February 3, 2025 • 36 mins
Tiffany and Khat begin the latest episode of Serving Pancakes by recapping week four and LOVB Atlanta taking the top spot of the league standings. They also welcome LOVB Atlanta outside hitter and founding athlete Kelsey Cook to the podcast. The trio chats about Kelsey being a leader on the team and in the league as a whole, her life abroad, the four-match win streak that Atlanta is currently on, and Kelsey’s love of traveling and documenting her travels.
Follow Kelsey on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Follow Khat on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Co-host: Khat Bell
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hi, I'm Tiffany Oshinsky and I'm Kat though, and this
is 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 in
and around the sport. Today's episode features Love founding athlete
(00:23):
in Atlanta outside hitter Kelsey Cook. But first let's talk
about all the exciting action from week four. Kat, How
are you? You were sick this week? How are you feeling?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I've been out, down and out on Friday, but I've
been a lot better, so I can't complain right now.
I was complaining a few days ago, but now I'm
all good, all good.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, you couldn't travel, but you got to watch the matches,
which I feel like is a plus.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Right, gotta change.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Watch a lot of video, lots of scouting reports, got
a lot of synch to do, so it was great.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Well, let's kick off the week four recafs with Love
Madison hosting Love Houston with Houston putting on a show
sweeping made in twenty five nineteen twenty five seventeen twenty
five twenty one opposite Jordan Thompson shined in the match,
earning Player of the Match honors thanks to seventeen kills,
hitting three seventeen plus an ace, five digs, a block
(01:14):
and an assist. So in the last week's match she
actually hit negative. So what does she do to turn
it around in this match?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Hey, new day, new game, new day.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
You know, I think, you know, connection with micup was
flowing a lot better this week, I think. And I'm
also like, you know, maybe stressner's depending on whatever happening
in your life that day.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
You know, you just have a bad day. But she
definitely showed up the other.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Night, you know, I saw that she mentioned that it's
been a little rocky in the sense that after the
Olympics she had three months off basically until matches Starry,
where before she's been playing overseas in Europe during that
time period. So she's like, you know, it's a little
bit of a slow start. Do you find it that
when you're not playing, oh yeah, for that long you're
that off?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I mean, honestly, first of all, was like all about mindset,
because you're just on your off time, you're relax and
you're chilling, hanging out doing whatever you want to do
for us, like diet and exercise, and to go back
to compete in a high level and trying to get
your mind back to go on a certain schedule is difficult, definitely,
And volleyball you can lose it in three days if
you're not doing anything. So I'm actually thinking about that now.
Starting practice tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You'll be great. The sickness just got you a little bit,
be just fine. I believe in you.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Madison has lost four in a row and are at
the bottom of the standings at one in five. Now,
a lot of those losses actually came when they were
like fifteen fifteen, sixteen sixteen and they just couldn't close
it out. So how do you get over that mental
hump to finish strong and get the win.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
I think it's one thing that all the team are
bowling right now. I think even last night you saw
that Austin was up and then just kind of lost
it in. I think Madison go into each game, but
depending a lot of on lot on Sarah. I think
that they were an offense little bit more and get
the other hitters kind of attacking getting the ball down.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
All right, let's move to the next match. On Friday,
we saw Love Atlanta sweep Love Salt Lake at home
twenty five twenty two, twenty five twenty two, twenty five
twenty back to back sweeps this week. Pretty exciting. So
let's talk about Atlanta. What were they doing that Selta
just couldn't stop.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I think one thing Alana's doing is they're kind of
getting into that six too. Everybody else is playing the
sixt two right now. I think its benefiting a lot
of teams if you can have an attacker that's going
to go up and hit the ball in the front
court every.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Rotation, I think is the best thing to do.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
They use Danielle a little bit more this week, I
think also, and this test has also been great for
them this entire season so far. So they're definitely run
their offense a lot more with having all six players
out in the court all rotations.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Speaking of offense, outside hitter Mackenzie Adams was named a
Player of the match with thirteen kills, six in that
third set, an ace, a block, and thirteen digs. Now,
Mackenzie has been an absolute force internationally, but now she's
making a name for herself here in the States. So
talk about mackenzie and how she plays, Like, what does
she do that's so great?
Speaker 3 (03:44):
McKenzie's an athlete.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
I don't know if we've seen on social media right
now they're showing her, you know, playing basketball and throwing
the ball around. I've been able to watch McKenzie since
she was in college at UTSA, and she'sn't always in
a phenomenal athlete. I think right now they're finding that
fastball to her on the outside, which is obviously helping
out her offense a lot. So she's just been great.
I think she's a great dynamic player and being able
to go out there and showcase her abilities and her
talent as working well for Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Moving to Saturday's games, your team Love Austin could have
used some cat Bill charisma there, missing the energy.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
They were missing the yells and the screaming and the
dancing on the sidelines for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
For sure, because they ended up losing a very hard
fought battle. Let's let's give them a lot of credit.
But you know they did lose to Love Salt Lake
in five sets, twenty two, twenty five, twenty five, nineteen twenty,
twenty five, twenty seven to twenty five, fifteen twelve. Now,
that fourth set was like a game changer, right, If
Austin could have just held on, they would have won
(04:39):
the match. Instead, that set went into overtime and they
ultimately lost the fifth set. So what did your team
need to do to overcome and pull out a W.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I think just being a little more consistent and the
offense once in transition, you know, I think they were
a little mishaps attacking the ball, little whifs coming now,
and then also just being smart about location where the
balls when your setter is Obviously there was kind of
some tough calls as well. There were some balls that
may've been in, it may have been out and not
really sure. It was definitely a well fat battle, but
just closing out as the biggest thing, I said going
(05:10):
on for all teams to figure out that huge hump
to get over and.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
The Salt Lakes wind came after being swept by Atlanta
the night before in opposite Skyler Fields, was a big
reason for Saturday's victory. She finished the match of twenty
five kills. Six of those came during that fifth set,
six blocks, five digs and an assist to talk about
Skyler and what she does to be so dominant.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
No, I'm so proud of her. I've bought scholars and
she was in high school and she's like my little baby,
you know. And to see her being a dominant opposite
in this league right now, it's just so early on
in the season is great. I think she's given the
outside their money because she's on all ends from the
four to the from the fourth or to two, she's.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Attacking how over the block.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Her offense in the back on the back Grook right
now is definitely undefeated, connected repolter.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
So she's bringing a lot of heat, all.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Right, So I want to do something a little different today.
Love posted this killed by Haley Washington with the caption
did y'all feel that earthquake?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
It's a slide delivered to Washington.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
It was a sick kill you.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Can you break down this play and that swing for us?
I mean, how does Haley get the power and precision
to crush a kill like that? And you know in
case players who are listening want to try to replicate it.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
So if you're an amazing slide attacker, this is a
great slide attempt to run in front of your cetter,
something that's been going going on as I was playing
in high school as well. Hailey Washington's amazing slide attacker,
So you can get her to run a slide in
front and behind.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
It's great.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Obviously she's just taking that quick step just like she
would do around the cetter. She's going right in front
of her, hiking that right leg up and going trick
for the ball. I think it's a hard ball to hit. Definitely,
definitely to defend, I would say, because she has that
sharp angle going down the body and then a cross
corking back.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Around just like she was going to run a slide.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
So I think it's a great play to use, very
something very difficult to stop. And she showed that she
can put the ball away every single time, so it
was great, m all right.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
In the final match of the weekend, Love Omaha versus
Love Atlanta. This was my match of the week, and
I was actually shocked by the outcome because I thought
the defense it was just gonna end up being a
battle both offensively and defensively, and I thought it was
going to go to five sets, super close, but instead
Atlanta beat Omaha in four sets, twenty one, twenty five.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Wait, so you want it? You want to Omaha to win?
Is that what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
No, I just thought it was going to be tighter.
I just thought it was going to be like, like, oh,
I'm playing favorites favorite.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
No favorites, no favorite, her favorite.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Team while I'm on the phone. That's crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
No, no, no favorites. Just I thought it was going to
be like, you know, twenty seven twenty.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Five Saturday, I was like, minute, let me make sure
that wasn't that thought.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
It was okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
No.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
But the match, the scores were twenty one, twenty five,
twenty five, twenty two, twenty five, twenty two, and then
twenty five twenty and So now after this win, Atlanta
is a top the Love leader board at four and one.
What did they do separate themselves from the rest of
the league.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
I think they're finding that connection. Have Kelsey Cook, who's
an amazing outside hitter. She's been doing all them since
the first match of the season. They're finding an offense
amongst everyone, I think, and the defense Liberos are playing well,
so they're finding the rhythm I think coming around all.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Right, Well, let's talk about opposite Danielle Katino, who was
named player of the match. She mentioned her in Friday's
game about how she was stepping up, and in this
match she had sixteen kills two blocks in a dig.
And you know, Danielle has been improving week in and
week out. So what stands out to you about her game?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
You know, I've been watching Danielle for a while as well,
and I know personally and I think it's just, you know,
it can be sometimes a mind block. I think Danielle is.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
A great vollball player.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
She doesn't happen to do much to be as awesome
as she is, Like you know, her trying to show
her potential. She doesn't even do any that she's going
to be great regardless. I think just come into the situation.
It's a different cetter trying to figure out your rhythm
and different attackers and blockers around. I think we haven't
seen a lot of her, but I think we'll be
getting to see her enough coming up soon. So she's
been great, definitely.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
All Right, Now that we went over week four, let's
talk about Week five and which matches were So First,
we got the Battle of the Lone Star State with
your team, Love Austin hosting Love Houston on Wednesday, then
salt Lake hosts Atlanta to kick off Weekend with Love
on Friday, and for Saturday's doubleheader, we start with Love
Madison versus Love Atlanta, followed by Love Omaha versus Love
(09:20):
salt Lake. So which match are you excited for?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
You know, I gotta.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Go with the Long Star Battle just because last time
we played Houston, as you know, we lost.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
You know, Maddi Keenan.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Had a good job, did a great job. MICA's an
amazing centter obviously, so I think it's a little bit
of a revenge. You know, They're coming into our town now,
and I'm happing to host them and excited to potentially
get to win.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
You know, I'm going to actually go with Love Madison
versus Atlanta. I know Madison is at the bottom of
the rankings and Atlanta's at the top of the rankings,
but I feel like there's something in Madison that there.
This is kind of like, all right, we're done losing. Yeah,
watch out Atlanta. I don't care how good you guys are.
The I think that this is going to be like
a fun a fun step up match for them.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So yeah, do you watch that? It was me?
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I think Atlanta's bruined something over there. You know, they're
finding some some heat over there. They're finding connections. So
it's gonna be be a well fault match. I think
all the matches don't be really good to watch this week.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Definitely. All right, Well, we're going to take a break
right now, but when we return, Love Atlanta's Kelsey Cook
joins us to talk about League One volleyball, her journey
to joining the league, and so much more, And we're
(10:41):
back with Love Atlanta outside hitter Kelsey Cook. Originally from Bartlett, Illinois,
Kelsey played collegiately at Tennessee and Nebraska, where she earned
two All American honors. She's a three time Olympic medalist,
earning a bronze in her Olympic debut in twenty sixteen
in Rio, a Golden Tokyo in twenty twenty, and silver
and pair in twenty twenty four. Kelsey has been playing
(11:02):
professionally for over a decade. While playing overseas, she won
three Club World Championships, two Champions League titles, five League championships,
and eight Cup or Super Cup titles. She's also a
lover of animal and avid photographer, a fashion guru, and
now she's bringing all those passions and her volleyball dominance
back to the States playing for Love Atlanta. Kelsey, Welcome
(11:24):
to serving pancakes.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
Thank you. I'm excited to be here.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
We're very excited to have you. Now. I want to
actually start with everything. You know, you've been professional overseas
for all these years. Now we're here in the States playing.
What's it like.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
It's been very surreal. I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
There's moments where I'm like just packing a normal American
outlet plug and using my driver's license to go on
the plane, and just little things like that, going to
the grocery store, all the things that make overseas what
it is. And then you come back here in the
ease and convenience of it all. I'm just grateful to
(12:01):
be here and help start this thing.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
You know, I didn't even think about the whole plug
outlet situation, did you, guys? I mean, both of you
played overseas for so long. Did you end up buying
like appliances like hair dryers and straighteners specifically for the
countries that you like lived in for a few months.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
Oh yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
I mean, I'm overseas more than I am in America,
so I actually like have more like appliance as an outlet,
things just ready adapters, all the things for overseas rather
than America. Sometimes it's I don't even have the American outlet,
which is like such a silly thing, but it is
just part of life.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
I recently bought like a really nice blow drawing. I
was in Japan and I had an adapter and pumping
into the wall and damn near blue sockets.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
So it's we're still trying to fiure those things out.
I don't know Volta Jie, I don't know Volta juice.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
So yeah, oh jeez. Well, Kelsey, you are one of
the founding athletes. Actually, weren't you the first athlete to
sign with Love?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (12:56):
I was.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, So how did this come about? How did they
approach you? What kind of went through your mind? I mean,
and knowing that you were the first, like what were
you thinking?
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Yeah, So I'm really good friends with Emily Hartong who
works with Love, and she was like, hey, let's have
a conversation.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
I just want to kind of talk to you about
this new league we're trying to form.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
And for me, I think because I've heard so many
different leagues wanting to form, I kind of had that conversation.
Speaker 5 (13:25):
As like a favor and just Emily is my girl.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
So I was like, yeah, listen, and I think in
the back of my mind I had already anticipated just
probably not being super excited about it, and just it
is what it is. And then as I was listening
to it and understanding the why behind, how they were
going to do it, how they were going to build
this league, the model, all the things, I got off
(13:52):
the phone and I said to my husband, I said,
I think this can work, Like I think this can
be the way it has to be done. And after
that initial conversation, I continued to have conversations with Caitlin
and Rosie and we.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Had conversations for years.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
So when it came time to sign, it's still nerve wrapping,
you know, it's still nerve wrapping to be the first and.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
Not really know what that is going to look like.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Especially I signed two years out, so there was a
lot of faith and a lot of hope that it
would be what we had anticipated. But yeah, I'm just
proud to stand here today, and I think I had
tears in my eyes the first time I saw our
home gym and all the hard work that it's taken
to get to this point. I were always moving forward
(14:41):
as people, and we always want to make things better.
But I think I can sit in a lot of
gratitude for the present moment and where we are today.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Kind of coming off what you're saying, I just wanted
to ask you, you know, going through those stresses of
that pressure and trying to be in a capain of
your team, you have so much things to do.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
How are you handling that by yourself?
Speaker 5 (14:59):
It's been learning experience.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
I think I wear multiple hats and kind of trying to.
I think in the beginning, I was carrying a lot
of because I'm a founding athlete, because I was the first,
I am responsible for everybody's experience here. And I sat
down with Rosie and expressed that after it became too much.
(15:22):
And I think that's one of the things I'm most
grateful for is my relationship with the women in this
league that helped formlessly. Because they're guiding me and helping me.
They never wanted to feel too much for me, and
they never want any of our athletes to feel that,
and so to be able as an athlete to go
to your CEO, the people in charge and be, hey,
(15:47):
this is what I'm experiencing, and they're going to listen
to me, and they're going to help provide tools for me.
It's just such a unique experience because overseas it's sink
or swim. You're on your own and you make that
experience what it is and you have to survive. And
here I feel so supported. I love that they listen.
(16:09):
I love that this league is about championing women and
putting women in executive roles, putting women in coaching roles,
and more opportunities for women to play, so all of
the things.
Speaker 5 (16:20):
I just feel inspired daily to be here.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Not to jump ahead in your career, because I want
you to keep playing volleyball as long as you want,
but are you thinking of that next role, like potential executive?
And you know, maybe I will say I am very vocal.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
I think everybody knows that, and I'm not afraid to
like have the hard conversation. So I think they're people
are instilling belief in me and like what I could
be beyond the athletics side, and I feel very excited
about that.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
I would say I would be happy to explore.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
Opportunities potentially in like ownership or running a team.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
I know it.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
I know to me, I know what it takes to
be successful, and not just as an athlete or winning,
but I know what like a great club looks like
and how they treat their players and employees, and I
think that's essential to success.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
So I feel that it would be it would be.
I guess the next step for me is how I
would feel about it.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
I just feel like this is just so important to
like have you guys be back here and be part
of that so people can know your experiences overseas and
you'll be able to bring those positive aspects of the
game back here to the States for the other girls
to have the opportunity to experience that.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
It's just really amazing and we thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
And I also know because being a founder athlete, you
kind of, you know, help us out and talk about
things and maybe we can't have a voice to speak
up about that kind of thing. So we are definitely
like thankful for you guys and do that for us.
Speaker 5 (17:55):
We really do appreciate that I appreciate that cut.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
That means a lot, because I think there's days where
all for sure that I'm not failing or I'm not
doing all that I can.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
And at the same time.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
If I'm not full, if I'm not one hundred percent,
I can't do those things.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
So it's been unbalancing and I'm trying.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
To do I'm about to cry.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
I think, just like embracing the challenge and learning, like
trying to learn and like do the best that I
can every day and like be better for everybody around me.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Yeah, it's also like super human to you know, feel
that you're going to have high and lows. It's not
going to be perfect every single time. But I feel
like the fact that you put your best foot forar
and you have people like Kat and all the other
girls in the league on your team who can see
what you're doing, and even like the club girls, you know,
I feel like having somebody who's willing to put their
foot forward and show that they really care is such
(18:49):
a huge you know, it's it's a role model. It's inspirational,
and it's attractive for everybody, no matter what age you
are or what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
And it's definitely. It's definitely noticed.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Like I've followed you since you're at tennis See, and
I think that's what you've been doing this whole entire time,
your current tire career is putting that best foot forward.
And like seeing you go from Tennessee to Nebraska and
witness your career abroad and like national team, like you've
done some really really big things. I think that maybe
you didn't have how many people expect you to do,
and you've just been a rock star. And I think
it's been great obviously you coming back here and be
able to bring your teammates from the national team and
(19:19):
compete against them.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
It's also fun too.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Got to see no I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
I think we see success and we see you know,
if you look at my career on paper, like I've
been really blessed and lucky to have such wonderful experiences,
but going through it, it's not like bring bows and better.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
It's like there's so much that there were days I
wanted to quit.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
There were years I wanted to quit, and there were
days that I hated the sport. I was trying to
make the game as fast as possible so I didn't
have to like be there. And success isn't an upward trajectory.
It's the ability to stay consistent over time and to.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
Know like why you're showing up.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
And yeah, I think we're all imperfect and our experiences
can be challenging, but like I said, the ability to
like continue to show up.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
What do you say to yourself or what do you
do to get over that hump when you do have
those loves?
Speaker 5 (20:18):
I think for me it's always been about like the people.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
Whenever I have challenges on the court, or if I
am feeling like I don't know that I'm not performing
well or I'm just not enjoying it, whatever it might be,
I make it about like everyone else around me. So
I'll go in with the intention to make it about
(20:44):
a player who maybe doesn't see the court, or who
works really hard every single day and doesn't get her
shot or whatever.
Speaker 5 (20:51):
It is not always that player, but like somebody who.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Like I want to be around, and so for me,
I try to like celebrate that person because it takes
me out of myself. So when they get a great dig,
when they get a great swing, whatever, if I can
give advice in any way and we win that game
or that drill. For me, it's about that person and
then maybe another day it's about another person. But it
just takes me outside of myself, and that, I think
(21:16):
is the point. Is like when we play for ourselves,
when we play with like the vision of how am
I doing, how am I performing, You're naturally just not
going to I guess, reach what you want to reach
or maximum maximize your potential. And I think that's the
beautiful side of volleyball is that it's a true team sport.
It's like one of the only works that you absolutely
(21:38):
need every.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
Single person to make it work.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
So just being able to go outside of myself really
takes all that pressure in that weight that I feel off.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Speaking of your team, I mean, you guys are top
of the standings right now, you guys are dottle bit.
I mean, how does it feel to you know, to
eat number one currently? It's been four weeks and what
has that process been like since you started in week
one to today? I mean, you guys had the first serve.
(22:09):
You guys had the very first inaugural match in Atlanta,
So how has it been in this you know, a
few weeks?
Speaker 4 (22:14):
I think truthfully, first serve was very nerve wracking. I
think we all felt it, and it was something that
was like this is the first the person and it's
at our home gym and everything. So I feel like
we definitely were feeling that a little bit, and it's
taken us a little bit to find our stride.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
I feel like every time people do something well or
we do something well.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
It's like another feather in our cap of like belief
and knowing. But I would say, I mean belief is
so powerful, like whether or not you're the best team
in the league, or the most talented players or whatever
it is. It's the team that can believe and not
just like believe that we can do it, but like
to your core that even down by two, three, four points,
(23:00):
by set, down by two sets, like we can still
do this. And I'm seeing that every game get a
little bit stronger, a little bit stronger, a little bit stronger,
and then finding our identity as a team, and I.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
Think finding our strengths.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
I think we were unsure a little bit about what
we would look like, but we definitely have some huge
strengths that we can use to our advantage.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
I think the cool part about the league.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Is anyone can win any given night, like it just
really balanced. So yeah, we're sitting at number one, but
anything can happen. Every team can compete, and so that's
the challenge. Like every night, you don't get a day
off when you go to play. There's no yeah we
got this one. It's we're in a battle, and that's
really cool.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
You guys are playing salt Lake this coming week and
week five and you just swept them in week four.
So is when you go into a match like this
knowing you just swept a team you're about to play
them again, do you kind of go in with the
same attitude or are you clean slate like you're a
goldfish you forgot what happened? Type of situation.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
I mean, for me, never I never go into a
game like, yeah, we got this.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
I think that is the worst mentality.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
And salt Lake is really good and they have the
altitude thing going on because we.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Played there every season. I just like, can anybody breathe
because I can't breathe. So we'll have to adjust to
that for sure.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
But I mean, salt Lake has some incredible players, they're difficult.
Just because we swept them doesn't mean we're going to
do it again. So I'm just looking to get better,
Like when we play them, I want to see us
get better and execute a little bit more. I thought
we did some things well, but I think there's areas
that I would like to see us improven.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
How are you guys managing the quick turnaround? So obviously
you're playing against one team and you have to want
a certain defense or offense, and the next time you're
going to get another different team that's like a complete opposite.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
So how are you guys managing switching back and forth.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
I do a lot of scouting myself. I just like
to have a good game plan and stuff. So I
chart all the hitters and and then with Paulo's like
game plan as well, we can kind of like talk
together and find a system that we want to work
with with block and defense. But yeah, I think just
understanding like what is the tendencies, At least for me
(25:17):
as a player, it helps me to.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
Like direct better on the court.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
And I think the hardest part is that there's so
many options as a lineup.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Anyone's running the six to two right now.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
It's you're not just like for me, if I'm charting
or scouting, I'm not looking at like six players.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
And like the whole roster, yes.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
And most of these games go five. I'm like charting
like but it really helps.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
It helps me to understand like where is the heat
of the core, and also like if I can watch
the game. I am very much a bully nerd, which
is like I don't like to give that.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
Off, but when it's good, it's good.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
I watch every game.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I'm watching everything and watching the Italian League and watching
college and watching this and I just want to have
the idea for what is going to give us small
advantages here and there.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Did you have the time to watch all that stuff
like all the other leagues when you were playing international.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
I've watched a lot of it.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
I think I didn't watch a lot of college volleyball
actually when I was overseas if at all, because of
a the time difference. And then this year, because we've
had so much time, I've gotten to watch a lot
of the Endgable life. So it's been cool to be
back in this world, to be in the youth space,
to be in the college space and seeing this game.
(26:41):
And of course there's things that I would like to
see like change, but for me, the level has been
awesome to watch, Like, I'm really impressed with the level
and I'm excited for.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
These players coming up.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
We'll be back with more from our interview with Kelsey
Cook Makeelsea. I want to ask you a few questions
(27:15):
about Kelsey the person as opposed to Kelsey the athlete,
because I find your you know, everything that you do
is so fascinating. The first thing is your social media,
your social media presence and TikTok presence and everything. What
made you want to be kind of like this influencer
and like put yourself out there that much?
Speaker 5 (27:34):
Yeah, I think it was never this intention to like.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
Be an influencer, but you know, everybody needs a personality
hire everyone also. But yeah, So when I was in Italy,
so I'm a journalism major, and when I was in Italy,
my first season in Europe, I was we were we
weren't in Champions League, so we played once a week
and I was a little bit bored. So I started
(28:00):
kind of like writing. I used to have a website
and I would write all my travels. I love to
travel and I love finding like the hidden jams, like
local places and stuff, so I would like log a
lot of that and then naturally that developed into the
YouTube channel and sharing what it's like to.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
Be a professional volleyball player abroad.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
I think travel was always like my niche, even if
it wasn't like my audience's niche. I just it's like
so easy for me to do and like natural. And
then I've done photography since I was like five, like
had a camera in my hand the whole time, and
I think I really enjoy expressing myself on Instagram with
(28:41):
my photography, and then ultimately I think it turned into.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
Just sharing that we are more than our sport. We're human.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
There's a humanness to us, and I think it's important
for our ability to play this sport for a long time,
to feel whole and all that we were doing, and
to know that there is more beyond, because I think
we get caught up in the validation of wins and
losses and making an Olympic roster, making national.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Team, whatever it might be.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
What I've experienced is there's just so much more, and
I think we don't talk about that.
Speaker 5 (29:20):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
What was your first camera that you got when you
were five? What kind of camera was it?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
I had like the old digital ones, But what I
remember was like begging for this, like DVR. It was
like an old kind of VHS looking camera, but then
it had like a little disc.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
To do like a DVD and you could record on it.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
And I used to do like I would make news
broadcasts and I would like film everything, and then I
like would enter I had a old little digital camera
and I would enter like contests as a kid in
the newspaper.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
Really actually one one. I I just remember the paper.
It was like you one, that's so cute.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Yeah, that's awesome. Did what was the contest? Do you
remember what? Like the photography like the video was.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
A weekly like a weekly best photo of our little.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
Town in Bartlett, And I just submit my photos in
one time I won.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
That's so cool. Do you still use like an actual
DSLR camera for pictures or do you mainly use your phone?
Speaker 4 (30:25):
So I actually shoot only on film now when I'm
shooting images, So I have like a medium format. I
have all my cameras right here, but I have a
point and shoot medium format thirty five. So yeah, I
like film. I just think it has so much emotion
behind it, and you have you get one shot. You know,
(30:47):
you're not like rifling off photos so I think it
just captures like what I was feeling when I'm looking
at what I wanted to take a picture of.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
So we had Mattie Bug on the podcast a few
weeks ago and she said that you were living on
a nature.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Preserve with her.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
Yes, we live in the forest.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
How did that come about?
Speaker 5 (31:10):
I really am big on like where you live.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
It like it's your place, your safe place where you
find peace and stuff.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
So everywhere I've lived.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
This started kind of in the leader part of my career,
but I made sure like where I'm living, I'm really
happy there.
Speaker 5 (31:27):
So when I'm on national team, I lived in.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
Manhattan Beach on the water and I lived there for
like seven years, and it's.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
Kind of a barge to do that drive.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
But the minute I crossed over to get home and
I could see the ocean, it didn't matter like what
happened at the gym.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
It's like, I have this life here and I can
leave it there.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
And so I think that's super important just for my
mental health and well being.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
And so I love being around nature.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
We found this super cool place and it's I mean,
I'm used to ver sUAS in California, where their square
footage is like teeny tiny.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
So when I walked in, I was like.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Whoa, And I was so excited for my cats because
I was like, he'll get stairs and you could see
them use the stairs for the first time.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
Was like the cutest thing ever.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
Heard, Like, how old are your cats?
Speaker 5 (32:21):
We have guys our oldest he's seven. I got him
in Turkey.
Speaker 4 (32:26):
He was a little sick boy in is Stumble and
we rescued him and then I just rescued are He's
like one. And I got him in Italy last year
when I played Addiemoco.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
So they're like.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
At this point, I think they're like a bonded pair
because they're just obsessed with each other's so sweet.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
So this is also a very random question, and Kat,
I don't know if you have any other questions you
want to ask, but this is a random question that
I saw when doing my research and your wiki page.
So is that your nickname is Kesha?
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Is this true? And how did this come about?
Speaker 4 (33:03):
It was really like my first probably six years on
the national team. Maybe the national team was like a whirlwind,
and I definitely didn't predict that in my future by
any means. And so coming out of college I was
just kind of like alone for the rag with all
of it, and it's like, really, okay, you made a
(33:23):
rof Stert was like great. So I think I was
a little young in the mentality of it all. So
we went to Hawaii one like red white scrimmage that
we had going versut Brazil, and I showed up in
like covered in flash chats, like all over my arms
(33:44):
and you know he remember flash chats, Okay, So like
gold sparkles everywhere looking back like horrifying, And.
Speaker 5 (33:55):
I don't know. I just was like always like dancing
and singing and kind.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
Of just like well, so the girls called me Kesha
and that kind of just stuck for a long time,
it was. And then in Italy it was easier for
them to say Kesh than Kelsey, like Kelsey's hard in Italian.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
So Kesh just stuck for a long time. So that's
kind of the story.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Amazing. Any any other questions you have, Kat, just for
the youth.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
You know, what's one thing you would tell your young
Kelsey self?
Speaker 4 (34:24):
Now?
Speaker 3 (34:24):
Would you tell her today?
Speaker 5 (34:26):
Hmm? I think.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
I would say to learn and practice patients. I'm somebody
who wants to get better right away, who wants everything now.
I want to change, I want to be better, I
want to be great. I want to win now and
in all areas of my life. And I think just
learning and practicing that patience and being consistent. And then
(34:54):
I think to say, I don't think we saved enough,
But to tell your younger self, I'm proud of us,
you know, I'm proud of like, look at where we are.
I think I often get caught up in what's next,
and so to sit in like, let's be proud of
the things we've done and it's been hard, but we're here.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Well, Kelsey, it's been a pleasure speaking with you, and
thank you so much for joining us on Serving Pancakes
and best of luck the rest of the season.
Speaker 5 (35:27):
Thank you guys so much. This is fun.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
Yes, thanks Kelsey. 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.
(35:50):
Amya Alvarez is our senior producer. Our Executive producers are
Carrie Stett, Tamaradike, and Lindsay Hoffman. Our marketing lead is
Juara Parker. Sound editing and mixing by Daniel Gonzalez. Our
theme music is Pancakes by Eric W. Mast Junior special
thanks to Kelsey Cook. Stay tuned for next week's episode,
(36:12):
where we'll recap week five. Thanks for listening.
Hi, I'm Tiffany Oshinsky and I'm Kat though, and this
is 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 in
and around the sport. Today's episode features Love founding athlete
(00:23):
in Atlanta outside hitter Kelsey Cook. But first let's talk
about all the exciting action from week four. Kat, How
are you? You were sick this week? How are you feeling?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I've been out, down and out on Friday, but I've
been a lot better, so I can't complain right now.
I was complaining a few days ago, but now I'm
all good, all good.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, you couldn't travel, but you got to watch the matches,
which I feel like is a plus.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Right, gotta change.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Watch a lot of video, lots of scouting reports, got
a lot of synch to do, so it was great.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Well, let's kick off the week four recafs with Love
Madison hosting Love Houston with Houston putting on a show
sweeping made in twenty five nineteen twenty five seventeen twenty
five twenty one opposite Jordan Thompson shined in the match,
earning Player of the Match honors thanks to seventeen kills,
hitting three seventeen plus an ace, five digs, a block
(01:14):
and an assist. So in the last week's match she
actually hit negative. So what does she do to turn
it around in this match?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Hey, new day, new game, new day.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
You know, I think, you know, connection with micup was
flowing a lot better this week, I think. And I'm
also like, you know, maybe stressner's depending on whatever happening
in your life that day.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
You know, you just have a bad day. But she
definitely showed up the other.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Night, you know, I saw that she mentioned that it's
been a little rocky in the sense that after the
Olympics she had three months off basically until matches Starry,
where before she's been playing overseas in Europe during that
time period. So she's like, you know, it's a little
bit of a slow start. Do you find it that
when you're not playing, oh yeah, for that long you're
that off?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I mean, honestly, first of all, was like all about mindset,
because you're just on your off time, you're relax and
you're chilling, hanging out doing whatever you want to do
for us, like diet and exercise, and to go back
to compete in a high level and trying to get
your mind back to go on a certain schedule is difficult, definitely,
And volleyball you can lose it in three days if
you're not doing anything. So I'm actually thinking about that now.
Starting practice tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You'll be great. The sickness just got you a little bit,
be just fine. I believe in you.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Madison has lost four in a row and are at
the bottom of the standings at one in five. Now,
a lot of those losses actually came when they were
like fifteen fifteen, sixteen sixteen and they just couldn't close
it out. So how do you get over that mental
hump to finish strong and get the win.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
I think it's one thing that all the team are
bowling right now. I think even last night you saw
that Austin was up and then just kind of lost
it in. I think Madison go into each game, but
depending a lot of on lot on Sarah. I think
that they were an offense little bit more and get
the other hitters kind of attacking getting the ball down.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
All right, let's move to the next match. On Friday,
we saw Love Atlanta sweep Love Salt Lake at home
twenty five twenty two, twenty five twenty two, twenty five
twenty back to back sweeps this week. Pretty exciting. So
let's talk about Atlanta. What were they doing that Selta
just couldn't stop.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I think one thing Alana's doing is they're kind of
getting into that six too. Everybody else is playing the
sixt two right now. I think its benefiting a lot
of teams if you can have an attacker that's going
to go up and hit the ball in the front
court every.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Rotation, I think is the best thing to do.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
They use Danielle a little bit more this week, I
think also, and this test has also been great for
them this entire season so far. So they're definitely run
their offense a lot more with having all six players
out in the court all rotations.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Speaking of offense, outside hitter Mackenzie Adams was named a
Player of the match with thirteen kills, six in that
third set, an ace, a block, and thirteen digs. Now,
Mackenzie has been an absolute force internationally, but now she's
making a name for herself here in the States. So
talk about mackenzie and how she plays, Like, what does
she do that's so great?
Speaker 3 (03:44):
McKenzie's an athlete.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
I don't know if we've seen on social media right
now they're showing her, you know, playing basketball and throwing
the ball around. I've been able to watch McKenzie since
she was in college at UTSA, and she'sn't always in
a phenomenal athlete. I think right now they're finding that
fastball to her on the outside, which is obviously helping
out her offense a lot. So she's just been great.
I think she's a great dynamic player and being able
to go out there and showcase her abilities and her
talent as working well for Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Moving to Saturday's games, your team Love Austin could have
used some cat Bill charisma there, missing the energy.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
They were missing the yells and the screaming and the
dancing on the sidelines for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
For sure, because they ended up losing a very hard
fought battle. Let's let's give them a lot of credit.
But you know they did lose to Love Salt Lake
in five sets, twenty two, twenty five, twenty five, nineteen twenty,
twenty five, twenty seven to twenty five, fifteen twelve. Now,
that fourth set was like a game changer, right, If
Austin could have just held on, they would have won
(04:39):
the match. Instead, that set went into overtime and they
ultimately lost the fifth set. So what did your team
need to do to overcome and pull out a W.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I think just being a little more consistent and the
offense once in transition, you know, I think they were
a little mishaps attacking the ball, little whifs coming now,
and then also just being smart about location where the
balls when your setter is Obviously there was kind of
some tough calls as well. There were some balls that
may've been in, it may have been out and not
really sure. It was definitely a well fat battle, but
just closing out as the biggest thing, I said going
(05:10):
on for all teams to figure out that huge hump
to get over and.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
The Salt Lakes wind came after being swept by Atlanta
the night before in opposite Skyler Fields, was a big
reason for Saturday's victory. She finished the match of twenty
five kills. Six of those came during that fifth set,
six blocks, five digs and an assist to talk about
Skyler and what she does to be so dominant.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
No, I'm so proud of her. I've bought scholars and
she was in high school and she's like my little baby,
you know. And to see her being a dominant opposite
in this league right now, it's just so early on
in the season is great. I think she's given the
outside their money because she's on all ends from the
four to the from the fourth or to two, she's.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Attacking how over the block.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Her offense in the back on the back Grook right
now is definitely undefeated, connected repolter.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
So she's bringing a lot of heat, all.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Right, So I want to do something a little different today.
Love posted this killed by Haley Washington with the caption
did y'all feel that earthquake?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
It's a slide delivered to Washington.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
It was a sick kill you.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Can you break down this play and that swing for us?
I mean, how does Haley get the power and precision
to crush a kill like that? And you know in
case players who are listening want to try to replicate it.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
So if you're an amazing slide attacker, this is a
great slide attempt to run in front of your cetter,
something that's been going going on as I was playing
in high school as well. Hailey Washington's amazing slide attacker,
So you can get her to run a slide in
front and behind.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
It's great.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Obviously she's just taking that quick step just like she
would do around the cetter. She's going right in front
of her, hiking that right leg up and going trick
for the ball. I think it's a hard ball to hit. Definitely,
definitely to defend, I would say, because she has that
sharp angle going down the body and then a cross
corking back.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Around just like she was going to run a slide.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
So I think it's a great play to use, very
something very difficult to stop. And she showed that she
can put the ball away every single time, so it
was great, m all right.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
In the final match of the weekend, Love Omaha versus
Love Atlanta. This was my match of the week, and
I was actually shocked by the outcome because I thought
the defense it was just gonna end up being a
battle both offensively and defensively, and I thought it was
going to go to five sets, super close, but instead
Atlanta beat Omaha in four sets, twenty one, twenty five.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Wait, so you want it? You want to Omaha to win?
Is that what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
No, I just thought it was going to be tighter.
I just thought it was going to be like, like, oh,
I'm playing favorites favorite.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
No favorites, no favorite, her favorite.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Team while I'm on the phone. That's crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
No, no, no favorites. Just I thought it was going to
be like, you know, twenty seven twenty.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Five Saturday, I was like, minute, let me make sure
that wasn't that thought.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
It was okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
No.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
But the match, the scores were twenty one, twenty five,
twenty five, twenty two, twenty five, twenty two, and then
twenty five twenty and So now after this win, Atlanta
is a top the Love leader board at four and one.
What did they do separate themselves from the rest of
the league.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
I think they're finding that connection. Have Kelsey Cook, who's
an amazing outside hitter. She's been doing all them since
the first match of the season. They're finding an offense
amongst everyone, I think, and the defense Liberos are playing well,
so they're finding the rhythm I think coming around all.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Right, Well, let's talk about opposite Danielle Katino, who was
named player of the match. She mentioned her in Friday's
game about how she was stepping up, and in this
match she had sixteen kills two blocks in a dig.
And you know, Danielle has been improving week in and
week out. So what stands out to you about her game?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
You know, I've been watching Danielle for a while as well,
and I know personally and I think it's just, you know,
it can be sometimes a mind block. I think Danielle is.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
A great vollball player.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
She doesn't happen to do much to be as awesome
as she is, Like you know, her trying to show
her potential. She doesn't even do any that she's going
to be great regardless. I think just come into the situation.
It's a different cetter trying to figure out your rhythm
and different attackers and blockers around. I think we haven't
seen a lot of her, but I think we'll be
getting to see her enough coming up soon. So she's
been great, definitely.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
All Right, Now that we went over week four, let's
talk about Week five and which matches were So First,
we got the Battle of the Lone Star State with
your team, Love Austin hosting Love Houston on Wednesday, then
salt Lake hosts Atlanta to kick off Weekend with Love
on Friday, and for Saturday's doubleheader, we start with Love
Madison versus Love Atlanta, followed by Love Omaha versus Love
(09:20):
salt Lake. So which match are you excited for?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
You know, I gotta.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Go with the Long Star Battle just because last time
we played Houston, as you know, we lost.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
You know, Maddi Keenan.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Had a good job, did a great job. MICA's an
amazing centter obviously, so I think it's a little bit
of a revenge. You know, They're coming into our town now,
and I'm happing to host them and excited to potentially
get to win.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
You know, I'm going to actually go with Love Madison
versus Atlanta. I know Madison is at the bottom of
the rankings and Atlanta's at the top of the rankings,
but I feel like there's something in Madison that there.
This is kind of like, all right, we're done losing. Yeah,
watch out Atlanta. I don't care how good you guys are.
The I think that this is going to be like
a fun a fun step up match for them.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So yeah, do you watch that? It was me?
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I think Atlanta's bruined something over there. You know, they're
finding some some heat over there. They're finding connections. So
it's gonna be be a well fault match. I think
all the matches don't be really good to watch this week.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Definitely. All right, Well, we're going to take a break
right now, but when we return, Love Atlanta's Kelsey Cook
joins us to talk about League One volleyball, her journey
to joining the league, and so much more, And we're
(10:41):
back with Love Atlanta outside hitter Kelsey Cook. Originally from Bartlett, Illinois,
Kelsey played collegiately at Tennessee and Nebraska, where she earned
two All American honors. She's a three time Olympic medalist,
earning a bronze in her Olympic debut in twenty sixteen
in Rio, a Golden Tokyo in twenty twenty, and silver
and pair in twenty twenty four. Kelsey has been playing
(11:02):
professionally for over a decade. While playing overseas, she won
three Club World Championships, two Champions League titles, five League championships,
and eight Cup or Super Cup titles. She's also a
lover of animal and avid photographer, a fashion guru, and
now she's bringing all those passions and her volleyball dominance
back to the States playing for Love Atlanta. Kelsey, Welcome
(11:24):
to serving pancakes.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
Thank you. I'm excited to be here.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
We're very excited to have you. Now. I want to
actually start with everything. You know, you've been professional overseas
for all these years. Now we're here in the States playing.
What's it like.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
It's been very surreal. I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
There's moments where I'm like just packing a normal American
outlet plug and using my driver's license to go on
the plane, and just little things like that, going to
the grocery store, all the things that make overseas what
it is. And then you come back here in the
ease and convenience of it all. I'm just grateful to
(12:01):
be here and help start this thing.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
You know, I didn't even think about the whole plug
outlet situation, did you, guys? I mean, both of you
played overseas for so long. Did you end up buying
like appliances like hair dryers and straighteners specifically for the
countries that you like lived in for a few months.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
Oh yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
I mean, I'm overseas more than I am in America,
so I actually like have more like appliance as an outlet,
things just ready adapters, all the things for overseas rather
than America. Sometimes it's I don't even have the American outlet,
which is like such a silly thing, but it is
just part of life.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
I recently bought like a really nice blow drawing. I
was in Japan and I had an adapter and pumping
into the wall and damn near blue sockets.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
So it's we're still trying to fiure those things out.
I don't know Volta Jie, I don't know Volta juice.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
So yeah, oh jeez. Well, Kelsey, you are one of
the founding athletes. Actually, weren't you the first athlete to
sign with Love?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (12:56):
I was.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, So how did this come about? How did they
approach you? What kind of went through your mind? I mean,
and knowing that you were the first, like what were
you thinking?
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Yeah, So I'm really good friends with Emily Hartong who
works with Love, and she was like, hey, let's have
a conversation.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
I just want to kind of talk to you about
this new league we're trying to form.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
And for me, I think because I've heard so many
different leagues wanting to form, I kind of had that conversation.
Speaker 5 (13:25):
As like a favor and just Emily is my girl.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
So I was like, yeah, listen, and I think in
the back of my mind I had already anticipated just
probably not being super excited about it, and just it
is what it is. And then as I was listening
to it and understanding the why behind, how they were
going to do it, how they were going to build
this league, the model, all the things, I got off
(13:52):
the phone and I said to my husband, I said,
I think this can work, Like I think this can
be the way it has to be done. And after
that initial conversation, I continued to have conversations with Caitlin
and Rosie and we.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Had conversations for years.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
So when it came time to sign, it's still nerve wrapping,
you know, it's still nerve wrapping to be the first and.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
Not really know what that is going to look like.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Especially I signed two years out, so there was a
lot of faith and a lot of hope that it
would be what we had anticipated. But yeah, I'm just
proud to stand here today, and I think I had
tears in my eyes the first time I saw our
home gym and all the hard work that it's taken
to get to this point. I were always moving forward
(14:41):
as people, and we always want to make things better.
But I think I can sit in a lot of
gratitude for the present moment and where we are today.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Kind of coming off what you're saying, I just wanted
to ask you, you know, going through those stresses of
that pressure and trying to be in a capain of
your team, you have so much things to do.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
How are you handling that by yourself?
Speaker 5 (14:59):
It's been learning experience.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
I think I wear multiple hats and kind of trying to.
I think in the beginning, I was carrying a lot
of because I'm a founding athlete, because I was the first,
I am responsible for everybody's experience here. And I sat
down with Rosie and expressed that after it became too much.
(15:22):
And I think that's one of the things I'm most
grateful for is my relationship with the women in this
league that helped formlessly. Because they're guiding me and helping me.
They never wanted to feel too much for me, and
they never want any of our athletes to feel that,
and so to be able as an athlete to go
to your CEO, the people in charge and be, hey,
(15:47):
this is what I'm experiencing, and they're going to listen
to me, and they're going to help provide tools for me.
It's just such a unique experience because overseas it's sink
or swim. You're on your own and you make that
experience what it is and you have to survive. And
here I feel so supported. I love that they listen.
(16:09):
I love that this league is about championing women and
putting women in executive roles, putting women in coaching roles,
and more opportunities for women to play, so all of
the things.
Speaker 5 (16:20):
I just feel inspired daily to be here.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Not to jump ahead in your career, because I want
you to keep playing volleyball as long as you want,
but are you thinking of that next role, like potential executive?
And you know, maybe I will say I am very vocal.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
I think everybody knows that, and I'm not afraid to
like have the hard conversation. So I think they're people
are instilling belief in me and like what I could
be beyond the athletics side, and I feel very excited
about that.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
I would say I would be happy to explore.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
Opportunities potentially in like ownership or running a team.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
I know it.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
I know to me, I know what it takes to
be successful, and not just as an athlete or winning,
but I know what like a great club looks like
and how they treat their players and employees, and I
think that's essential to success.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
So I feel that it would be it would be.
I guess the next step for me is how I
would feel about it.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
I just feel like this is just so important to
like have you guys be back here and be part
of that so people can know your experiences overseas and
you'll be able to bring those positive aspects of the
game back here to the States for the other girls
to have the opportunity to experience that.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
It's just really amazing and we thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
And I also know because being a founder athlete, you
kind of, you know, help us out and talk about
things and maybe we can't have a voice to speak
up about that kind of thing. So we are definitely
like thankful for you guys and do that for us.
Speaker 5 (17:55):
We really do appreciate that I appreciate that cut.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
That means a lot, because I think there's days where
all for sure that I'm not failing or I'm not
doing all that I can.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
And at the same time.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
If I'm not full, if I'm not one hundred percent,
I can't do those things.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
So it's been unbalancing and I'm trying.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
To do I'm about to cry.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
I think, just like embracing the challenge and learning, like
trying to learn and like do the best that I
can every day and like be better for everybody around me.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Yeah, it's also like super human to you know, feel
that you're going to have high and lows. It's not
going to be perfect every single time. But I feel
like the fact that you put your best foot forar
and you have people like Kat and all the other
girls in the league on your team who can see
what you're doing, and even like the club girls, you know,
I feel like having somebody who's willing to put their
foot forward and show that they really care is such
(18:49):
a huge you know, it's it's a role model. It's inspirational,
and it's attractive for everybody, no matter what age you
are or what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
And it's definitely. It's definitely noticed.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Like I've followed you since you're at tennis See, and
I think that's what you've been doing this whole entire time,
your current tire career is putting that best foot forward.
And like seeing you go from Tennessee to Nebraska and
witness your career abroad and like national team, like you've
done some really really big things. I think that maybe
you didn't have how many people expect you to do,
and you've just been a rock star. And I think
it's been great obviously you coming back here and be
able to bring your teammates from the national team and
(19:19):
compete against them.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
It's also fun too.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Got to see no I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
I think we see success and we see you know,
if you look at my career on paper, like I've
been really blessed and lucky to have such wonderful experiences,
but going through it, it's not like bring bows and better.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
It's like there's so much that there were days I
wanted to quit.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
There were years I wanted to quit, and there were
days that I hated the sport. I was trying to
make the game as fast as possible so I didn't
have to like be there. And success isn't an upward trajectory.
It's the ability to stay consistent over time and to.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
Know like why you're showing up.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
And yeah, I think we're all imperfect and our experiences
can be challenging, but like I said, the ability to
like continue to show up.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
What do you say to yourself or what do you
do to get over that hump when you do have
those loves?
Speaker 5 (20:18):
I think for me it's always been about like the people.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
Whenever I have challenges on the court, or if I
am feeling like I don't know that I'm not performing
well or I'm just not enjoying it, whatever it might be,
I make it about like everyone else around me. So
I'll go in with the intention to make it about
(20:44):
a player who maybe doesn't see the court, or who
works really hard every single day and doesn't get her
shot or whatever.
Speaker 5 (20:51):
It is not always that player, but like somebody who.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Like I want to be around, and so for me,
I try to like celebrate that person because it takes
me out of myself. So when they get a great dig,
when they get a great swing, whatever, if I can
give advice in any way and we win that game
or that drill. For me, it's about that person and
then maybe another day it's about another person. But it
just takes me outside of myself, and that, I think
(21:16):
is the point. Is like when we play for ourselves,
when we play with like the vision of how am
I doing, how am I performing, You're naturally just not
going to I guess, reach what you want to reach
or maximum maximize your potential. And I think that's the
beautiful side of volleyball is that it's a true team sport.
It's like one of the only works that you absolutely
(21:38):
need every.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
Single person to make it work.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
So just being able to go outside of myself really
takes all that pressure in that weight that I feel off.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Speaking of your team, I mean, you guys are top
of the standings right now, you guys are dottle bit.
I mean, how does it feel to you know, to
eat number one currently? It's been four weeks and what
has that process been like since you started in week
one to today? I mean, you guys had the first serve.
(22:09):
You guys had the very first inaugural match in Atlanta,
So how has it been in this you know, a
few weeks?
Speaker 4 (22:14):
I think truthfully, first serve was very nerve wracking. I
think we all felt it, and it was something that
was like this is the first the person and it's
at our home gym and everything. So I feel like
we definitely were feeling that a little bit, and it's
taken us a little bit to find our stride.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
I feel like every time people do something well or
we do something well.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
It's like another feather in our cap of like belief
and knowing. But I would say, I mean belief is
so powerful, like whether or not you're the best team
in the league, or the most talented players or whatever
it is. It's the team that can believe and not
just like believe that we can do it, but like
to your core that even down by two, three, four points,
(23:00):
by set, down by two sets, like we can still
do this. And I'm seeing that every game get a
little bit stronger, a little bit stronger, a little bit stronger,
and then finding our identity as a team, and I.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
Think finding our strengths.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
I think we were unsure a little bit about what
we would look like, but we definitely have some huge
strengths that we can use to our advantage.
Speaker 5 (23:24):
I think the cool part about the league.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Is anyone can win any given night, like it just
really balanced. So yeah, we're sitting at number one, but
anything can happen. Every team can compete, and so that's
the challenge. Like every night, you don't get a day
off when you go to play. There's no yeah we
got this one. It's we're in a battle, and that's
really cool.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
You guys are playing salt Lake this coming week and
week five and you just swept them in week four.
So is when you go into a match like this
knowing you just swept a team you're about to play
them again, do you kind of go in with the
same attitude or are you clean slate like you're a
goldfish you forgot what happened? Type of situation.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
I mean, for me, never I never go into a
game like, yeah, we got this.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
I think that is the worst mentality.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
And salt Lake is really good and they have the
altitude thing going on because we.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Played there every season. I just like, can anybody breathe
because I can't breathe. So we'll have to adjust to
that for sure.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
But I mean, salt Lake has some incredible players, they're difficult.
Just because we swept them doesn't mean we're going to
do it again. So I'm just looking to get better,
Like when we play them, I want to see us
get better and execute a little bit more. I thought
we did some things well, but I think there's areas
that I would like to see us improven.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
How are you guys managing the quick turnaround? So obviously
you're playing against one team and you have to want
a certain defense or offense, and the next time you're
going to get another different team that's like a complete opposite.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
So how are you guys managing switching back and forth.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
I do a lot of scouting myself. I just like
to have a good game plan and stuff. So I
chart all the hitters and and then with Paulo's like
game plan as well, we can kind of like talk
together and find a system that we want to work
with with block and defense. But yeah, I think just
understanding like what is the tendencies, At least for me
(25:17):
as a player, it helps me to.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
Like direct better on the court.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
And I think the hardest part is that there's so
many options as a lineup.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Anyone's running the six to two right now.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
It's you're not just like for me, if I'm charting
or scouting, I'm not looking at like six players.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
And like the whole roster, yes.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
And most of these games go five. I'm like charting
like but it really helps.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
It helps me to understand like where is the heat
of the core, and also like if I can watch
the game. I am very much a bully nerd, which
is like I don't like to give that.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
Off, but when it's good, it's good.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
I watch every game.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I'm watching everything and watching the Italian League and watching
college and watching this and I just want to have
the idea for what is going to give us small
advantages here and there.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Did you have the time to watch all that stuff
like all the other leagues when you were playing international.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
I've watched a lot of it.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
I think I didn't watch a lot of college volleyball
actually when I was overseas if at all, because of
a the time difference. And then this year, because we've
had so much time, I've gotten to watch a lot
of the Endgable life. So it's been cool to be
back in this world, to be in the youth space,
to be in the college space and seeing this game.
(26:41):
And of course there's things that I would like to
see like change, but for me, the level has been
awesome to watch, Like, I'm really impressed with the level
and I'm excited for.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
These players coming up.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
We'll be back with more from our interview with Kelsey
Cook Makeelsea. I want to ask you a few questions
(27:15):
about Kelsey the person as opposed to Kelsey the athlete,
because I find your you know, everything that you do
is so fascinating. The first thing is your social media,
your social media presence and TikTok presence and everything. What
made you want to be kind of like this influencer
and like put yourself out there that much?
Speaker 5 (27:34):
Yeah, I think it was never this intention to like.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
Be an influencer, but you know, everybody needs a personality
hire everyone also. But yeah, So when I was in Italy,
so I'm a journalism major, and when I was in Italy,
my first season in Europe, I was we were we
weren't in Champions League, so we played once a week
and I was a little bit bored. So I started
(28:00):
kind of like writing. I used to have a website
and I would write all my travels. I love to
travel and I love finding like the hidden jams, like
local places and stuff, so I would like log a
lot of that and then naturally that developed into the
YouTube channel and sharing what it's like to.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
Be a professional volleyball player abroad.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
I think travel was always like my niche, even if
it wasn't like my audience's niche. I just it's like
so easy for me to do and like natural. And
then I've done photography since I was like five, like
had a camera in my hand the whole time, and
I think I really enjoy expressing myself on Instagram with
(28:41):
my photography, and then ultimately I think it turned into.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
Just sharing that we are more than our sport. We're human.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
There's a humanness to us, and I think it's important
for our ability to play this sport for a long time,
to feel whole and all that we were doing, and
to know that there is more beyond, because I think
we get caught up in the validation of wins and
losses and making an Olympic roster, making national.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Team, whatever it might be.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
What I've experienced is there's just so much more, and
I think we don't talk about that.
Speaker 5 (29:20):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
What was your first camera that you got when you
were five? What kind of camera was it?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
I had like the old digital ones, But what I
remember was like begging for this, like DVR. It was
like an old kind of VHS looking camera, but then
it had like a little disc.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
To do like a DVD and you could record on it.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
And I used to do like I would make news
broadcasts and I would like film everything, and then I
like would enter I had a old little digital camera
and I would enter like contests as a kid in
the newspaper.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
Really actually one one. I I just remember the paper.
It was like you one, that's so cute.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Yeah, that's awesome. Did what was the contest? Do you
remember what? Like the photography like the video was.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
A weekly like a weekly best photo of our little.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
Town in Bartlett, And I just submit my photos in
one time I won.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
That's so cool. Do you still use like an actual
DSLR camera for pictures or do you mainly use your phone?
Speaker 4 (30:25):
So I actually shoot only on film now when I'm
shooting images, So I have like a medium format. I
have all my cameras right here, but I have a
point and shoot medium format thirty five. So yeah, I
like film. I just think it has so much emotion
behind it, and you have you get one shot. You know,
(30:47):
you're not like rifling off photos so I think it
just captures like what I was feeling when I'm looking
at what I wanted to take a picture of.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
So we had Mattie Bug on the podcast a few
weeks ago and she said that you were living on
a nature.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Preserve with her.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
Yes, we live in the forest.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
How did that come about?
Speaker 5 (31:10):
I really am big on like where you live.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
It like it's your place, your safe place where you
find peace and stuff.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
So everywhere I've lived.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
This started kind of in the leader part of my career,
but I made sure like where I'm living, I'm really
happy there.
Speaker 5 (31:27):
So when I'm on national team, I lived in.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
Manhattan Beach on the water and I lived there for
like seven years, and it's.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
Kind of a barge to do that drive.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
But the minute I crossed over to get home and
I could see the ocean, it didn't matter like what
happened at the gym.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
It's like, I have this life here and I can
leave it there.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
And so I think that's super important just for my
mental health and well being.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
And so I love being around nature.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
We found this super cool place and it's I mean,
I'm used to ver sUAS in California, where their square
footage is like teeny tiny.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
So when I walked in, I was like.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Whoa, And I was so excited for my cats because
I was like, he'll get stairs and you could see
them use the stairs for the first time.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
Was like the cutest thing ever.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
Heard, Like, how old are your cats?
Speaker 5 (32:21):
We have guys our oldest he's seven. I got him
in Turkey.
Speaker 4 (32:26):
He was a little sick boy in is Stumble and
we rescued him and then I just rescued are He's
like one. And I got him in Italy last year
when I played Addiemoco.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
So they're like.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
At this point, I think they're like a bonded pair
because they're just obsessed with each other's so sweet.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
So this is also a very random question, and Kat,
I don't know if you have any other questions you
want to ask, but this is a random question that
I saw when doing my research and your wiki page.
So is that your nickname is Kesha?
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Is this true? And how did this come about?
Speaker 4 (33:03):
It was really like my first probably six years on
the national team. Maybe the national team was like a whirlwind,
and I definitely didn't predict that in my future by
any means. And so coming out of college I was
just kind of like alone for the rag with all
of it, and it's like, really, okay, you made a
(33:23):
rof Stert was like great. So I think I was
a little young in the mentality of it all. So
we went to Hawaii one like red white scrimmage that
we had going versut Brazil, and I showed up in
like covered in flash chats, like all over my arms
(33:44):
and you know he remember flash chats, Okay, So like
gold sparkles everywhere looking back like horrifying, And.
Speaker 5 (33:55):
I don't know. I just was like always like dancing
and singing and kind.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
Of just like well, so the girls called me Kesha
and that kind of just stuck for a long time,
it was. And then in Italy it was easier for
them to say Kesh than Kelsey, like Kelsey's hard in Italian.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
So Kesh just stuck for a long time. So that's
kind of the story.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Amazing. Any any other questions you have, Kat, just for
the youth.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
You know, what's one thing you would tell your young
Kelsey self?
Speaker 4 (34:24):
Now?
Speaker 3 (34:24):
Would you tell her today?
Speaker 5 (34:26):
Hmm? I think.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
I would say to learn and practice patients. I'm somebody
who wants to get better right away, who wants everything now.
I want to change, I want to be better, I
want to be great. I want to win now and
in all areas of my life. And I think just
learning and practicing that patience and being consistent. And then
(34:54):
I think to say, I don't think we saved enough,
But to tell your younger self, I'm proud of us,
you know, I'm proud of like, look at where we are.
I think I often get caught up in what's next,
and so to sit in like, let's be proud of
the things we've done and it's been hard, but we're here.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Well, Kelsey, it's been a pleasure speaking with you, and
thank you so much for joining us on Serving Pancakes
and best of luck the rest of the season.
Speaker 5 (35:27):
Thank you guys so much. This is fun.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
Yes, thanks Kelsey. 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.
(35:50):
Amya Alvarez is our senior producer. Our Executive producers are
Carrie Stett, Tamaradike, and Lindsay Hoffman. Our marketing lead is
Juara Parker. Sound editing and mixing by Daniel Gonzalez. Our
theme music is Pancakes by Eric W. Mast Junior special
thanks to Kelsey Cook. Stay tuned for next week's episode,
(36:12):
where we'll recap week five. Thanks for listening.
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