Madi Bugg and Molly McCage: A Friendship through Volleyball

00:00:00
Speaker 1: As a volleyball player, I trust Adidas to meet my own court needs, but they also offer the ultimate in everyday's style. From trendy platform sneakers, vibrant track pants, and cozy chic flee sweatshirts from their Zny collection, Adidas has everything I need to feel comfortable, stylish, and confident. Explore all that Adidas has to offer at Adidas dot Com or through the Adidas App and receive fifteen percent off your first order when you sign up for ADDI Club, getting access to fantastic perks, including free shipping. Unlock your style with Adidas Today. Hi, I'm Tipney Oshinski and this is serving pancakes with League one Volleyball. The inaugural Love season is just around the corner, So we're talking with some of the amazing people in the league to introduce you to the players on the court and coaches and others involved off the court. To close out twenty twenty four, we get two for one in today's episode, Love Austin middle blocker Molly McCage and Love Atlanta setter Mattie Bugs. Growing up in Spring, Texas, Molly stayed close to home by taking her towns to the University of Texas, where she earned three All American designations and helped lead the Longhorns to a national title in twenty twelve. She's played professionally since twenty sixteen, both abroad in Germany and here in the States, and now we'll be joining many Texas alums on Love Austin. Maddi grew up in Apex, North Carolina, but went across the country to play collegiately at Stanford, where she was a three time All American. She played professionally abroad in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, and France, and now she'll be playing close to home for Love Atlanta. Mollie Maddy, Welcome to Serving Pancakes. Thanks so much for being here, Thanks for having us. So I have to start because I know that you two were friends. That was part of the reason why we wanted you on the podcast together. When did the friendship begin? How did you guys meet?

00:01:53
Speaker 2: We were so young, so we both played on the youth national team for USA, and I don't know. We met when we were fifteen teen sixteen at one of the high performance camps and we ended up being on the same team on the youth national team. So those trips are awesome because you spend a lot of time together.

00:02:10
Speaker 3: So we went to Guatemala. How long were we there?

00:02:13
Speaker 4: Many, like fell of years. Everybody on our team got sick, like yeah, but it was that might have been mine too, except like Niagara Falls or something.

00:02:26
Speaker 1: Yeah, so it was Guatemala where the friendship was forged.

00:02:30
Speaker 4: Yeah, Well, sary the details of that trip, but yeah, definitely solidified there.

00:02:39
Speaker 1: What was it about like each other that really drew you two together as friends.

00:02:44
Speaker 4: I think we were both kind of nerdy, and we both love Harry Potter, loved to read things like that, and we both like giggle a lot. Like we just make each other giggle all the time. And I think Molly has the best left in the world, so like it just makes me laugh harder, and everybody loves laugh, so that's so sweet.

00:03:04
Speaker 3: I know.

00:03:04
Speaker 2: Well, Maddie's also hilarious, so I'm sure she hears that laugh all the time because I'm just constantly dying laughing whenever she's around.

00:03:11
Speaker 3: We always just have a good time.

00:03:12
Speaker 2: So I think that started at sixteen and didn't stop. So at sixteen we met. I played on the national team, went to you know, she went to stand Forrid went to Texas, and then we actually ended up being on the same team in Germany together in Stuttgart, so that was like a super cool thing that we kept saying, like our younger selves could have never imagined this.

00:03:28
Speaker 1: Yeah.

00:03:29
Speaker 4: And then this year, yes, this year we played in au together, which Molly has played in for four years.

00:03:35
Speaker 3: Yeah.

00:03:36
Speaker 4: Yeah, and I was just like, we're thirty now, like we're double our age when we met, and we're still doing the same thing together. We have managed to make this keep happening.

00:03:47
Speaker 3: I know, please just keep hanging out on the white wall.

00:03:50
Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, although now you guys are opposites, like you guys are on competing teams. Are you guys gonna trash talk and stuff or you think it's gonna be pretty cordial.

00:04:00
Speaker 4: Molly's like a robot at the net. I call her optimist Prime. She's like so serious and like I'm a little more laid back, so I'll probably make a joke and Molly will pretend not to hear me. But I think that's.

00:04:13
Speaker 2: Also why our friendship works, is that like I am such an emotional spaz, Like on the court, I try to be very serious and focused because like I am just my emotions are like here all of the time, whereas Mattie's like so chill and so calm and like on the court, like that's exactly what I need from a setter too, Like it's okay, like you're gonna gonna kill It's fine.

00:04:36
Speaker 3: Also, that's supposed to be fun.

00:04:38
Speaker 4: Right, Yeah. I used to like not be able to set because I was laughing so hard at how high Molly's eyebrows would be getting during transition, Like I would make eye contact with her as she's going for a slide, and I was like, I can't set.

00:04:54
Speaker 3: It's that serious.

00:04:55
Speaker 5: Yeah, Oh my gosh, that's so funny.

00:04:59
Speaker 1: So what was a moment like where you guys were kind of like did we just become best friends?

00:05:05
Speaker 5: Yep? Like what was that moment?

00:05:07
Speaker 3: I think it was. I don't know.

00:05:08
Speaker 2: Maddie is such a safe personality. Like I always feel like I could have like been myself like around you, even throughout the past fifteen years of our lives, and I've changed, We've both changed so much. I've always just been gravitated towards this warm, safe personality that Maddie has.

00:05:23
Speaker 4: I think that like we probably just were standing next to each other, and like started being like, do you know what's going on? I don't know what's going on, and like I'm so scared right now, like at holiday camp, and then just been like do you like that boy? I think he's cute whatever, and like neither of us talk to anyone, and I think that's probably what started and then it just stayed that way. That just changed.

00:05:46
Speaker 5: That's so funny. Well, the holidays are coming up to you guys. Exchange gifts.

00:05:49
Speaker 4: No, we're not really big gift people, but we have been sharing books more recently, which has been fun.

00:05:56
Speaker 1: I was going to say, not even like a book exchange, but there you go.

00:05:59
Speaker 4: Yeah, well Mollie reads at her own pace. Okay, okay, Hi did you finish did you finish The Tale of or what is it? Two Crowns? Yeah, it is amazing, It's so good. Yes, love highly recommend.

00:06:20
Speaker 2: Right, So I think like podcast music books would like share that and instead of like tangible gifts, you know what I mean.

00:06:27
Speaker 4: We also both live in suitcases, so like Christmas is so hard for me. I'm like, please don't give me stuff, Like I have two suitcases and that's it.

00:06:37
Speaker 5: It's all you can handle. Well, now you're here in the States.

00:06:41
Speaker 1: You're playing with League one back in Austin, back in Atlanta. You guys have played professionally overseas and you know, also in the States. But I'm just curious, like, what have you noticed is the difference between those other teams and leagues and countries versus League One, and how this team is operating and this league is operating.

00:07:00
Speaker 4: I think there's been I mean, each league that I've played in has just been so different from each other. And a lot of that to do with just the culture of wherever you're playing, like obviously dictates a lot about your experience. I had dinner with my parents two nights ago.

00:07:14
Speaker 6: I have a little bit jet lag.

00:07:15
Speaker 4: I don't really know where I am, and I was telling them I was like my low level anxiety that was just always there overseas, which I think is important to experience as a human, like being uncomfortable and needing help from other people and learning about another place. But that like little buzz kind of every time i'd have to leave the house is not there, Like my brain feels a little quieter just being home, and that's really really nice.

00:07:40
Speaker 2: That's a really good point I so, yeah, I went to Texas. I've lived in Austin before, but I haven't lived here since I graduated from college, so it's been a long time. I've lived overseas and in the US, but not in Austin, so the city has changed for sure. But I totally agree with that sentiment of like, I'm very comfortable and I can focus on all of the things that bring me joy during practice because my outside life is just like super chill, and I have friends outside of the volleyball team, and I have friends on the volleyball team.

00:08:09
Speaker 3: You know, like I'm.

00:08:10
Speaker 2: Able to have a life outside of it all, and I know that my identity is not super wrapped up in volleyball. I think I struggled with that a long time while I was playing overseas, and it just felt like the one thing I was here to do is just to play volleyball. And I know that my impact, our impact is so much larger than that, and it feels even bigger now because I'm able to connect with fans. I I'm gonna like kind of sound cocky right now, but I don't mean to.

00:08:35
Speaker 3: I got recognized in the grocery store the other day, so cool.

00:08:41
Speaker 2: It was so cool and they were like, no, we remember Texas. I'm not famous, and like, I haven't been in this city for so long, but they recognize me playing at Texas And then now they're like, we're so excited, we bought season tickets.

00:08:56
Speaker 3: Like that kind of moment is really cool to have, and I have.

00:09:00
Speaker 2: I haven't really shared that much like in any other city I've lived in.

00:09:03
Speaker 5: That's so cool. Yeah, Maddie, you're in Atlanta. Were you familiar with the city at all?

00:09:09
Speaker 1: Or is this kind of like a new journey for you too, even though you're in the States, but a different city, different location.

00:09:15
Speaker 4: My family lives in Charlotte now. My brother and sister got jobs there after college, and so my parents. I went to high school in Raleigh. So my parents are both retired and we're like, we want to be where our kids are. So it's really convenient for me now because it's four hours from Atlanta. I got to be home for Thanksgiving for the first time in thirteen years. That was like really special and we did nothing, which was even better. Yes, but I knew Atlanta. I mean I had like Big South. The qualifier was always in Atlanta, and I have multiple cousins that live in Atlanta. I have a really big family. Actually, I'm going to have sixty five people at the weekend that we're hosting January thirty, first of February. I think we have a whole section, like my dad Dog's emailing. Yeah, it's like the bugs and then the cousins of the bugs, and we're going to be a whole unit. And it's yeah, I'm just I don't know. I never like even knew that I could want that, which is really nice. And we live like north of Atlanta, and so it's nice because we get like we actually live on a wildlife reserve. I live with Kelsey Robinson, So we live on a wildlife reserve, which is really nice, like very peaceful. We're next to a little lake, and then we can go into the city and be city people and do whatever. And it's just nice to have both options. But like going back to what I was saying earlier, like everything just feels easier because I'm home, you know, whereas like driving forty minutes to go into the city to do something like see a play or whatever is a lot more daunting overseas versus here. I'm like that's Tuesday night. I knew that, no problem.

00:10:49
Speaker 1: Well, the season's about to start first service January eighth in Atlanta.

00:10:53
Speaker 5: Are you excited.

00:10:54
Speaker 4: I'm super excited. We're playing Salt Lake. I'm so ready to start playing. I've been watching all the all of my friends that are playing in like the leagues in Europe and Brazil and things like that, and I am so jealous they're already playing. I'm like chomping at a bit.

00:11:10
Speaker 5: Pretty soon, pretty soon, Molly.

00:11:11
Speaker 1: I know that your first game is the day after on January ninth in Houston.

00:11:16
Speaker 5: Are you gonna have family go to that game?

00:11:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, I've already had I don't know the count I've already had cousins and my family and siblings and stuff. Be like, okay, like we're getting a whole section. I was just about to say, you're a giant group of people.

00:11:28
Speaker 3: You should make shirts.

00:11:29
Speaker 2: There should be like a whole like actual uniformed unit.

00:11:33
Speaker 4: They did that at college for me, and we all look exactly the same.

00:11:40
Speaker 3: Please do it.

00:11:42
Speaker 4: My dad has a spreadsheet of all the people that are the family reunion.

00:11:47
Speaker 3: But at Maddie's game, my dad.

00:11:49
Speaker 4: Was like, can you make an appearance at the lunch and I was like, no, I am it just gave day like I did.

00:11:56
Speaker 5: Are small appearance fee?

00:11:58
Speaker 1: Maybe Yeah, Well, then you guys get to play each other in week two. I mean, you guys seem very cordial and really like each other. But I gotta ask, is there any trash talk coming between you two about which team is gonna win.

00:12:13
Speaker 4: I'm more of like a make fun of myself than a trash talker kind of.

00:12:17
Speaker 3: Person, So yeah, no, I.

00:12:21
Speaker 2: Don't have a trash talking personality at all.

00:12:25
Speaker 4: Well, it'll just scream the play that she knows I'm running through the net, probably, but like I'm not trying to surprise her.

00:12:34
Speaker 3: Yeah, I also will be like, man, that.

00:12:36
Speaker 2: Was a really good play about it, Like I might even compliment her through the net before I trash talk.

00:12:56
Speaker 1: All right, well, let's do a deep dive into your volleyball careers so that we can see where you guys began and how we got to where we are today. So let's start with the pretty obvious question, which is how and when did you fall in love with volleyball? So, Molly, wy don't you start This is.

00:13:11
Speaker 3: The opposite of Mattie's.

00:13:13
Speaker 4: I was like, oh please.

00:13:16
Speaker 2: It was not love at first sight at all. I actually played. I actually played other sports, basketball and track and cheerleading. I'm the youngest of five, and so I felt like my parents were just like skiing out of the house everybody like in the.

00:13:31
Speaker 3: Summers, it's all play sports, all right, here we go.

00:13:34
Speaker 2: And I mean I wasn't always the most athletic, but I was fast, and I felt like I could pick up sports pretty easily.

00:13:40
Speaker 3: But volleyball I could not.

00:13:42
Speaker 2: Like I was really struggling. It was really bad. And I made the B team in seventh grade and I begged my parents, like, please don't take me to practice, like this is awful and I'm embarrassed.

00:13:56
Speaker 4: There's a lot of limbs to deal with.

00:13:58
Speaker 2: Yeah, right, Like I couldn't run normally until I was like in college. So I made a club team, the first team in like the A team or whatever in club and I was fourteen, and I didn't play all year because I had so much to learn. But I had a wonderful coach and wonderful teammates that were just like trust the process, like you have all the tools. There's like not clicking right now, but they will and slowly. But I honestly think that the reason why I love this sport has always been because of the people and like, of course the game itself, Like it's such a fun team based sport, but like it's so funny that it took me a long time to get over the hump of you know, you're not going to be perfect, and I'm still very much not.

00:14:44
Speaker 3: Perfect at that sport.

00:14:45
Speaker 4: How do you do that?

00:14:48
Speaker 2: I talked with a therapist now, but yeah, that's my that's my key there. So it's I have sense like fallen in love with the sport. Obviously I'm still playing at age thirty, but there also was a time at twenty five that I was like, maybe this is too much Mollyball in my life, and then I came back to it again and was like, no, this is truly such a wonderful community and it gives me so much and the corporate life I'm truly not ready for.

00:15:14
Speaker 3: So this is the best job I've ever had.

00:15:17
Speaker 2: So I'm going to hold on to this for as long as I can because it's truly.

00:15:21
Speaker 3: Amazing that you Maddy.

00:15:23
Speaker 4: Yeah, I the first time I was on a plane, I was six weeks old, going to my mom's tournament because my mom was a coach when I was born. Her and my dad were running a club called North Dallas Juniors, and she's coached my whole childhood and she'd just retired a couple of years ago. So I just like, I mean, I grew up like I wanted to be cool like the girls that my mom coached, and I would like ride around the ball cart and hand my mom balls and every time I'd like try to serve it all over the net. I was like the timeout entertainment. My dad never forced me. I forced my dad to pepper with me for hours and hours hours. He's a saint for that. And then I think I joined a team for the first time. I was ten and my mom was the coach, and I was like, I was so skinny, and I was the only one that could set because I had just seen people set, so I knew what to do. But I couldn't push the ball all the way out to the pin. No ten year old can. And my mom just like would not accept that. She was like, it has to get out there, like the ball has to go. And I was like, I don't know how long it's going to be with me playing for my mom, but I do like volleyball. But she coached me for three years after that, so oh wow. Yeah, she coached me one year and then my two first eighteen years. But yeah, it was just like always there. I loved it. I've always felt the most myself on the court. I don't know how many jobs can make you like scream and cry and laugh. I feel like you're on top of the world, feel like the worst person ever, Like you just get the full spectrum of everything that emotions have to offer and although sometimes painful, like that's such a gift.

00:17:10
Speaker 5: Congrats to your mom for retiring recently.

00:17:12
Speaker 1: I mean that's a super long career because I saw she was a three time All American at Tennessee.

00:17:17
Speaker 3: Right she's a legend.

00:17:19
Speaker 4: I don't remember how many times, but she has She's had two blocking records and one of them has been broken, but I think she still holds one record. She's in the Hall of Fame at the University of Tennessee.

00:17:31
Speaker 5: Yeah, that's amazing, badass mom right there.

00:17:34
Speaker 1: I feel like a lot of the girls that I've interviewed have moms who are just like amazing women who have inspired them to like be great, which is why you guys are also playing professional volleyball and still kicking ass, just like so amazed by all all all the moms in this like world.

00:17:52
Speaker 5: Did you ever take your mom's career.

00:17:54
Speaker 1: As like a volleyball player coach and kind of use that as inspiration or competition, you know, like I want to be better than my mom or was it kind of just more.

00:18:05
Speaker 4: She's different positions so it was easier to not compare. I'm don't tell everybody in the league, but I'm not the world's best blocker, and my mom's just like naturally a really good blocker, and my mom can't set at all. So I actually think I got my ability to set for my dad. He played a lot of like grass and beach and stuff. But no, it was never like competition or anything. I mean, I was grateful to my mom, and I like loved hearing all her stories about because she was like that first generation that benefited from Title nine, and so I loved hearing all those stories and the horror stories that happened because there were a lot. But yeah, I was actually I got emotional talking about this the other day because I was like, obviously, this is the first year of this league, and there's things that are gonna change and get better, and there are things that are perfect now. But like it's the first time that I really really relate to my mom where I'm like, oh, this is how it must have felt for you, like starting in college, because college was like a paved path for us. Like it was hard because the job is hard, but it wasn't hard because we were creating it. And I think their version of college is how maybe we're experiencing the beginning of this league and like establishing something that will go on for generations. And that definitely makes me emotional, very grateful.

00:19:33
Speaker 1: Yeah, you should be excited about that, being like the first faces of the league, you know, and getting recognized in the grocery store in Texas, right, I mean, it's all stepping stones, all exciting things now, Mollie, because you started so late in volleyball, I feel like, you know, I've talked about this with some of the other girls, how there's kind of like this stigma sometimes with youth sports where if you are not you know, playing sports since you're like six or eight, that some girls I don't want to boys and girls are afraid to kind of jump into a new sport at a later age.

00:20:07
Speaker 5: Did you ever feel that way?

00:20:09
Speaker 3: Yeah, of course, of course.

00:20:11
Speaker 2: I think the devil of comparison was so prevalent at that age, and it's I feel like it might be getting worse too, because club, You know, it's so normal for players to start at nine ten years old and then be on the top teams and then be recognized and then they just like stay on the top. So like squeeze your way into the top is so hard, or you have to.

00:20:30
Speaker 3: Be like six eight and then you'll be in the head. But that's not gifted to everybody, literally, yes.

00:20:37
Speaker 2: And I just I don't think that we should commit ourselves to one sport. I don't think we should commit ourselves to one position. I think that's crazy, like to be more athletic, man, I wish that I played more positions. Nobody wants to play middle. I know that there's a middle shortage in youth volleyball right now, but I I just feel like to pigeonhole yourself at like such a young age and to compare yourself to other people's stages of where they are in volleyball is ludicrous. Like I actually think it still applies to you know at age thirty, like there are moms coming back after three years who are good, if not better than they were before. Like there's no age limit to like, sure, maybe you're not playing volleyball at fifty five.

00:21:23
Speaker 3: You know that's not happening, but like there is a maybe you know grass or beach. Yeah, yet it carched.

00:21:30
Speaker 2: How old was carch I mean he was good for a very very long time, So I don't know. But you know, at fifteen sixteen, people like, oh, it's too late to try volleyball. I'm like, that's crazy talk. Like I just feel like you.

00:21:41
Speaker 3: Can pick this.

00:21:42
Speaker 2: I know so many especially on the on the boy's side, so many athletes that were like no, I just picked this up my senior year and thought it was super fun, And now I'm an Ashtabian at uc I like I'm just like wait, what, Like that's insane to me because in girls volleyball it's like so structured. You go to nationals trying to get an open bit and it's like this is your entire life and then it like truly doesn't have to be that serious. You can try other sports. You can also love other sports and continue playing them, like volleyball shouldn't be your entire life, because that is not sustainable.

00:22:16
Speaker 3: We've tried.

00:22:18
Speaker 2: And there is no time limit to this into falling in love with volleyball and being good at it.

00:22:24
Speaker 5: So obviously you two were very good at this sport.

00:22:27
Speaker 1: So can you talk about how you guys ended up on the US youth national team and what that experience was like.

00:22:35
Speaker 4: So after the first big tryout and like once your name is like kind of in the system, like you start getting askeds if you do well, like they ask you to come back for like the next camp, and so then it's that part was really fun, like two or three years down the line, because you're like seeing this group of friends that you don't get to see very often, and like, I mean, you're playing a lot of volleyball, but you're also like playing cards, just hanging out, eating massive amounts of spaghetti. It's the lunch hole and stuff. But and like trying to find Michael Phelps. Yes, annoy I had, Yeah, yeah, poor guy.

00:23:16
Speaker 5: But uh, did you ever find him?

00:23:18
Speaker 3: Yeah? Yeah, he was really annoyed.

00:23:22
Speaker 4: But I mean I don't blame him at all. Yeah, he's like we were super serious. He's eating like eight thousand calories just so he can swim for seven hours every day. And the kids in the lunch room were like, look, yeah, it was just like a one tryal. I don't know if my mom found it or my club coach said something, do you remember how you're started?

00:23:44
Speaker 2: I'm pretty sure my club coach suggested it to my mom and my mom was like, oh, that sounds like something serious, like she needs to do that, and like my mom, like I nobody in my family played bolleyball, like we were all just guessing at what happens next.

00:23:59
Speaker 3: Yeah, And there was a like in.

00:24:02
Speaker 2: Dallas, so about four hours away from home. We there was like a region tryout, right, and so I went there. My mom and I drove there and it was like a couple hours long. But I remember like pinning the paper number to your shirt, your cotton shirt, and I remember hitting some slides and they were like that looks weird, but it works. And I just kept getting invited to things, and it was the coolest thing ever.

00:24:30
Speaker 3: Because my high school team was fun.

00:24:34
Speaker 2: We weren't very good my club team in Houston at the time, like club teams were like folding and then popping up and then folding. So it was never like a stagnant like team that you're part of our club. So it was really hard to like get really solid coaching and have really high level teammates.

00:24:53
Speaker 3: You know.

00:24:53
Speaker 2: I did have awesome coaches, but the coaches at that level were just so experienced, and I felt like I learned so much and then also so like just to play with other high level athletes at that age like totally accelerates your skill set. So I wouldn't have known unless my club coach said something to my mom. My mom was like, oh, Okay, that's like how she gets recruited because this there's this thing you get recruited for college and you can get free.

00:25:18
Speaker 3: College somehow, which sounds nice to us. I was like, yeah, that's right.

00:25:24
Speaker 1: So then, I mean, obviously having the US national team on your resume helped to get into college, but what made you each decide to go to Stanford and Texas respectively?

00:25:35
Speaker 2: So I actually, so I'm from Houston. Obviously, Austin's super close. I went on a visit because it's easy to get there, and I actually did not love it at first. I was so scared and intimidated by those athletes and was like surely I can't go here. And so I actually grew up in Indiana, like a suburb of Chicago, and my sister went to IU, and so I adore myself and looked up to her. So I was like, I want to go to EU because she did. And it's a lovely campus. The coaches were great, but you know, after so many conversations with my club coaches, my mom and my dad, it was like no, but like you're kind of good at this volleyable thing, and if Texas were looking at you, like you should go because it's pretty awesome. And I committed my sophomore year, which is way too early. I'm so happy that you can't do that now, because that it was crazy. Nobody else in my class had committed at that time either, so I was just like, I don't know, I'm.

00:26:28
Speaker 3: Blessed to be here, so let's do it.

00:26:31
Speaker 2: It ended up being awesome, obviously, but that was a wild gamble, and I'm so happy that I came in with the class that I did, Like we're still so close, like I'm hanging out with one of them later today. Like for me, it was about the people, and of course I wanted to go to a school that was in the runnings but hadn't won yet.

00:26:52
Speaker 3: That was one thing I was like, you know, Texas.

00:26:55
Speaker 2: Has I want to like do this in spite of everybody now, but I yeah, it was like they were on the cusp. And then my freshman year we won, and that is wild to just hop into a program and then be like, well we won, Like look at what we did, guys, and it's like generations of work just to get to that national championship. So it definitely wasn't my little freshman self coming in, but I I really loved my time at Texas.

00:27:23
Speaker 3: It was great.

00:27:24
Speaker 4: You're a pretty big part of that national championship. Don't undersell it. Thanks.

00:27:29
Speaker 3: Thanks. I was Louie freshman.

00:27:33
Speaker 4: Held it together.

00:27:34
Speaker 3: Yeah, I didn't cry on the court, So yeah untill me won until we went.

00:27:39
Speaker 1: Yeah what about you, Maddie let me to choose Stanford.

00:27:44
Speaker 4: I we were living in New Hampshire at the time and my mom was coaching a high school team and she took them to go see I think he was Boston College play a preseason match against Stanford and Stanford won the match. So I think I was eleven, and I was like, well, I want to go to Stanford. I didn't even know.

00:28:04
Speaker 3: I don't know.

00:28:05
Speaker 4: I think I barely knew where California was, and I didn't really know what college volleyball was or what college was. But then I just like kept saying it, and everybody was very impressed whenever I would say it, and I was like, oh, I think this is a good thing. And then I remember we moved to North Carolina and I played with a lot of the same girls for a bunch of years, and my Liverera was one of my closest friends, and I always said like I was going to go to Stanford, and she wanted to go to UNC, and she she was like, Maddie, I googled Stanford last night. Do you know where it is? It is all the way across the country. And I was like, really, yeah, I was just playing And then I just kept telling people that. But it was like manifest I mean, I definitely like worked hard in school and like worked hard at volleyball and stuff, but I think there was some manifesting. Definitely a lot of luck, and I like visited a couple of colleges. I really loved you, dub I really loved Florida. I liked Texas, but they wanted Chloe Collins, which I understand because I also love Chloe Collins. I was so jealous when Molly and Chloe were going to school together. But I visited Stanford and I was like, Oh, this just like feels right, this feels like where I belong.

00:29:35
Speaker 5: Logan Tom went to Stanford, didn't.

00:29:36
Speaker 4: She She did.

00:29:38
Speaker 1: Yeah, she was like my inspiration when I was growing up.

00:29:42
Speaker 5: I like Logan Tom was my.

00:29:45
Speaker 1: What I want to be. But I'm five to three, so there's no way was I actually going to be like her position or anything like that.

00:29:50
Speaker 4: But just she was amazing and like, actually I got to obviously didn't play with her, but I got to kind of play with her in this like movie that we were in in China. It was about it was about the Chinese national team. Yeah, this is my fun fact. Anytime that I like need to introduce myself in a circle and you have to do that, like ice breaking. Yeah, I was a stunt double in a movie in China. It was about their national team and Jenny Lingping and they were like recreating scenes from the Olympics in Beijing and they needed volleyball players. They wanted Logan Tom and then I basically was just setting falls for her to hit and they were filming it. But we spent two weeks in China, and I mean we filmed for most of the time. It was actually exhausting, but just getting to talk to her about volleyball was really really cool. I was trying to play it cool, but I was like, fangirl, yeah, so cool. That's the place that volleyball.

00:30:57
Speaker 6: Has taken me.

00:31:14
Speaker 1: Well, speaking of the places that volleyball has taken you, you both then obviously went professional, So what made you decide to take that next step.

00:31:23
Speaker 2: I also wasn't fully aware that pro volleyball was a thing.

00:31:27
Speaker 3: Until like my senior year.

00:31:29
Speaker 2: I felt like it was like not or like people would graduate and I was like, where'd she go? Would be like some obscure country, like what? And there are so many Texas alumni, as.

00:31:39
Speaker 3: You know, nine of them are on this team right now.

00:31:41
Speaker 2: We're aware many Longhorns continue playing after college. So I didn't think about it for a long time. And then after I finished, I was like, what how do I get over there?

00:31:55
Speaker 3: You know, I have to like find an agent and.

00:31:57
Speaker 2: I don't know it's I absolutely adore playing professional bollyball in the US, and I want to and to like retire, But I think that coming out out of college, especially such a such a school like Texas, like we get a lot of things handed to us. We have a ton of money of that that school. We have so many resources. We have so many people on staff just helping you do this one thing. Like it's it's crazy and it's amazing. That transition from college to pro I think is necessary for you to like mature as a volleyball player professionally. Sorry, living overseas, being a foreigner at one point, I think is really important in your life, like Maddie was saying earlier, and just getting uncomfortable and playing a new style of volleyball. You know, you were known as this kind of hitter in college, but then that's not what this team needs, so you have to change and be this kind of hitter. Just being adaptable and then finding out about yourself, like who are the people that you gravitate towards? Like what do you want to do outside of volleyball? Like there's so many things that you have to answer whenever you go overseas that I think this comfortable life I almost feel like we like earned it, Maddieattie.

00:33:05
Speaker 3: For sure, I didn't play especially as long.

00:33:08
Speaker 2: Yeah, but I think this is such a comfortable life and we now appreciate it so much more because it's not like we'd lived a terrible life overseas, but it's uncomfortable.

00:33:19
Speaker 4: I echo that, like I I don't want this to sound the wrong way, but like in going to Stanford, I felt like I needed to do something monumental after college. I needed to like change people's lives and like be of service in a big way. And I was kind of scared to say that I wanted to play or like keep playing. And it wasn't like I mean, we had social media obviously in college, but it was not to the degree that it is now, and playing pro was not as common as it is now. So everything was like a text of like, hey, can I maybe get your agent's email? I don't even know what an agent does, but like, I'm going to send an email. But like I was scared to say that I wanted to do that and not like pursue something of great importance to the world. And actually I had a boyfriend at the time, and he was like, you love this, like you are obsessed with this, like why would you not chase the thing that you love the most in the world. And it was almost like everyone around me was more excited and more like sure of my choice that I was. And then I went overseas. I went to Switzerland my first year and was like, what is I don't think this is what it's supposed to be. Like I'm so confused. And I always tell people to play two years, Like your first year is really hard, Like, no matter what, you could have the best club in the world, but it's going to be really, really hard because it's so different. You're not as good as you think you are, and like the learning curve is steep, and it's a really long season. The season's nine months overseas, So always play two that's my advice to the general people watching. But yeah, that was kind of how I got into it. And then I I was like, Okay, I'll play one more year, and here we are nine years later.

00:35:21
Speaker 5: I just couldn't stop.

00:35:22
Speaker 1: Yeah, So, after all these years of playing professionally and going overseas, playing here in the States, all that what made you two ultimately decide to join love.

00:35:32
Speaker 4: I mean, I'll be honest, like I really wanted to stay in Europe because I had like I'd played enough years where I had friends everywhere now and I had found like my groove, and I felt like I had really climbed the ladder and like earned my name in Europe. Which I'm not saying that I was like this rock star or something, but I like felt very proud of what I did and thank you Mill and I wanted to like keep going. And I was scared that if I came back to the US and this league didn't do well, then I could never go back. And I played with Kelsey Robinson last year and all year she was like, I really want you be my setter. I really want you to play with me. I think you should really look into this. And so finally, in like February or March of last year, I was like, Okay, I was getting like good offers in Europe, but nothing that was like I'm going to sign that right away. And League one kept signing these players where I was like, that girl's really good. That girl's really good too, I think this might actually be like a really good league. And then coupled with like everything that Love was doing, all of the surrounding parts of love I really agree with, like the way that they've structured the pro teams on top of the club teams and like integrating them together. I love that it's very European model based, and I like that we have maternity leave and we have Carrot is like this fertility I don't know it's called exactly support, I guess, and so like it's like unlimited calls with Carrot, and I can talk about freezing my eggs because I want to play for a long time, but I want kids maybe a little bit later. And like all of that was so great, and I was just like, I feel like the world is trying to tell me something, like I'm supposed to go back to the US, and that's kind of where I ended up in the end.

00:37:39
Speaker 2: It's like contract by contract, like every year you're like, I don't know where I'm going next.

00:37:43
Speaker 1: But do they sign actually, like in Europe, do you get like two three year contracts right now?

00:37:49
Speaker 5: Is it literally one one day?

00:37:51
Speaker 4: You can, but more common is one year. And then I would say it's more common to get a one plus one. We're like I'd have to opt in then like a two year or something like that.

00:38:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, So I've had a weird path, Like I retired at twenty five and tried to get normal corporate jobs and found out those were not as fun. And then Jordan Larson just DMD on Instagram was like, would.

00:38:18
Speaker 3: You play volleyball in the United States?

00:38:20
Speaker 2: I was like, that's not a thing that can happen, and this is athletes Unlimited at the time, and I've played with them now for four seasons. I've also worked for them in different capacities. I was full time this time last year, and all this buzz of like professional volleyball in the US was happening, you know. And I'd been working with AU and the other sports as well, so basketball, softball, lacrosse, and obviously playing volleyball. And I loved my job, honestly. I had wonderful benefits. I had wonderful coworkers. My boss is truly amazing. I knew that I had a special workplace that not many women have in the corporate world. And I was also working in sports, and it's like, you know, obviously we can all see the rise of women's sports right now, and it's awesome, But I am an athlete, and I can only be an athlete for so long and like to come back to Austin to play with former teammates. I also played to Austin Juniors my eighteens year, so my parents and I were crazy enough to drive two and a half hours to Austin every Sunday to practice yeah with Austin Juniors because the coaches there were amazing, and I felt like that was the only way I could.

00:39:32
Speaker 3: Prepare for Texas.

00:39:33
Speaker 2: So now we're quite literally playing and practicing in the gym that I played in as an eighteen year old, and that whole people moment is amazing. Yeah, And I just knew that, Like, no, that's the dream job, like I had, you know, played in different capacities and worked in different capacities for women's sports, and of course I will want to continue working in women's sports post volleyball, and maybe even while I'm playing volleyball, I'll do something. But to be the athlete, I feel like you have the biggest impact still to like have this connection with the clubs, like Maddie was saying, this connection to fans, Like the biggest platform you have is while you're the athlete.

00:40:14
Speaker 3: I'm also just having like too much fun, like.

00:40:16
Speaker 2: Every single day I'm like, this is so cool, Like I get to play with my friends. There is this sense of joy and play every time I practice and get on the court. Now that like I felt like I didn't allow myself to have at age twenty five, and so I just want to hold onto that as long as I can. But this offer and kind of I'm not from Austin, but it almost feels like I am. Like this very much feels like home. I'm so comfortable here and it's high level volleyball, Like I'm playing with some people that like I still fangirl over at Chiaka, Like even though we went to college together, I'm.

00:40:52
Speaker 3: Like, gee, do you realize how much you've accomplished? Like this is so freaking cool.

00:40:55
Speaker 2: I get to play with every day and like, not only is she a really good friend of mine, but like to see her be a two time Olympian and then to absolutely like the way that.

00:41:04
Speaker 4: She blocks is scary, it's like hurtful.

00:41:10
Speaker 2: It's so amazing to play with some of my teammates or all of my teammates and we have a good vibe going too, Like that's really special and kind of unheard of, Like I'm hanging out with almost everybody on my team.

00:41:22
Speaker 4: Sorry, it's true, no, especially like pro very true.

00:41:30
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I just knew it was super special and I'm really happy that I have this opportunity.

00:41:36
Speaker 1: Love it well, ladies, Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me, for coming on the podcast, and good luck with the new season.

00:41:44
Speaker 5: We'll see you out there on the court soon.

00:41:47
Speaker 3: Thanks, Tiffani, This is awesome.

00:41:48
Speaker 4: Thanks for having us a great question.

00:41:50
Speaker 3: Yeah, thanks is great.

00:41:53
Speaker 4: Serving.

00:41:54
Speaker 1: 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 for wherever you get your podcasts. Production by League one Volleyball, I'm your host, Tiffany Oshinsky. Anya Olivarez is our senior producer. Our executive producers are Carrie Stett, Tamaradike, and Lindsay Hoffman. Our marketing lead is Jawara Parker. Sound editing and mixing by Daniel Gonzalez. Our theme music is Pancakes by Eric W. Mast Junior Special thanks to Mollie McCage and Mattie Bug. We'll be taking a break for the holidays, so we'll see you in twenty twenty five, when the inaugural season of League One volleyball begins. Happy holidays and have a happy new Year. Thanks for listening.