BBN Radio presented by Clark's Pump-n-Shop with Ethan Hindle, Jaxon Jelkin and Ava Sarafa

Join Darren Headrick for BBN Radio, presented by Clark's Pump-n-Shop. We talk with Kentucky Baseball's Ethan Hindle and Jaxon Jelkin. Then we are joined by Ava Sarafa from UK Volleyball. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Across the forty coming here side twenty fives as they
got it off Durn five touchdown.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Kentucky from the UK Sports Network. This is Clark's Pump
and Shop, Big Blue Nation Radio.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Second for one, take the turn, got him, Game's over, Kentucky.

Speaker 4 (00:32):
Wab interact with the show by calling eight five nine
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(00:54):
at UK Sports Network.

Speaker 5 (00:56):
Hi for the eighth time, Collin's Basketball National Champion Jet
Trophy is coming home.

Speaker 4 (01:01):
To Kentucky Now your host, Jaron Hendrick.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
Football is back in action this Saturday on the road
at South Carolina. Women's soccer was a winner and it
was a big week for volleyball. Plus baseball has started
fall practice. Welcome in everybody. It is BBN Radio. We're
presented by Clark's Pumping Shop. And as we talked about
the back, the Wildcats are back in action after a

(01:25):
week off. The football team will be on the road
against South Carolina, who lost to Missouri last weekend twenty
nine to twenty. It's a seven forty five kickoff in Columbia.
We'll be on the air at five to forty five
with our pregame show, the Jack Burford Chevrolet Countdown to kickoff.
We mentioned women's soccer was a winner. They topt Missouri
won nothing. It was an eighty ninth minute goal by

(01:45):
freshman Gabby Pereto to lift the Wildcats to a win
and they're now eight and three, two and one in
the SEC. They'll host Alabama Friday at seven point thirty.
The Kentucky volleyball team got the big sweep over Washington
that was following the big win on the road at Louisville.
We'll talk about all that with Ava Sarafa coming up
on the show. Up next, though, we've got baseball joining us.

(02:07):
Ethan Handel and Jackson Jukin will talk about the beginning
of fall practice over at Kentucky Proud Part so we'll
hear from them coming up next and Ava later in
the show. Stick Around, We've got a fun hour ahead.
This is BBN Radio presented by Clark's Puppin Shop on
the UK Sports Network.

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Speaker 3 (05:36):
Me presented by Clars Popping Shop. I'm Darren Headrick and
we are delighted to have a couple of guests with
us on the show to start out this week. From
Kentucky Baseball. We've got Ethan Handle, a junior infielder, and
we've got Jackson Jokin, a junior right handed picture. Jackson
is from Omaha. We've got Ethan out of Delafield, Wisconsin. Guys,
first of all, let's just start up. Full practice just started.

(06:00):
What's it been like getting back out on the field
with a group that's got a lot of returners on
it this year. Ethan, we'll start with you.

Speaker 9 (06:05):
It's been really good.

Speaker 11 (06:06):
The best part was we got when we got back
from the summer, everyone was ready here right away, so
we were all able to start hanging out. Everyone got
to know each other and we've became as close as
a team already as I feel like we'll be. It's
great in the winter, and now we're on the field
and everyone's holding each other accountable, working hard, and yeah,
it's the vibe.

Speaker 9 (06:23):
It's been amazing.

Speaker 3 (06:24):
Jackson. I imagine for you you have been itching to
get back on the mound. So how fun is it
to begin fall practice.

Speaker 8 (06:29):
Yeah, that's awesome, you know, getting around to everybody that's
new to and just seeing them buy into our program.
It's been great, And you know, spent a whole year
coming back from injury and it's been a lot of
fun to be able to get back on the field
with everybody and know that, you know, we're all working
towards getting back on the field.

Speaker 3 (06:45):
So you red shirted last year, but yet we're still
heavily involved in the team and its performance last spring.
Making the Clemson Regional coaching first base for much of
the season. What was that experience like for you and
how did it help make you a better player and
even a better Absolutely, it was really cool.

Speaker 9 (07:02):
You know.

Speaker 8 (07:02):
I came in here and I told Coach Manage that,
you know, I had aspired to be a coach when
I was done playing, and he took that and told me,
he was like, you're going to coach first base for
us then, And so, you know, being over there, I
got a whole different perspective of, you know, the game
and how I can affect the game, you know, outside
of playing, and so it was a really cool experience.

(07:24):
And then being able to you know, be over there
and focused on picking pitches from the other team and
you know, just contribute to our team in any way
off of the field was really really cool.

Speaker 3 (07:35):
I guess the biggest challenge was trying to figure out
how to hold all that gear on you so many
guys were passing you at first base.

Speaker 9 (07:41):
Yeah, it was a lot of fun, man is.

Speaker 8 (07:43):
It also brought me into like the team a lot
more because I was a transfer a semester, so it
allowed me to like build their trust and and uh,
you know, I'm out there telling them what to do
and giving them pointers and everything, and it really created
a on with everybody. The transition to this year even so.

Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, even last spring, you were getting on base at
a tremendous clip. You were hit nineteen times in whatever
it was twenty five games that you played in, just
a phenomenal on base percentage, and you were also heating
up at the plate when you suffered the injury before
the Tennessee series. Just tell me, though, when you were sidelined,
you were still heavily involved. It felt like you became

(08:24):
a vocal leader. Tell me how you stepped into that
role through the frustration of an injury.

Speaker 11 (08:29):
Yeah, I mean, so it happened on Thursday, right before
we were going to play at Tennessee and that night
when I was talking with my parents and talking to
Patrick Carrera from last year it was my roommate, it
was kind of like, I have to kind of make
a choice now I'm a part of this team, and
I feel like I had some influence.

Speaker 9 (08:43):
I was in my mind like am I going to just.

Speaker 11 (08:45):
Be kind of soft about this and kind of focus
on myself, or am I going to do whatever I
can because I know a lot about what's going with
the team being a returner and just do whatever I
can to help us when so I just kind of
tried to fill that role, and all you guys were
really accepting about it, and we're really good of letting
me able to do that. So I just did whatever
I could in the dugout and do whatever I could
pretty game. Was able to do the speeches and stuff

(09:06):
to get the boys plagned up. So definitely helped me
a lot to kind of learning the type of player
I am going into this season.

Speaker 3 (09:13):
You had some guys graduate that had been leaders, sort
of like a Devin Burks. Do you feel like you
can step into that role this year as a junior? Yeah,
that was one of my biggest goals.

Speaker 11 (09:21):
I told coach Manche right after last year that Devan's gone,
and I've always kind of tried to be under his
wing and listened to him a lot, especially guys like
him Mitch Daley, who was a really good leader.

Speaker 3 (09:30):
And I've just wanted this year to kind of be
that role, to be that vocal guy for both of you.
You know, being around some of the guys that we've
seen that were on that Omaha team. You've got to
participate in that obviously, but how has it helped to
make you ready to go this year as everybody steps
into more prominent roles now, because you've got to see

(09:51):
the standard that they said in their years here.

Speaker 11 (09:53):
Yeah, like coach Manche says the standards of the standard.
And we got a lot of guys who are returning now,
plus a good group that we're at Omah, so we
kind of, I guess you could say what looks like
And I mean I was just telling this to Jelkin
about twenty minutes ago that I feel like that our
team right now is the most has ever felt like
that Omaha team. So with the vibe we have going on,
how hard guys are working, how we're holding each other accountable,

(10:15):
and we know what we need to do.

Speaker 3 (10:16):
We've seen it.

Speaker 11 (10:17):
So it's kind of about once we can get those
guys bought in in which I think that they are
definitely bought into this, that it's going to be another
great run.

Speaker 9 (10:23):
Yeah, this team's bought into what we're doing, and yeah,
it's really cool to see.

Speaker 3 (10:27):
Tell me a little bit about the pitching staff coming
off last year rebounding this year. You've got some new
faces on this staff, but also a lot of key
returners like Ben and some of the weekend guys. Nate
Harris is back. So what excites you most about the
pitching staff.

Speaker 9 (10:40):
I think our experience.

Speaker 8 (10:42):
You know, we have Nate and Ben coming back, and
then I've been a weekend started previously at one of
my previous schools, and so I think having three guys
that have done that and done it efficiently is going
to really help our team. And then having guys behind
us that also were weekend starters, like Jack Bennett who
started on front WKU.

Speaker 9 (11:02):
Having that to, you know, back up us is going
to be really cool.

Speaker 3 (11:06):
I think for the pitching staff too, what excites me
sort of flying under the radar or some of the
other guys coming back from injuries like Chase Alderman and Boone.
Absolutely people can see how good these guys are, but
they will this year.

Speaker 9 (11:18):
Yea and Connor Madison from DCU.

Speaker 8 (11:20):
We've got a lot of arms that we're really excited about,
and you know, just seeing them work and everybody have
the focused mentality and what we do is it's really cool.

Speaker 3 (11:31):
We'll get more into the team coming up on the
show in just a moment, but right now, just looking
back on last year, Ethan, there were so many ups
and downs. You know, you can think about losing a
Mississippi State, but then you win on the road in Tennessee,
you sweep Oklahoma, making the regional. How did this team
get through all those ups and downs and come together
to have the postseason and come so close to the

(11:52):
Super Regional for the third straight year.

Speaker 11 (11:54):
I just think that we were all so close together,
like we all cared so much in doing it for
the guys that were to graduate or just doing it
for each other that no matter it was a roller
coaster like this and baseball you want to see stay
every level, which was definitely one of our biggest faults.
But I think it was just the whole idea that
we wanted to do it together, do as a group,
as a family, which is what kept us in for

(12:16):
as long as we could Jackson.

Speaker 3 (12:18):
I guess from the other perspective too, going through those
ups and downs. For everybody that's coming back, I think
it's seventeen faces that coach min Jones mentioned are coming back.
It's just going to make you better for this year having.

Speaker 8 (12:27):
Gone through that, right, absolutely, Yeah, I mean you never
forget what you do in the years prior, and I
think we all have a chip on our shoulder this year,
and you can tell the guys are going about their
business a little bit different this year.

Speaker 3 (12:40):
Yeah. The summer always important, especially for baseball players, Jackson.
For you, coach minch just bragged about the work you
did in the offseason working out. What were some of
your focuses this summer, trying to get.

Speaker 8 (12:52):
Back, maintaining strength mostly, you know, when you go through
you gain a lot of strength, and that's why a
lot of guys take jumps, is because rehab is so intensive,
and then when you're done with that rehab, it's really
really important to just maintain, you know, continue to get
strong or maintaining your strength throughout the off season, So
I think that was my main focus was just keep
doing what I was doing, was follow my workout plans

(13:14):
to a dot and come back and see what happens.

Speaker 3 (13:17):
So how big is the word patience been for you?
As you have gotten back on the mound and they've
slowly built you back up.

Speaker 9 (13:23):
Man, you have no idea?

Speaker 8 (13:26):
Yeah, I mean, like the rehab that you do when
you go through teach is so slow. You're working at
increments of fifteen feet all the way back to one
hundred and twenty feet from forty five feet all oaver there,
and it's a three week thing at each each distance,
Like I start at forty five feet, go to sixty
feet for three weeks, and then at seventy five feet
for three weeks, all the way back to one twenty

(13:48):
and then pass that. You do the same thing over
again with your bullpens. And so it's been a very
long process. But being at Kentucky, you know, made it
a lot better than as if I was at home
doing it on my own, So you know, it made
it go a little bit faster. And then on top
of that, being on the coach first base and be
involved with the team was awesome.

Speaker 3 (14:08):
So I got to ask, because for the folks at
home that may not know a lot of the rehabit
is throwing off flat ground like you were just talking
about and extending it out. What were the emotions like
when they finally let you on the mound to have
a bullpen. It was cool.

Speaker 8 (14:21):
You know, It's hard to say because I was so
ready to do it that it kind of didn't I
didn't really realize how cool it was at the time.
But looking back on it now and understanding where I'm
at now, and you know, I'm at one hundred percent now,
so like I'm able to step on a mount and
throw a ball as hard as I can again, and
thinking back to when I had surgery and I was
not allowed to do anything, and I wake up in

(14:43):
the morning after I throw in my arms stiff and
you just have pain every day.

Speaker 9 (14:48):
And just seeing the progress that I've taken is really awesome.

Speaker 3 (14:51):
And Ethan, just real quick, before we take a break,
you were able to get back on the field this
summer playing in the North Woods League hit two eighty four.
How big was that for you to get some reps
this summer having missed that part of.

Speaker 11 (15:02):
The spring that was incredible plu's going off of the spring.
I was able to start and get some reps, so
we figured out what I needed to work on. So
I was finally able to can I already have done
at home, be able to get in Northwoods in play,
and I mean, like he said, it just felt amazing
and I was able to work.

Speaker 3 (15:15):
On what I needed to do. We're chatting with Ethan
Handel and Jackson Jokin will continue with them coming up
next here. This is Clark's Puppin' Shop BBN Radio in
the UK Sports Network. Hey BBN.

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One of My Sea presented My Class Pumping Show. We're
talking Kentucky baseball right now as they begin fall practice.
We've got Jackson, Jelkin and Ethan Hindle with us, and
we can go ahead and tell you there's been a
couple of exhibition games announced. These guys will be in
action for the first time in front of fans and
against the opposing team this fall. On Sunday, October fifth,

(20:22):
they'll take on West Virginia in Mason, Ohio at Prasco Park.
They'll also host Moreheads State on October twenty sixth at
Kentucky Proud Park. These exhibition games, you guys have been
a part of them, Ethan, you've been through them. What's
the big takeaways? Other than wanting to compete for a win?
What are the things you look for in these fall games?

Speaker 11 (20:42):
I say, just being able to put on the jersey
and then playing against another team. It's always like the
best experience when you finally get to get out there.
You're playing against each Other's obviously really fun. It's competitive
once you're able to put on that Kentucky jersey and
get after against another team with your guys, and yea,
it's awesome.

Speaker 3 (20:57):
Jackson. It's only an exhibition game. But to go up
against West Virginia, the team you faced in the regionals
in advanced I imagine that's going to add something for
this team and make it more exciting to take them
on this fall.

Speaker 8 (21:07):
Yeah, no, I know, I think where only are you
probably gonna be allowed to throw two innings, but I'm
sure a lot of us are going to want to
throw a lot more. But yeah, it's gonna mean something
to us for sure.

Speaker 3 (21:17):
Yeah, a lot of faces back. As we mentioned, I
think there's seventeen returners. We've talked about the focus of
fall practice, but we'll start with the position groups. Ethan,
you're an infielder. What excites you most about the position
guys and what possible batting order with this team this year? Yeah,
the best part's.

Speaker 11 (21:35):
Been, Like why I say that, the field has been
most like that online team as we from the first
few days everyone got back. We were out there taking
ground balls together. Practice has done. We've been there at
eleven PM. We just all organize it in. Everyone's just
been really bought in, like I said, holding each other
accountable and they all know what they need to do.

Speaker 3 (21:53):
But you've got Hudson Brown coming back. He's got experience
at first base obviously, Luke Lawrence and Tyler Bell you
played it third. They've also brought in some other guys.
So what's the competition like for infield playing time right now? Yeah?
Right now?

Speaker 11 (22:05):
We got Hudson you say, going first. Ran Schwartz has
been over there, but he looks.

Speaker 3 (22:10):
Really good there. He looks good.

Speaker 11 (22:14):
Yeah, and then Milan until you got t Bell and
Luke going after it. Maxine Bois Freshman's out there, Michael Gardner,
Kate and Cloud he's been a third more so, and
then me, Tyler, cerning Ky and have been competing very
hard at third, and then there's kind of just been
that feel also of me, Kate and Luke, Maxim and

(22:35):
Sernie for a second and third.

Speaker 3 (22:37):
In terms of Tyler Bale, we saw his potential last
year as a freshman. What have you seen out of
him where he continues to grow and develop as a
player coming into the fall, I.

Speaker 11 (22:46):
Say, he just looks way more mature like off the gates.
He grew into that person last year definitely, but as
soon as he's got here, he's become one of those
vocal leaders. And he also sets the example just by
the way how hard he works. He definitely just shows
all the younger guys and even the new guys and
myself a lot of times like this is how it
should be down and he's always getting after itself.

Speaker 3 (23:06):
And it feels like and maybe it's that Chicago roots
with both being from that area, but he and Luke
developed a pretty good chemistry quick out there.

Speaker 11 (23:13):
Yeah they're like the same person that way. They are
battle boys too last year, so they got really close
to each other. But yeah, they definitely have that same
little great personality Jackson. For the pitching staff, you've got
two starters coming back from last year. You've got that
experience too. What's the competition been like for the starting role.

Speaker 3 (23:29):
It's really good.

Speaker 8 (23:30):
You know, everything we do is competitive, whether it's bullpens,
catch play, anything, and I think everybody's embraced that. And
seeing the new guys come in here and instantly have
that competitive edge to them and you know, mimic the
guys that were here last year in a starting role
and almost do it perfectly like in terms of not
being scared of the competition and executing what they need

(23:51):
to execute. It's been really nice and I think it's
going to transition to the season for sure.

Speaker 3 (23:58):
Learning and pitching under Dan Roselle, who's also got Trevor
fitz helping him. Their coaching styles. What's that like and
how's it helped you.

Speaker 9 (24:06):
It's competitive, you know, and they don't they don't let
you slack.

Speaker 8 (24:10):
They don't let you miss anything in terms of like
when you make a mistake on the mound, they're not
gonna They're gonna hold you accountable. And I think that
it makes it easy for us when we're in the
game because we know that when we make a mistake,
we know how to fix it because they teach you
how to do that. And you know, Coach Rosela having
Coach Fits on a side has helped him a lot.

(24:31):
I think Chief Fits makes it easy for him to
kind of relax a little bit and and just coach
us and not.

Speaker 9 (24:38):
To worry about all the extra stuff that uh a
solo pitching coach would have to worry about.

Speaker 3 (24:42):
They each have their own personalities and I feel like
their own senses of humor.

Speaker 1 (24:47):
Do you like?

Speaker 3 (24:48):
Do you like how they can be serious and hold
you accountable, but then all of a sudden they can
also lighten the mood if they feel like they need.

Speaker 8 (24:54):
Absolutely, Yeah, absolutely, it makes a It makes a good
pitching environment for us when you have somebody that it's
hard on you, but then we'll also once you're done
in your competitiveness, still still talk to you and joke
around with you, and you know, light in the mood.

Speaker 3 (25:08):
Yeah, Ethan, you you've played under Cousine. Last year, Chase
Sloan joined the program assisting with the hitting. What's it
been like learning under him and how has he helped you?
Coach Loan's awesome.

Speaker 11 (25:19):
He's so like bought into every single player, it doesn't
matter who you are, w age you are, and he's
so specific training with his drills. But he's also a
really just good guy, like a good coach to us
where we're able to get a very high personal level
with him and get close to him as well.

Speaker 3 (25:34):
We respect the heck out of him for as a
coach he is. Matt Morrow has also joined the program.
He's the new director of Offensive Development or offense Development.
Have you gotten to know him? Yeah, pretty well.

Speaker 11 (25:45):
Yeah, he's there every day. He's helped us with hitting,
helping us with infield. He's a very very good coach.
He's the same way as Sloan where he's very personable
with everyone and he also knows what he's talking about.
Is always day in and day out, every single rep
helping us out.

Speaker 9 (25:58):
Diehard NBA fan.

Speaker 3 (26:00):
Really, yeah, here's his team.

Speaker 11 (26:02):
I don't even know if he said actually, okay, you
just know he loves this is fun fact, he loves
everything NBA.

Speaker 3 (26:08):
So we're chatting with Ethan Handle and Jackson Jelkin from
Kentucky Baseball and guys, the SEC schedule is out. Is
there a trip that you're looking forward to this year.

Speaker 9 (26:18):
Yeah, I think back to back Ole missed LSU trips
a lot of fun.

Speaker 3 (26:23):
Yeah, l s U. LSU's a cool environment. It's tough
to play in, but it's a neat environment.

Speaker 9 (26:28):
We like it.

Speaker 3 (26:29):
Yeah. I think that's the great thing I love about
this program, in this team is every year the schedule
comes out and those of us that are in media
or whatever like, whoa. But you guys, you just embrace it.
And you have to in this league, don't you. Absolutely.

Speaker 9 (26:44):
Yeah, we're excited to play everybody.

Speaker 3 (26:46):
So yeah, before we let you guys go, I wanted
to give our fans a chance to get to know
you a little more. As I mentioned, you both are
basically from the Midwest, being from Wisconsin and Omaha, Nebraska.
In terms of you, Jackson, you've been drafted twice, the
Dodgers and Mets have each taken turns on you. First

(27:06):
of all, just what was it like going through the
process and getting those phone calls? Absolutely, it was really cool,
you know, dream come true.

Speaker 8 (27:12):
Being there with my family and us all hearing that
and knowing that one of my dreams had just been
fulfilled was really cool. And then you know, not going
and not and deciding to go back to school was
a really tough decision, but you know God's plan.

Speaker 3 (27:27):
So and what has lured you and kept you at Kentucky.

Speaker 8 (27:31):
Coach Mune, Yeah, I mean my relationship with him is
unbelievable and the things that that man has done for.

Speaker 9 (27:37):
Me has changed my life.

Speaker 8 (27:38):
So I think just my relationship with him and coach
rose out and knowing what my goal is in college
is to go to Omaha.

Speaker 9 (27:46):
Where I'm from, and not only go there, but when is.

Speaker 3 (27:49):
That's what's cut me here. I'm glad you brought that up.
Both of you can speak on this if you want.
I've heard players talk about the development that this coaching
staff takes you through while you're at Kentucky. But I
also hear him talk about the family environment. How big
is that piece of it for both of you. Yeah,
it's it's unbelievable. You know, I'm away from home and
so I don't have my family with me anymore, and

(28:12):
you know, being able to go to the field and
have men just a father figure there, you know, a
guy that I can go into his office and literally
talk to him about anything that is on my mind
or on my chest is really nice. And then you
know his wife, Miss Kristen, being there as a mother figure,
being able to see her at the field, give her
a hug and ask her how she's doing. Same vice versa,

(28:33):
ask me how I'm doing.

Speaker 8 (28:33):
Is It helps a lot, especially when you know you're
a college athlete and you're going to school doing your
homework and you got all this stuff being thrown at you.
Having that foundation to go back on is really really important.
I definitely would say the same thing. I mean, that's
the whole reason I chose to come here, just hearing
what they had to offer about that stuff, and especially

(28:54):
I saw when I got my surgery.

Speaker 3 (28:56):
On my foot.

Speaker 11 (28:57):
I mean, you have coach me and mis Mss Kristina
asking if I need anything and they'll do anything for me.
And when I got that to Jackie, our bus driver,
praying for me and helping me out through. It's where
every single day. One of my favorite parts about coming
to the field is that the coach's office doors are
always open. I can go in there and hang out
with them and talk about whatever.

Speaker 3 (29:15):
Yeah, ethan for you. One of the things that I
wanted to get to real quick before we wrap up
is I saw where you've played hoops, you've played baseball,
you've played football, but you've also played cricket and rugby.

Speaker 11 (29:27):
Of all the sports you played, what led you to baseball?
I just think it's what's stuck with me as a
young kid. I love to grew up watching the Brewers. Okay,
our burwer fan. I used to said, I'm always fun
this year tho Brewers Packers. It's going great.

Speaker 7 (29:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 11 (29:43):
I used to sit on the caufual mom seven, I
was like seven, watch the same eleven Brewers games where
it didn't matter what sport.

Speaker 3 (29:48):
I just love baseball. Yeah. Well, guys, we appreciate you
coming on with us. This was great. I'm sure we'll
chat with you again down the road. Darren Williams will
probably want you on our podcast at some point, so
we'll do that. But good luck with fall practice and
also the first exhibition game on Sunday, October fifth in Mason, Ohio.
That'll be against West Virginia, rematch from last year's Clemson Regional.

(30:09):
We've got more coming up on BEB and radio. We're
presented by Clark's Poppinshop. This is the UK Sports Network.

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Speaker 22 (32:49):
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(33:10):
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Speaker 3 (33:24):
We appreciate Jackson and he've been joining us this week
on VbN Radio presented by Clark's Poppin Shop. As we
welcome you back, we'll switch gears over to volleyball and
man what a week it was for the Wildcats top
ten team going on the road against number five or
a top five Louisville team. They were ranked number three
at the time. The Wildcats get the win in five sets,

(33:46):
and then come back home to sweep Washington and to
talk about all that, we've got Seder Ava Sarafa with
us in studio and Ava, congratulations to you and this team,
not only on those two wins, but an incredible run
through a non conference slate. Thank you. It was definitely
a challenge put forth by coach Skinner when he put
this schedule together. But let's talk about that Louisville matchup

(34:08):
winning in five sets, and there were so many ups
and downs throughout the course of that match. What do
you feel like was the key difference in the way
this team dominated the last two sets to bring home
the wins.

Speaker 20 (34:20):
Yeah, so I think that game is Honestly, there's a
lot of emotion we talk about it because Louisville is
always a good team. I mean, we haven't beaten them
in six years until this year. And I think those
last two sets, I mean, we really came out with
an emotional spark. We knew after winning the second set
that we could put up a fight to them, and
I think just seeing that being a part of Big

(34:42):
Blue Nation, this rivalry means more than just our team,
like it matters to everyone else. And we came out
with some fire, and I think we just knew that
we could put up a fight and take over those
last two sets, and I think that was, honestly the key.
I mean, just having belief in ourselves and our abilities
to take over and win that match.

Speaker 3 (34:58):
Well, you were a key part of those last two
sets where you outpointed the Cardinals forty to nineteen coming
in for Cassidy started the fourth set, or Cassie, I'm sorry.
What was the mindset though for you? Coming off the
benchit and going in there?

Speaker 20 (35:13):
Honestly, I mean, this team's been together for six months
now and we all kind of lean into each other,
and obviously it's a big game, Like coming off the bench,
you want to do good, but at the same time,
like I knew that my teammates had me and I
had their back and just kind of like setting them
up for success and just knowing that everyone's there for
each other on the court and no matter what, like

(35:34):
we're around each other in practice, every single day like
we practiced, We practiced to be perfect. So I mean
just having that mentality going into the last two sets.

Speaker 3 (35:42):
What were the emotions like in the locker room after
that win?

Speaker 20 (35:44):
Oh gosh, I mean even after, like we had the
water bottles ready. It was just so happy and honestly,
the smile on Craig's face, like we were so glad
that we brought that win to him, and everyone was
so excited. And I think, honestly winning in the Young
Center was really cool as well, because haven't been back
there since last year and haven't played them since my

(36:04):
freshman year in the Um Center, So just being able
to bring back that win was really awesome.

Speaker 3 (36:09):
The fact that your team has played so many matches
over the last couple of years in the Youm Center,
did that help get ready for that crowd?

Speaker 20 (36:17):
I mean yeah, I guess yeah. I mean the last
two years, there's been a whole lot of red in
the Youum Center, So just having that mentality of like, hey,
we're here for big gluination, We're going to perform and
it doesn't matter if there was a lot of blue
or a lot of red. So yeah, I guess I
would say that that's a place to kind of get comfortable,
and there has been a lot of matches.

Speaker 3 (36:38):
Then you had a quick turnaround after that and you
faced Washington on Saturday at noon. Tell me what the
turnaround was like, not just physically, but trying to come
down emotionally and get focused on the Huskies. Yeah.

Speaker 20 (36:50):
I mean, our coaches were talking about our competitive maturity
and just how can we turn around and kind of
like put that win beside us and focus on Washington.
Because Washington is a program, the result of a program.
We needed to respect them. And I think physically we
were all very tired, fatigued, and we came out and
we kind of had a slower start, I will not lie,

(37:10):
And I think that we kind of we're still thinking
about that Louisville game, and we talked about it as
a team and we're just saying, how when we come
in and we step on the court, like, we need
to know that we are Kentucky vollyball and people are
going to be gunning to beat us like teams like Washington.
So yeah, the emotional turnaround for that was very quick,
and honestly, the physical turnaround two. But I'm glad we

(37:31):
pulled it off in three and yeah, yeah, Washington put
up a good fight.

Speaker 3 (37:34):
And I think that bodes for SEC preparation because you're
going to get everybody's best shot every night.

Speaker 20 (37:39):
Right, Oh yeah, South Carolina coming up in Georgia on Friday.

Speaker 3 (37:41):
So yeah, absolutely, So going back to that Washington matchup, though,
we have to mention the fact that Eva had twenty
eight keels. Just what was it like seeing her locked
in in that zone against Washington.

Speaker 20 (37:54):
Honestly, Eva Hudson is an electric hitter. I mean she
is so skilled and so talented, and honestly, it's funny
because like talking about volleyball now, like you want to
have a fast offense so that hitters have holes in
blocks like we talk about evon where like we can
throw up a ball twenty feet in the air and
she can hit over the top and hit every single
shot in the court. So honestly, she's always in that

(38:14):
locked in zone. She's always competitive, and you know she's
always going to come through and get those kills. But
having twenty eight, I mean in three sets, that's amazing
and honestly, wouldn't put it past her. She's an amazing hitter,
and it's honestly privileged to be able to set her.

Speaker 3 (38:27):
So the thing that impressed me most against Washington, and
you've already touched on a little bit, was the fact
that you had to rally in all three sets she
came from behind. How much had this really challenging schedule
prepared you for those moments where you stay calm, it's
like we're okay, let's just power through it, and you
were able to.

Speaker 20 (38:44):
Yeah, Craig talks about being present all the time, and
I think playing this non conference schedule and just having
those challenging matchups, I mean, you need to stay present.
It's point by point and even if you're down by
six or head by six, like you never know what's
going to happen. Teams can have this momentum, and I
think in volleyball it's such a mo menim game that
once you grasp onto that, like, you know that you
can run with it. And I think in our non

(39:06):
conference matches, like we kind of realized that even coming
in fighting back winning in five against Louisville or even
the Nebraska game, I mean going back to that, just
learning that you can come back if you really focus
in and in the first side, I think we were
behind by like six points or something, and just having
that focus to come back and really lock in and
kind of take a deep breath and reset if you're

(39:27):
down or even if you're ahead at that point.

Speaker 3 (39:29):
Yeah, we're chatting with Avis Sarafa here on BBN Radio
presented by Clark's Pump and Shop, and we've talked a
little bit about the challenging schedule from the opponent perspective,
but just the travel. You had three neutral site matches,
you had three true road matches in the first nine.
I know you have a lot of returners on this
year's team, but you also had seven newcomers. So how

(39:51):
has this team used those road trips to just grow
closer and bond and continue building that chemistry.

Speaker 20 (39:57):
Yeah, even when everyone who was new came in the spring,
there is just kind of a spark between this team.
I mean, the chemistry is amazing. Everyone loves each other
and like truly is there for one another. So I
think even going on like road trips, it is so
fun and everyone is just kind of like laughing and
being together is really cool. But I think playing those
neutral sites, it's such an amazing experience because you're playing

(40:20):
in like Bridgetone Arena, you're playing in Dicky's Arena, You're
playing in the Youum Center, which are really cool sites.
And I think kind of using that to kind of
be grateful for where we are today and just taking
deep breath and realizing what's around us is really cool
and I honestly there's no other team that I want
to experience it with.

Speaker 3 (40:36):
So what's a road routine like for you? How do
you try to stay in your normal routine when you
have to leave Lexington?

Speaker 20 (40:43):
Yeah, I mean, honestly, I'm more of like a kind
of like go with the flow person, So when I'm
on the road, just kind of getting your stuff packed,
it always feels It's funny we always talk about like
whenever you're leaving for the road, you feel like you're
forgetting ten million things. But just being with the team,
honestly and just kind of having that social aspect kind
of keeps me in line. Like I don't I'm not

(41:05):
the one to sit in my hotel room and need
quiet time, Like I love being around people, and I
think all of us have our daily coffee runs before
games and stuff like that. So honestly, that's the routine
for me. There's nothing really special, and there's nothing really
like to a tea that I need, But honestly, just
being around the team, kind of having that comfort and
just getting able to spend time with them on the road.

Speaker 3 (41:26):
So those coffee runs are so important. What do you
need in your coffee to make it just just right?

Speaker 20 (41:33):
I'm you know, I don't really have like a specific coffee.

Speaker 3 (41:37):
Order, to be honest, Well most people have a specific order.

Speaker 20 (41:39):
Well, we went to Fort Worth. There was this coffee
place and it was called like Pat and Beneficia. It
was really it was really cute. We went there twice
that day and it was just like the most authentic
coffees and we were like, Okay, we need to try
every single one on the menu. Eve's gonna get this one,
Lizzy's gonna try this one, and then we're gonna all switch.
So it was just kind of like there was no
specific one, but just kind of having that time and

(42:02):
I guess that caffeine will caffeine kick.

Speaker 3 (42:04):
So well, I can tell this team is close and
you all are friends, So I wanted to ask you
along those lines, what's it like in this healthy competition
with Cassie O'Brien where you two are competing within the
team at the center position.

Speaker 20 (42:17):
Yeah, I absolutely love cass What a gem of a
human And honestly, I love that there's healthy competition and
I just like love that culture between us because it's
honestly feels like we are both happy for one of
each other, for every single accomplishment that we get, and
there's no no enviousness or anything. So I think I'm

(42:39):
really grateful for that because I know in some other
schools or some other positions it may be different, but honestly,
this team just such healthy culture and such such healthy
competition and honestly battling. As a setter, I mean it's hard.
It's hard to kind of come in and see like
you can come in and you can set great one day,
and you can come in and set not the greatest
the next day. And I think just having that emotion

(43:00):
connection with Cassie, I mean, it makes everything just so
much easier, just being able to lean on each other
and help each other out.

Speaker 3 (43:06):
We got to take a quick time out here on
BBN Radio. We're presented by Clark's Pumping Shop. We got
another segment with Avis Sarafa coming up here on the
UK Sports Network, BBN Game Day.

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Speaker 3 (48:40):
Final segment of BBN Radio presented by Clark's Pumping Shop.
For this week, we're chatting with Ava Sarafa from Kentucky Volleyball.
They've got SEC play Starting this week. They host South
Carolina Wednesday at seven o'clock inside Historic Memorial Coliseum, Cas Firsus.
I'm sorry I had Cassie O'Brien on my mind. Ava.
First of all, what's it like competing at the coliseum

(49:02):
in front of Big Blue Nation.

Speaker 20 (49:04):
It's so special. I mean, there's no other feeling like it.
And honestly, Big Blue Nation, they always show up and
show out. I mean, you could really feel the love
from being in Colisseum And honestly, it's not the biggest
gym in the world, but we all love it and
it just feels like home. It feels like we're in
our place and kind of in our comfort zone, and honestly,
there's nothing else like it, and it's just so special

(49:26):
being in there and competing in front of fans like that.

Speaker 3 (49:29):
Well, another thing that special is this offense for Kentucky volleyball.
And we had your teammate Molly Tuzzo on a couple
of weeks ago and we asked her about the bro
offense where the libero gets involved. What's that like from
your position to have an offensive libero like Molly helping out.

Speaker 20 (49:45):
Yeah, tuzz Is absolutely saying the way that she runs
the Borro offense is super cool, and I think it's
evolving through volleyball. Yeah, whenever the setter plays the first
ball and tuzz has the second, I mean, there's no
doubt that she's going to set up our hitters too
a place that can score. And she sets with such
tempo and she's amazing setting hands that it's just kind
of like okay, like Molly's setting the ball like okay,

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let's get a kill. Like it's no, like oh my gosh,
holding our breath like no. She honestly sets up to
the offense great and amazing and even setting up like
Eva RBK on the back row bicks. It's just really
cool to see kind of that evolve through our offense.

Speaker 3 (50:22):
And how does that affect the defense because you are
sort of out of system with a libero getting involved
like that.

Speaker 20 (50:27):
Yeah, so I think, I mean, from the other sides
of perspective, I mean, it's very rare that you see
kind of temple like that coming up from a libero,
and I think it's very hard for our opponents to
block against it. And even like seeing a back row
bit coming from a lib and you like think she's
gonna throw it up high to the outside and it's
just like right behind her. I think it's really hard
to adjust, but kind of having that key in our

(50:50):
offense from the back row is really cool and I
think it's something that we can utilize when we come
against opponents who haven't seen it before, especially in the SEC.

Speaker 3 (50:58):
Yeah, how much fun do you have setting in this offense? Oh?

Speaker 20 (51:02):
It is a field day. I mean there's so much
depth too with our hitters. I mean we have Asia
Thigpen on the right, Jordan Daily, Hannah Benjamin, Georgia Watson.
The middles are amazing and obviously are outside. So it's
just really cool to be able to set each hitter
and they can kill a ball, and they're also super
shot or super smart with their shots. I mean all

(51:24):
of them have really good court IQ and so even
if the sets off a little bit, which no one's
expected to be perfect when setting the ball, but you
know that they can find a way to score, and
I think that's there's so much comfort in that. But
also just being able to set amazing hitters is really
a privilege.

Speaker 3 (51:38):
You and I have talked about how you want to
play fast, and Craig has spoken about how he wants
this fast tempo offensively, So from your position with the
setter a lot of times, Like you talk about dictating tempo,
how important is that to try to get the flow
where you want it to be, or maybe sometimes to
back it down a little bit.

Speaker 20 (51:55):
Yeah, I mean setting with tempo it's a very hard
thing because it also is a two way street between
you and the hitter. You kind of need to have
that feeling connection. So I think once you get that
tempo and you're hitting those marks with where the set's
supposed to be in the temple that's supposed to be at,
it's very lethal. I mean you're creating holes in the blocks,
You're creating zones for hitters. I mean you can overload

(52:16):
one side and then set back to the right side
and there will be almost no blocks. So I think
that's a really cool thing about like offensive tempo. But
also what comes with that is the setter hitter connection.
I mean that needs to be firing at every aspect,
which I think in our gym, like in practices, we
work on that a lot. So just having comfort in
that but also being able to execute that fast offense

(52:38):
is really what's going to be key for our success.

Speaker 3 (52:40):
You know, when you think I think about I cover
women's basketball, and I think about the Ryan Howards and
Georgia Amores. You wanted to get the ball in their
hands when you needed a score. You want to get
the ball to Brooklyn Delay or Eva Hudson to get
the kill or the point. But because of their presence,
it opens up so much on the floor with everybody else, right, yeah.

Speaker 20 (52:59):
I'm I mean you looking at scouting reports and like
seeing where blockers are already like shifting and stuff. They're
automatically going to shift left side, I mean if they
see certain things. So I think that does open up
a lot of opportunities for our other hitters. But even
getting our other hitters involved early will open up other
opportunities for booking at Brooklyn and Eva. So I think
that's something really special, is having lethal hitters in every

(53:21):
single position.

Speaker 3 (53:24):
We're talking with Ava Sarafa from Kentucky Volleyball here on
bb AND Radio presented by Clark's Pump and Shop, and
we talked about what the key role you played against Louisville,
and you've had some big moments, but I also know
that you're just constantly working hard off the court and
on the court as well, and that you've gone through
some struggles here and there, but you've overcome those, You've

(53:44):
had some key moments. Just kind of tell me what
the journey's been like for you, this resiliency that you've
shown with Kentucky Volleyball.

Speaker 20 (53:51):
Yeah, I mean it has some been easy. Freshman year
kind of had like what people call the yips and
just had to work through that. And honestly, coming in
that experience to the freshman it's very scary. I mean,
not really knowing what caused it is a really big struggle,
and even not knowing till today, I mean, just working
through it. And honestly, our staff is just amazing and

(54:11):
they have supported me through every single journey. And honestly,
the team everyone has been amazing and I know they
have my back, which is such something that's so special
about being at Kentucky. I mean, absolutely love being here
with the people. So I think honestly that just makes
my journey so much easier, as just being around people
who care for you and love you and support you
and help work through everything that you're going through. I

(54:32):
mean freshman year to sophomore year and everything, just extra
reps and just trying to get that feelback that I
couldn't have when I was setting the hitters and everything.
But we always talked about roles this year on the team,
and honestly, just having that mentality that you need to
embrace your role and no matter what if going to

(54:53):
serve or set or anyone's being switched around in roles,
just being grateful for that role and embracing it, and
just talk about like doing your job if the team
needs you in a certain job that day, and they
need you in a certain job that another day. Just
embracing the opportunity. I mean being on one of the
top teams in the nation, just being able to get
time on the court, but giving it all to your

(55:14):
teammates on the court and off the court. It's really important.

Speaker 3 (55:17):
Along those lines, Dave, I guess you talked about the
importance of the teammates and the staff being in your
corner and having your back. What's it like playing for
Craig Skinner.

Speaker 20 (55:28):
I couldn't be more grateful. Craig cares about us as athletes,
he cares about us as humans. He cares to make
us better humans than came in to be. I mean,
such an amazing human being, and I'm so glad to
be playing for him, and I think it's truly special.
Even the staff that he's brought in to kind of
coach with him, they are also amazing human beings and

(55:49):
the people that he brings in the recruits. Everyone just
truly exemplifies the type of person that he is and
the culture that he wants to create and kind of
keep going. So I'm super happy to be a part
of this program and super grateful to be playing under him.

Speaker 3 (56:03):
So real quick, we just got a few minutes left
in the show. But part of that journey for you
was also learning and watching behind Emma Grome. How much
did that help you? Seeing what she could do and
kind of the standard that volleyball has overall at Kentucky.

Speaker 20 (56:17):
Yeah, Emma, I mean all Americans super skilled athlete, very athletic,
just kind of learning the system through her, and she
was such a solid setter, I mean, super super dynamic
and everything. Being able to watch her and kind of
play around her and learn stuff from her, I think
was truly a privilege for me learning from one of
the best of the nation. I mean, what else could

(56:38):
you ask for? I think even till this day, like
Emma was around during summer when we were getting reps
and just being able to ask her about kind of
her experience and questions and how she felt and what
was the hardest to address to while playing here. I mean,
just having her around really really helped, and I think
it just makes the journey easier having someone like that around.

Speaker 3 (56:57):
You were a very accomplished volleyball player coming out of Michigan,
three times state champion. That's pretty awesome. But what was
it that appealed to you when it came to Kentucky?
What was it drawing you to Lexington during the recruiting.

Speaker 20 (57:09):
Yeah, I mean it's funny because I was talked about
going so far from home when I was in high
school and going on visits and everything. You kind of realized, like, Okay,
do I really want to take a ten hour plane
ride every single time I go across the country. So
that's thinking about that when you're fifteen years old. But
also from the moment I stepped on Kentucky's campus, it
felt like home away from home, and I think that's

(57:30):
really important. Grew up around.

Speaker 3 (57:36):
Kentucky.

Speaker 2 (57:37):
Kentucky, You've been listening to Clark's Pump and Shop Big
Blue Nation Radio on the UK Sports Network, Big Blue
Nation Radio. It's a presentation of the UK Sports Network
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