's that will have been
the fastest.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Six months in my life. I spent three months in Italy,
and I thought I was there for three years.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
So I think that just being able to enjoy every
second of this because it's going to be a long
time until the team is reunited again, until the next
season starts.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
So I think that just being.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Able to take every single day and not taking anything
for granted.
Speaker 6 (33:24):
Yeah, obviously taking every day as an opportunity, but I
really excited to see, like I still don't think we've
peaked you up as a team, so I'm excited to
see when we peak, and I feel like we're gonna
peak at the right moment, and just being able to
do it together and like you said, like it's gonna
be a long time to re see each other again,
so just like cherishing those moments with each other.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Well, Skyler, Sylvie, it's been a pleasure speaking with you.
Thank you so much for coming on the podcast and
bestive luck the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Serving Pancakes 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 League One Volleyball. I'm your host
Tiffany Oshinsky. My co host is kat Bell. Amya Alvarez
(34:12):
is our senior producer. Our executive producers are Carrie Stett, Tamaradike,
and Lindsay Hoffman. Our marketing lead is Juwara Parker. Sound
editing and mixing by Daniel Gonzalez. Our theme music is
Pancakes by Eric W. Mast Junior Special thanks to Skyler
Fields and Sophie Fisher. Next week we'll recap Week eleven.
As a volleyball player, I trust Adidas to meet my
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that Adidas has to offer at Adidas dot Com or
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with Adidas Today. Hi, I'm Tiffany Oshinsky and this is
(00:42):
serving pancakes with League one Volleyball. The inaugural Love season
is finally here. Each episode will be going over the
matches from the week to keep you up to date
on everything League one Volleyball. Then stick around after the
analysis for interviews with some amazing people in and around
the story. Today's episode features Love Salt Lake, Sophie Fisher,
(01:03):
and Skyler Fields. But let's first recap what all went
down in Week ten. Love Madison continued their hot streak,
winning their fourth match in a row over Love Omaha.
In four sets twenty five, sixteen, twenty five, seventeen, twenty six,
twenty eight, twenty five sixteen. Not only is Madison hitting
(01:26):
their stride, they are hitting spectacularly. In Thursday night's match,
they hit a League one volleyball high four point fifty
with fifty eight kills and only nine errors in one
hundred and nine attacks. And no surprise here. Lefty Annie
Drew Schumacher and outside Sarah Franklin led the team with
nineteen and eighteen kills respectively. To Sarah Franklin, does she
(01:47):
go down the line?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
She does?
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Of course, those numbers don't appear just out of nowhere.
Ceder Lauren Carlini, who earned Player of the Match honors,
has been placing the ball all over the court for
her hitters, accumulating fifty assists plus a kill of her own.
She also had an eighth, two blocks and nine digs.
After the match, she talked about the offensive weapons on
the team that have made them so successful.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Just so many fats of the game that we've been
getting better at week by week, and it's clear here
in how we play, we just have so many weapons.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I feel like it's pretty hard to make a game
plan against.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Us, Well, it's pretty hard to beat you.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Your condition of that ball around to everyone, So congrats.
This win plus the outcome of the rest of the
weekend propelled Madison to third in the standings. Madison will
be back on the court Thursday night versus Love Salt Lake. Meanwhile,
Omaha has now lost seventh straight, falling to four and seven.
Their next match is Friday against Austin as they kick
(02:42):
off the weekend with Love at home. Friday night, we
saw what I dubbed the best rivalry in League one,
Love Houston versus Love Atlanta, with Houston winning in five
sets twenty five, twenty three, twenty five, twenty three, fifteen,
twenty five, nineteen, twenty five, fifteen eight. Houston held off
(03:04):
the reverse sweep, something that they just did to Atlanta
last week, and are now three to zero against Atlanta
this season. Opposite Jordan Thompson was player of the match,
finishing with fourteen points from thirteen kills and a block.
She also had nine digs. JT's biggest impact came in
the fifth set, where she had four kills and this
big block. Despite her impactful plays, Jordan did not think
(03:31):
she deserved the player of the Match honors and said
so after the match, citing teammate Jess Mursey who helped
get her out of her own head. At one point.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Jess was like, Bro, you have to stop looking like
you're not a two time Olympian. I was like, girl,
I'm trying my best out here. By It was rough tonight,
but I think like you have to just keep playing
through it and know that's gonna come. Like I've been
playing for I don't know how many years now, I'm
gonna have rough games. I think we all do, but
just thankfully I have amazing teammates who continue to support
me in the rough moments.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
It was a rough match for both teams, as Houston
only hit one a eighty six with one ace and
eleven serving errors and Atlanta hit two sixteen with seven
aces and twelve errors. Ultimately, Houston was able to come
back and come out on top, which leads us to
Saturday's doubleheader, which both teams participated in. We start with
(04:18):
Atlanta versus Love Salt Lake in another five set battle,
with Atlanta holding on. So when this match twenty five
seventeen twenty three, twenty five twenty five eighteen twenty three
twenty five, fifteen eleven. Atlanta isn't a stranger to these
long matches. This was their third five setter and four
matches and sixth all season, and despite playing in one
(04:39):
twenty hours earlier, Atlanta showed that they can persevere. Kelsey
Robinson Cook was named player of the match thanks to
her season best eighteen kills in team high twenty one digs,
Robinson perfect ball in transition. Atlanta has a two game
lead over Houston with only three games left to play,
so they've secured one of the top two spots in
the Love Finals, which rewards teams with a bye. Their
(05:03):
next match is Saturday in Omaha against Love Austin. Salt
Lake is five and seven with four more games to play.
Their next match is home on Thursday against White Hot Madison.
The last match in Week ten was the Battle of Texas,
with Houston defeating Love Austin in four sets twenty seven
to twenty five. Twenty five eighteen nineteen twenty five, twenty five,
(05:26):
twenty two. Houston improved three to one over their cross
state rival, and after a tight first set, the two
teams each showed their strengths, alternating who would win over
the next three sets, Austin opposite Madison Skinner had twenty
three kills, tying her season high, and middle Chiaco Gago
hit four hundred with ten kills, but despite their best efforts,
(05:47):
Houston still managed to battle back for the win. Jordan
Thompson had another great performance, amassing nineteen kills, three blocks,
eleven digs and an assist, but it was outside Jess
Murzik who earned Player of the match with fourteen kills,
including the game winner to down Houston comes back in
(06:07):
the Horn with the season nearing the end, just shared
how they're going to keep improving and fighting to stay ahead.
Speaker 6 (06:13):
As we get deeper into the season and going into
the finals. We know every team and they know us,
so it's about who's going to do the little things
better more consistently.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Both teams' next matches are against Omaha during the weekend,
with Love with Austin playing Friday night in Houston getting
the first match of Saturday's doubleheader. Well, we're going to
take a short break, but when we come back, Love,
Salt Lake, Skyler Fields and Sophie Fisher join me to
talk about learning from the vests on their team, what
their experience has been like this first season. Who on
(06:42):
Salt Lake is the best cook and so much more?
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
We are back and we're excited to have Love salt Lake,
Sophie Fisher and Skuyler Field on the Pod today. Sophie
hills from Fort Mill, South Carolina, and had a stellar
collegiate career at the University of Georgia as a middle blocker,
where she earned a spot on the ABCA All Southeast
Region team and the twenty twenty four All SEC Team,
her third All SEC honor. She was also named the
(07:23):
twenty twenty three SEC Player of the Year, and before
joining the Bulldogs, she was part of the national championship
team at the University of Kentucky in twenty twenty. Sophie
is one of the Love six going straight from the
college game to the pros, but she's had experience on
the international stage, representing the US women's national team at
the twenty twenty four North Sekapan American Cup Final six,
where she helped secure a silver medal. And Skyler is
(07:46):
an opposite hitter from Missouri City, Texas who is a
three time All American. She earned two while at USC
and one while at Texas in fact, she is one
of only thirteen Trojans to earn multiple First Team All
America Kids. Skyler's international experience dates back to twenty sixteen,
when she went silver at the Norseiica U nineteen Championship
(08:06):
as a member of the US youth national team. She
also won gold at the twenty eighteen Norsica U twenty Championship,
and Skyler has also played professionally in Italy. Now they're
both playing for Love Salt Lake and they're here on
the podcast. Sophie Skyler, Welcome to Serving Pancakes.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yes, thank you, going us.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Very excited to have you too. How long have you
been friends?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
We weirdly like have known each other for like a
really long time.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
So I'm from South Carolina and I actually was originally
committed to you and see and her sister played there,
and so her sister, I think became friends with my
sister because they would do like camps. Yeah, and then
we were introduced and then like just seeing each other
at Club Turgus and then we've kind of just kept
in touch ever since.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So it's cool, like ending up in the same place
and like living together.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Now, did you have any idea you two were going
to be playing together in the pros.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Not originally, I kind of you know, just was in
contact with Sofy, like, oh, what are you.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Gonna be doing? After column?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
She's like, I'm thinking going pro and I was like, oh, like,
we need a middle of like and then it worked
out perfectly and so she came to Soungwake and it
was great.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Yeah, that's awesome. How has your experience been so far
with Love.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's been good, honestly.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Like you mentioned, I've played in Italy last season, so
I've graduated college and then I went to the end
of their season, so it was three months there and
it was really challenging. But I think it really helped
push me and shape me as a not only just
a player, but a person as well. And I think
that just being able to come home and play high
level volleyball in the United.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
States has been something that we're very fortunate to have because.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
A lot of people do go overseas to get that
high level type of volleyball. But I think having a
competition here has been super helpful, and then getting to
play with and against some of the best player in
the world.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
So it's been amazing. Yeah, I mean I'd said the
same thing.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
I don't have any like international professional experience, but I
think it's really cool that I got an opportunity to
play at a super high level with like great teammates
on my team in the United States for my first
year of professional volleyball and then also just like learning
from like great middles in my position too, So I'm
really enjoying it.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I mean, now, Sophie, you straight from college guy there,
like we said that you got to play in Italy
for a year, So what made you guys ultimately want
to join and play for love?
Speaker 6 (10:07):
I think for me, I just like had a great
opportunity and like good coaching, like we have Tama and
Bruno who are incredible coaches, and then like in my
position like Haley Washington and Tory Dixon and strindergreat like
both like all great medals and stuff who I can
learn a bunch from.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
And then just like being able to play in the
United States too. So I feel like there was just
so many.
Speaker 6 (10:26):
More pros than cons, which they say ere my stripes,
but I think that this is a great like almost
like dipping my toe in the water, but also getting
a super high level of competition without having to go overseas.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
So for me, I think just being able to be
a part of history, you know, kind of start the league,
open it up.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
And also, just like Sophie said, is just being around
really great people.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
And you know, we have a great staff and also
a really good team, great people off the court as well,
so it really helps.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
I think they have.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Put us under their wings with kind of like the freshness. Yeah,
like maybe literally that children on the team. So I
think it's been super helpful to have like great people
around us helping push us every day. And then also
if you people have been kicking out that you can
see anybody can win them any night. So I think
having that level of competition is super cool because you know,
(11:20):
like in Italy and Turkey, it's like the top six
teams are killing the rest of the league. So it's
nice to have each team, like the levels be kind
of the same so that maybe, like I said, anyone
can win on any given night.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
So it's good to have to bring your a game
every day. Definitely.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Now you guys said it, you guys are the babies
on the team. Have you found like a mentor someone
who has taken you under their wing? To kind of
show you the ropes of like this world of professional
volleyball with you know, these Olympians on your team and
throughout the league.
Speaker 6 (11:51):
For me, especially Hilly Washington, because whenever I came in,
like she was not really able to play as much,
so she really took me under her wing and like
I feel like I was annoying her with questions, but
she was very well to them and wanted to be
doing something. So it was really nice to have her
and then all the other middles in my position too.
But then even playing with Jordan Poulter, I think that
she provides a bunch of like high level IQ and
(12:13):
so yeah, it's just a great kind of fit.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I'd also say Poulter for me, Haavier said her like,
you know, give you the confidence and just telling you
to like go get it. But also I think the
other opposite of on my team, Haiti, She's ben't really
helpful for me because she's played the opposite of her
whole career. I'm just getting into it, so just you know,
getting some insight from her on what.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
To do with certain situations has been super helpful for me.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
We had Haley and Jordan on the podcast. Jordan I
got to interview back in California over the summer before
the Olympics. Haley came on right around Halloween actually because
her background was all decked up for her Halloween party.
So I have a good understanding of their personalities and
you know who they are as people. Have they shown
you their like true colors off the court with like
(12:57):
Jordan's guitar, piano playing and Haley's reading and all of that.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Yes, yeah, we know them in and out. Two great people.
They're hilarious, they're honestly agreed.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
Yeah, Hayley's actually gotten me into reading, and I'm really
not a big reader, but I'm on my second book now.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
So congratulations. What have you read? Oh?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I read The Silent Patient. Yeah, she let me choose
that one.
Speaker 6 (13:22):
But then once I finished that one, she was like, Okay,
I'm gonna pick this one from you. And now it's
a Misery by Stephen King. Scary, but she said it's
a great book, so I'm just gonna it's good so far. Actually,
I'm pretty deep in it. I'm like one hundred pages
when I started two days ago, so that's.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Good for me.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Both kind of like horror psychological thriller books right there
that she's given you. Is that your genre?
Speaker 6 (13:46):
Yeah, I mean that's probably I need something a little
bit thrilling, Like I don't really want to like love
stories are beautiful and amazing, but I'll fall asleep if
I read that, Like that's not my thing.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I need something a little bit like action, keep me,
keep me reading.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
So, Sylvie, I got a whole bookshelf of books that
I could recommend to you because that was literally like
all I read.
Speaker 6 (14:05):
This is kind of like I think I'm starting to
like it, So I.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Drops some recommendations, will do.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
What about you this guy? Are you a reader?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yeah? I actually start reading, I think, like during my
first professional season, just because that's so much down time.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
So yeah, I'm inter reading too.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
I also take Oh, we have a team full of readers,
so I should be taking the recommendation from my teammates
on books that they've read, and you know, just picking
those up and reading. I'm actually not reading anything right now.
I'm going to take the salivation from Sophie and we'll
go from there.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, I think you'll like that one. I remember my
mind was kind of like when I finished that one.
I want to go back to the team. I want
to talk more about like you're off the field ventures
and all that kind of stuff, but I want to
do that a little later. I want to go back
to just love Salt Lake right now. You know you
mentioned coach Tama and Bruno. What is it like having
them as coach. Toma was also on the podcast, you know,
(15:02):
a few months ago, and she's just so cool and
calm and collected. Is she like that as a coach too.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Yes, she really is.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yeah, she's super calm, cool and collected, and I think
that it's nice to have that from a coach because
you know, as as athletes and we just sometimes get
super so having a coach who's been where we want
to be competed at the highest levels, and then also
just being able to give back to us. I think
she's done a great job relaying information but not letting
her emotions get into it so that way we can
hear the reason is that she's saying but not feel
(15:32):
a certain time of way.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
And then Bruno, on the other hand, he's a great contrast.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I think he brings a lot of energy for our
team and he shoots it straight, which we need sometimes.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
You know, and I think he's just great.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
I think everyone needs a Bruno in their life because
even when he's not coaching, he's just goofing around and
you need that sometimes you need a little light in
the gym.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
So he's been great. Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
I think that they both like so clearly like care
about us so much as people too, and not just
as acthletes. I think that's very refined at the professional level,
sometimes even in college. But yeah, I think that they're
both incredible and like, like you said, like everyone needs
a Bruno. He's no matter what day it is, he's
always like joking around, but I mean he has a
very serious Yeah he is get the ball bro, like
(16:14):
block the.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Ball, do it bro. But yeah, they're both incredible.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
So that's amazing. Now, as of this recording, SELT like
has won three of their last four matches, including the
last two. So how are you ladies feeling about that,
especially with only a few more weeks left in the
regular season.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Hey wing always feels good, right, But I think you've
kind of turned a new leaf here, just trying to
focus on one day at a time and taking advantage
of the day. I think that's kind of helped shift
our focus and not really look too far ahead and
you know, think about the end of the season or
like the end of the season tournament. Where we're standing
right now. I think that just being where our feet
(16:55):
are has really helped our team. For Chris, you know,
day to day of practice and then when it comes
to the match, just taking.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
What we do throughout the week and implementing it in
to the match. Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 6 (17:04):
I think just taking it one day at a time
and kind of we've been seeing each day I was
like another opportunity to just get better and improve and
just fine tune some things.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
And I think it's looking good for us so far.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Have you guys, and now I've asked this question or
it's come up in conversation with some of the other
girls I've interviewed, but this idea of like a rivalry
or rivals, they say it's a little tough because everyone's
so supportive of each other and for the most part,
really like each other. Have you found that you do
have a rivalry on the court, especially at this point
where we're you know, ten weeks into the season, you've
(17:36):
seen each other, like you've played each other a lot.
Is there any sort of rivalry that you have.
Speaker 6 (17:40):
Yet, honestly, I think it's tough because, like you said,
like League one is all about like love and like
refor to Kevin and all that stuff, So I think
it's like tough to have a rivalry like that. But
obviously we have teams who we want to kind of
lose a couple more games so then we could.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Get up there a little bit. But it's out of
like deep rivalry just for like ranking standpoints. You don't
want to see anyone fail.
Speaker 6 (18:04):
But at the same time we would like to get
out therapy real but I wouldn't exactly call it a rivalry.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
But maybe as more teams come in here, we'll get
some more blackberries.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Well for me, But honestly, I think just people that
I've played with before, I think that that kind of
is like, Okay, we kind of know each other. We're like,
let's see what we can do now on this stage.
That kind of gets me going. I just love conversation.
So honestly, like even playing against some of the vets
like Jordan Larson, Kelsey Cook, like I really like that
(18:37):
because I think that challenges me as a blocker and
as a hitter to see what I can do against
some of the best players in the world.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
So it's been super cool to play against those players.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
But I think, honestly, like I have a rivalry with everyone. Sorry,
I we want to win.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
So yeah, we'll be right back with more from our
interview with Skylar Field and Sophie Fisher. Well, Skyler, I mean,
(19:15):
you're having a great season so far as of this
recording your second on Salt Lake in Points. What do
you attribute your success to.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
I'd say just my teammates trusting me, trusting the training
that we put in. I think that we do a
really good job of pushing each other in the practice gym,
and I think that that.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Forces me to have to do the same thing in
the matches.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I think that now, like you said, we have ten
weeks into the season, I think teams are starting to
watch more film. You know, you're playing against people still,
They're starting to know your tendency is a little bit
more so. I think that having to switch up what
I'm doing in the practice gym will also help me
just do that in Mattress too, because my teammates are
knowing me, and I'm pretty sure everybody else in the
league is starting to figure out what it is.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
That I'd like to do.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
So I think just having those tools and my tool
kit to help me switch things up.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
And Selphy, you said that you know you're still earning
your stripe, So what are you doing weekend and week
out to improve I just.
Speaker 6 (20:04):
Am a very technical person, so I usually have like
one to four things maybe depending on what Wade is
that I just like really try to focus on and
hone in on. So just kind of trying to take
steps to get to where other people are around me.
So yeah, I'm just trying to focus on more of
like little things that maybe like Haley has had down
(20:28):
Pop for like years now, exaing with Tori and Srina's young,
but she's really good and just things that she's learned.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Just learning off of them too. Something on man trying
to do now.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Also at the time of this recording, so salt Lake
is second in points, kills, blocks and assists, third and
aces and in most of those categories, Atlanta stands at
the top of them. I know you said there's not
really rivalries, but pardon me's kind of thinking Atlanta as
someone that you guys want to knock off. Also, they
are first in the league at this time. But you know,
(20:58):
there's still a few weeks, as we've said, in the season,
So what does your team need to do as a
whole to get past Houston who's now in second, and
Atlanta who's still leading at the top.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Honestly, I think, like we said, just kind of taking
a day in and day out, focusing one day at
a time. I'm not really sure if we win out
our games, if it's even possible to get to first place.
But I mean right now, we don't really want to
peak right now. We kind of want to wait. I mean,
keep getting better as season goes on, but it all
matters at the end of the season tournament. So I
think that as we continue to take advantage of each
(21:30):
day and each our cotinue that we get.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
I think that it'll help us prepare to get to
where we're going to be at the end of the season.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Now, you guys get to play in Salt Lake in
week eleven, and then the last week of the regular
season you have Weekend of Love in Salt Lake. So
what's it like playing over there and with in front
of those fans?
Speaker 2 (21:48):
We love it.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
Yeah, we're in the slick right yeah, no, yeah, yes, Okay,
Well I personally love our gen probably out of every
other gym that we've played in, just because it's smaller,
so like the environment is a lot more intimate and like,
I don't know, there might be how many people do
you think it's in there?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Like when sold out? Maybe the thirty five untrue, Yeah,
but it feels like a million people are in there.
Speaker 6 (22:09):
Like it just the fans are so good and it's
just a small environment so it's really fun to play there.
And also like we're not traveling, so it makes it
really nice.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
But yeah, I love playing in Salt Lake. Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
I wasn't really sure what to expect, you know, playing
here in Salt Lake City, but I think that our
fans have done a great job coming out and supporting us.
But they also are very interactive with the game, and
having found out that a lot of other gyms the
crowds are not like that at all, I think we
have the most interactive hands. So it's been super nice
to have them behind us when we're you know, doing well,
(22:45):
they're getting rowdy and helping disrupt the other team that
we're playing, so it's been really nice to have them
support us. I think they're super excited to have us
back at home next week and then at the end
of the season, you know it's gonna be a great
way to go up.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Yeah. It's funny because Haley told me when I interviewed her,
but she really wants to see this season. Was the
fans not treat this like a tennis match where it's
like silent as it goes back and forth and then
the crowd cheers at the end of a point or whatever.
She's like, I want them to know that volleyball is
like fun and intense and are you're so you're seeing
that right?
Speaker 6 (23:18):
That's as like, I mean, we have our little chance
that we do and like we probably just started from
them anymore, Like they're on it, and yes, they really
get into it, so we love them.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Have you had any fun interactions with fans.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Yeah, we've done club pro integration, so like a lot
of the girls from our club team, we get to
see them when we do those when we go to
their club practices, but also just like after the game,
getting to interact with them, exchange bracelets, I autographs, take
pictures with them.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
They've been super cute, So just getting to talk to them.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
You know, it's been really nice because I feel like
everybody wants to you know, meet their favorite player, get
to take a picture with them. So I think that
for us to be able to do that for them
is like makes it more excited for them, and it
also makes them want to come back because they're like, okay,
like she actually pour it into me, so like I want.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
To go support their team and just keep going.
Speaker 6 (24:08):
We're obviously super grateful for like them coming, so we
want to invest in those relationships. And I do think
like the little things of just like taking a picture
and like signing the ball or like whatever, like means
a lot to them because I know that like whenever
I was younger, if this was going on, that would
be like super cool.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Has it hit you? I know that you guys have
experienced this in college with this idea of you know,
like women's volleyball, women's sports in general, but like especially
women's volleyball is on this rise. There's a lot more fans,
there's a lot more people paying attention, there's a lot
more girls who play at these club levels who look
up to you. Has it kind of hate you that
like you are this face of this movement.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I mean, it's not something that I really think about
that Like when I actually do sit down and like
think about us, I'm like, wow, we really are like
a huge impact. And I think just for seeing the
support for the league for the beginning of it, because
you know, dates all the way back to like twenty
nineteen and they started planning it, I think just having
all of those support from everybody around is really just
put into perspective to us how big this really is.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
This really is a huge deal, and you know, a
lot of people didn't think it was possible, so for
us to be exceeding expectations has been awesome.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
And I think that we're seeing that with people showing
up to matches, whether they're home matches, away matches, even
at the Love Classic where we had at the same
place as the club Durning was. I think just having
it in places where people are has been super good,
and I think that we're attracting a lot of more fants,
not people who are like playing this work, like people
(25:32):
who've never heard of Vallao.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
I know, especially in Salt Lake City, a lot of
people are like ohhoh, I like blub.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
But like now that we are protein, Like I'm really
loving it. So I think it's been super nice to
be a part of this movement and we're grateful for it.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Yeah, I think it's also really cool, like kind of
like what you said, Like I don't just like think
about all the time, but when I do sit back
and think on it, like even especially with our age
and like how much it's grown since like because like
I said, when we were little, we didn't have anything
like this, or like we didn't have any like players
to really look up to or like follow after college.
So now that we have that, I think it's just
(26:06):
like super cool, and like I wish that I had
that when I was younger, Like whenever I think of
it that way, it kind of means a lot more
to me. Maybe I could remind myself that more they
but uh, yeah, it's a really cool opportunity.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Now going back to you guys and your you know,
things that you like to do off the court, you
personally eat, your hobbies and that kind of stuff. I
know that you said, Sophie, you're getting into reading again,
but now that you have like all this downtime, because
I'm sure it's very different from playing in college, and
I mean, Skyler, you experienced this in Italy. There's a
(26:40):
lot of downtime for you guys when you play professionally,
So what are you doing in your spare time when
you're not playing volleyball?
Speaker 6 (26:47):
Well, me and Skyler, they couldn't have roamed two better
people together.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
We're pretty chill.
Speaker 6 (26:54):
We do a lot of things together too, Like we
go out to eat, we go hang out with friends,
we'll cook.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Yeah, Skyler's getting into Hotworks.
Speaker 6 (27:01):
Don't want to see Yeah no, yeah, but that's something
I also might be doing soon.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
What's that hot Works?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Yeah, hot Works. So it's it's like a studio.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
They have like personal saunas you can go to and
you can like select what workout you want to do.
So they have like cypling. I did cycling today, actually
really enjoyed it. It's my first time doing something. They
have like hot pilates, hot yoga, hot buns, hotcore. They
have look at different a lot of different exercise that
you can sum but you just go in there and
I like it because it's very personal, Like you don't
(27:33):
have to be in a class full of people, so
you get.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
To go at your own pace.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
You watch the video that they play in the sauna,
set the sauna to your own temperature, and you kind
of just go at your own pace.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I really enjoy.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Them, not saying that I don't like being around people,
but like when it comes to something being hot and working.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Out, like no, like I need to be in my zone.
And I've really been enjoying that.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
I think.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Another thing that we do a lot is we our
teammates cook for each other, so we'll like do dinner
at someone's house. So it's been really nice, especially for
the girls who like actually live in USA. It's really
really cool to like go to the different parts of
Utah and like see where they live and like, you know,
just like experience like their life.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Because one thing.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
In Italy that we're like just playing overseas is like
we're like foreigners, you know, so like these people have
their own life going on. But it's nice because here
are teammates who are from Utah and like have a
house and stuff.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Like we get to see their life outside of it.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
So it's nice to just experience that and not just
see them in practice like see what they do outside,
you know, at the gym.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
But it's been cool.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
I mean, honestly, like I I'm down to do whatever,
but also I'm down to do.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Nothing at all. So it just depends on the day
we'd like to do some activities.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
It's starting to get warm outside, so we'll probably be
going to the parks more. It's super beautiful year, so
getting some cool views and stuff, just like.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
You know, show it really joy. We used to go
shopping together, but we're not on to do that anymore.
We're just bad. This is yeah on each other. Like
I would be like, skuy, this is so cute, like
should I get in?
Speaker 6 (28:58):
She's like yeah, and then okay, and then she asked
me the question yeah. Then next thing, you know, we
keep saying yeah and somebody she said no, yeah, but.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
We stopped going shopping dealer. Yeah. Yeah. We don't shop
as much.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
But one thing that we also do enjoys points with
the Farmer's Market on Saturday. It's like downtown, so they
actually kind of know what's by name now, just because
we're there every weekend.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
When we can be getting our particular.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Items, whether it's kimbucha, sour dough bread, they have flavors,
we get salceadus, kim chi, butter, you know, just all
kinds of things.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
So we enjoy the farmer's market as well.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
That's amazing. Okay, if you follow up questions first, do
you guys watch Parks and Recreation?
Speaker 6 (29:43):
I've seen some episodes at four, but I haven't watched
it like fully through.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
So two of the characters Don and Eagle and Tom
Haverford do this thing called treat yourself. So one day
year they treat themselves and they go to the mall
or they do whatever they want and they treat themselves
and get whatever they want. And I feel like, you
guys need to do that. If your bad influences on
each other, designate one day, one.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Weeks weeks we got them off for practice. Yeah, let's go.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Going back to the cooking. Who I'm gonna make you guys,
you know, call out somebody, But who is the best
cook on your team? What does she make that's so good?
Speaker 6 (30:31):
We call it comitabana and it's Cuban food, and so
she'll have us over and she'll cook Cuban food and
it's just like it's actually my favorite meal, Like I
don't think like if I could choose any meal.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Death ro it would be comedic obana but only bye habi.
But it's like it's neat, like kind of like a roast.
Speaker 6 (30:55):
It's like meat, potatoes, olives, rice beans, yucca and.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Plantings and plantains, and it's just like it's so good.
It's a comfort meal. It's home cooked me with love.
Like she really puts her foot into it.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah, we just had it recently, a couple of days ago,
but this time she invited us over to watch her
cook it. So we got the RECIPEO and we helped
her like prep everything and cook everything. So like I
was like, Wow, it's a lot of work that goes
into it. But now I see why it tastes so
good is because she makes everything from scratch and she
doesn't use anything. Yeah, everything is from scratching. We're gonna
(31:32):
make the meal one day for her. Well we're gonna tip.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Too, but yeah we know how she does it.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
So yeah we're excited. Yeah, it's amazing. It's made with
love for real. And what's the best thing that you
guys make? Uh, sour dough bread with butter from the
fireside we made.
Speaker 6 (31:56):
We make steak and potatoes a lot, Yeah, and we
like make it's pretty Chris. Yeah, like garlic steak bites
and potatoes. I feel like that's kind of our we
go to we have done it a while because of
traveling and stuff.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
But and then also we do let the spicy vodka
pasta and someone like crispy bread of chicken.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
So like, that's what if those are two standard meals
that work. If we're gonna cook that, we're probably eating
one of those two hands for sure. The vodka pasta
is the check in. It's just really really all right.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
There is one last question I want to ask you guys.
You know, with four weeks in the regular season left
in the finals to come, what are you looking forward
to the rest of this season, this inaugural season.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Honestly, I think just seeing what we can do.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
I think that we have had really high highs and
some pretty low lows.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
So I think just pushing ourselves and you know, seeing
where we can take it.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
It's honestly the first year of this league, so you know,
wanting to do our best and like put an emphasis
on continue to grow this.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
League and show people that this volleyball can be high level.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I mean, obviously everybody wants to win, and so when
it comes down to that, we will do our best
to try and do that. But I think just taking
everything that we can from this experience. I mean, it's
been what six months, and it's that will have been
the fastest.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Six months in my life. I spent three months in Italy,
and I thought I was there for three years.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
So I think that just being able to enjoy every
second of this because it's going to be a long
time until the team is reunited again, until the next
season starts.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
So I think that just being.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Able to take every single day and not taking anything
for granted.
Speaker 6 (33:24):
Yeah, obviously taking every day as an opportunity, but I
really excited to see, like I still don't think we've
peaked you up as a team, so I'm excited to
see when we peak, and I feel like we're gonna
peak at the right moment, and just being able to
do it together and like you said, like it's gonna
be a long time to re see each other again,
so just like cherishing those moments with each other.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Well, Skyler, Sylvie, it's been a pleasure speaking with you.
Thank you so much for coming on the podcast and
bestive luck the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Serving Pancakes 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 League One Volleyball. I'm your host
Tiffany Oshinsky. My co host is kat Bell. Amya Alvarez
(34:12):
is our senior producer. Our executive producers are Carrie Stett, Tamaradike,
and Lindsay Hoffman. Our marketing lead is Juwara Parker. Sound
editing and mixing by Daniel Gonzalez. Our theme music is
Pancakes by Eric W. Mast Junior Special thanks to Skyler
Fields and Sophie Fisher. Next week we'll recap Week eleven.
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