S4E1: The 2026 Prediction Episode

WEBVTT

00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:02.160
<v Daniel Rasay>Thanks for bringing in the DEI hire.

00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:04.480
<v Matt Houlihan>The doctor is in.

00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:06.959
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yeah, we were about to get canceled, and then we buy you.

00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:12.640
<v Matt Houlihan>Javi showing up once every season to drink a beer does not count.

00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:22.320
<v Matt Houlihan>What season is this?

00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:24.239
<v Arielle Houlihan>I don't even know where I am right now.

00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:25.280
<v Matt Houlihan>Three and a half.

00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:27.120
<v Arielle Houlihan>We've multiplied.

00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:30.000
<v Daniel Rasay>I don't know what to do with my legs.

00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:33.039
<v Matt Houlihan>People are gonna judge your socks.

00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:33.840
<v Matt Houlihan>So be careful.

00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:36.880
<v Arielle Houlihan>Chud steals a new pair of socks every time you're in the house.

00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:37.679
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, it's great.

00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:38.479
<v Chad Gordon>Huge perk.

00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:39.759
<v Chad Gordon>I'm not compensated very well.

00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:42.240
<v Arielle Houlihan>Okay, everybody.

00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:47.600
<v Arielle Houlihan>We are back for season 52 of the coaches group chat.

00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:53.359
<v Arielle Houlihan>Uh we have decided to add a coach.

00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:54.719
<v Arielle Houlihan>New coach.

00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:56.320
<v Arielle Houlihan>And a new assistant.

00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:56.960
<v Arielle Houlihan>Head?

00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:58.000
<v Arielle Houlihan>Are you the head coach?

00:00:58.240 --> 00:00:58.640
<v Matt Houlihan>Associate.

00:00:58.640 --> 00:00:59.439
<v Matt Houlihan>He's associate head.

00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:01.679
<v Arielle Houlihan>You're the associate head of the coach's group chat now.

00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:04.000
<v Arielle Houlihan>So we have Daniel Rasai here today.

00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:06.000
<v Arielle Houlihan>Best known for.

00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:07.680
<v Arielle Houlihan>What are you the best known for?

00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:09.519
<v Matt Houlihan>Rasai performance coaching, obviously.

00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:10.239
<v Matt Houlihan>Snacks.

00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:11.439
<v Matt Houlihan>Probably broken things.

00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:12.879
<v Arielle Houlihan>Your food.

00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:14.719
<v Arielle Houlihan>You're the best known for your food.

00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:16.079
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah, I would say so.

00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:16.879
<v Matt Houlihan>That's true.

00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:20.959
<v Matt Houlihan>Well the short he made short ribs on New Year's Eve that were tasty meat snacks.

00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:22.239
<v Matt Houlihan>Meaty meaty snacks.

00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:31.760
<v Arielle Houlihan>We were all sitting in the airport and a lady came up to, we were all standing there together, and a lady came up directly to Daniel and said, You're from Beta Bay, right?

00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:33.840
<v Arielle Houlihan>Can you tell me about the youth clinics that are coming up?

00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:35.680
<v Arielle Houlihan>And we are all sitting right there.

00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:39.519
<v Arielle Houlihan>And she looked directly into his soul and was like, You are Beta Bay.

00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:40.159
<v Arielle Houlihan>It was great.

00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.159
<v Arielle Houlihan>And we were like, Yeah, Daniel, when are they?

00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:43.599
<v Arielle Houlihan>Tell me everything.

00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:45.120
<v Daniel Rasay>Daniel's the face.

00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:47.599
<v Daniel Rasay>I have an invisible face.

00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:49.359
<v Daniel Rasay>I'm a forgettable face.

00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:50.799
<v Matt Houlihan>I believe it's called aura.

00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:51.760
<v Matt Houlihan>That's what kids are calling that.

00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:53.840
<v Arielle Houlihan>Daniel does have aura.

00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.159
<v Matt Houlihan>That is something I think I've always loved about Daniel.

00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:57.519
<v Matt Houlihan>He'll go to the convention center.

00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:04.239
<v Matt Houlihan>You don't seek, it's not that you're invisible, it's that you just you are very comfortable just observing.

00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:07.280
<v Matt Houlihan>And you don't like insert yourself into many things.

00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:10.080
<v Matt Houlihan>But we've we've inserted you into a podcast now.

00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:16.159
<v Matt Houlihan>So now you have to actually share your thoughts and wisdom with the uh 110 viewers that we average each week.

00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:18.560
<v Daniel Rasay>Some people call that social anxiety, man.

00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:20.879
<v Matt Houlihan>That's facts.

00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:22.240
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yeah, yeah, whatever, whatever.

00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:22.879
<v Matt Houlihan>Sweaty.

00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:24.560
<v Matt Houlihan>It's his word of the word of the year for Daniel Sweaty.

00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:27.199
<v Matt Houlihan>He's actually sweating underneath all of his clothes right now.

00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:27.919
<v Matt Houlihan>He's so nervous.

00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:35.039
<v Matt Houlihan>We we are getting into our prediction episode, but before we get there, I think it's it's fitting for us to give a little preview of what's to come.

00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:36.159
<v Matt Houlihan>Ariel, kick kick us off.

00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:37.919
<v Arielle Houlihan>No, I don't want to kick off.

00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:39.199
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, Chad.

00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:40.479
<v Chad Gordon>You definitely asked you.

00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:41.759
<v Chad Gordon>Well, I got engaged.

00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:42.560
<v Chad Gordon>So there's that.

00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.840
<v Chad Gordon>Round of applause over Dick Bobby.

00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:50.560
<v Chad Gordon>So yeah, we uh went to London, did all that, got the right answer.

00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:51.919
<v Chad Gordon>At the Shrek Experience, right?

00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:52.719
<v Chad Gordon>It was not the Shrek.

00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:54.319
<v Chad Gordon>It's uh adjacent to the Shrek experience.

00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:58.879
<v Chad Gordon>Most people call it the London Eye, but you know, locals refer to it as Shrek's.

00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:00.319
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, Shrek's uh Shrek.

00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:02.240
<v Chad Gordon>That's the Shrek bulb.

00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.400
<v Chad Gordon>Uh then what do we do?

00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:07.520
<v Chad Gordon>We went to ABCA.

00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:10.240
<v Chad Gordon>Uh for us, we launched uh Volley Station Next, right?

00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:12.000
<v Chad Gordon>Our computer vision AI platform.

00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:12.560
<v Chad Gordon>So that's it.

00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:14.000
<v Matt Houlihan>Which is sponsoring this podcast now.

00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:14.639
<v Chad Gordon>Obviously.

00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:18.639
<v Chad Gordon>I mean the check hasn't cleared, but like in theory, it'll put a logo somewhere.

00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:20.560
<v Chad Gordon>It's what's next for sure.

00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:22.000
<v Arielle Houlihan>It's what's next.

00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.280
<v Chad Gordon>Um and yeah, so we're just we're grinding on that, trying to make that better.

00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:28.719
<v Chad Gordon>And uh I think those are kind of the two big rocks for me.

00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:30.560
<v Arielle Houlihan>Planning a wedding, planning a business.

00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:31.520
<v Chad Gordon>How hard could it be?

00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:32.400
<v Chad Gordon>Let's do it at the same time.

00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:34.240
<v Arielle Houlihan>I agree.

00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:36.000
<v Arielle Houlihan>Me turn me turn?

00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.280
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yeah, why don't you turn why don't me turn go?

00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:41.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>Me turn it.

00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:47.039
<v Arielle Houlihan>Um I uh what am I doing?

00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:56.400
<v Arielle Houlihan>I'm coaching a team and we're trying to figure out how to side out, and uh the refs are trying to take my microphones away.

00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:57.680
<v Arielle Houlihan>That's fun.

00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:01.199
<v Arielle Houlihan>Uh I'm not giving it to them, obviously.

00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:05.919
<v Matt Houlihan>Um what if they actually tried to strip search you?

00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:12.080
<v Arielle Houlihan>I'm trying to I've been thinking about it lately of like what funny situations I could get myself into.

00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:19.920
<v Chad Gordon>Just being like you'd have like one of those like gag t-shirts that they saw like the beach or whatever of like this, but like the six-pack guy or something.

00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:23.040
<v Arielle Houlihan>It'd be funny if I got one of those and then I drew a microphone on it.

00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:24.000
<v Chad Gordon>You could do that too.

00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:24.879
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yeah, okay.

00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:27.279
<v Arielle Houlihan>A lot of options if you kind of go down this path.

00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:29.519
<v Arielle Houlihan>It would be really funny.

00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.279
<v Arielle Houlihan>Um, yeah, I don't know.

00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:38.959
<v Arielle Houlihan>Uh I'm mom of two kids, and I am I don't know.

00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:40.240
<v Arielle Houlihan>What else am I doing?

00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:41.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>Anything else?

00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:43.199
<v Matt Houlihan>I don't know.

00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.160
<v Arielle Houlihan>I'm getting into the fashion world a little bit.

00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:49.680
<v Arielle Houlihan>And by that I mean I'm just buying a lot of clothes lately.

00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:53.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>Uh yeah, that's about it.

00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:55.680
<v Arielle Houlihan>I'm trying to go to the Super Bowl.

00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.680
<v Arielle Houlihan>I'm gonna sneak my way in the Super Bowl probably.

00:04:57.920 --> 00:04:59.199
<v Matt Houlihan>Was that on your vision board this year?

00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.079
<v Arielle Houlihan>Uh yeah.

00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:01.680
<v Arielle Houlihan>In my head.

00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:04.240
<v Arielle Houlihan>I can put it up there.

00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:04.959
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yeah.

00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:05.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>I don't know.

00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:08.000
<v Arielle Houlihan>Just got a lot of fun things coming up.

00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:08.720
<v Matt Houlihan>Love it.

00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:09.439
<v Arielle Houlihan>I think.

00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:14.240
<v Matt Houlihan>Let's hear from the newest member of the uh of the of the squadron over here.

00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:15.600
<v Matt Houlihan>Daniel, what do what do we got?

00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:16.480
<v Matt Houlihan>What's your update?

00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:18.560
<v Daniel Rasay>Is this an update or like an introduction?

00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:19.759
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah, probably an intro, honestly.

00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.040
<v Daniel Rasay>Intro yourself.

00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:21.759
<v Daniel Rasay>Sure.

00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:23.759
<v Daniel Rasay>Uh my name's Daniel Sai.

00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:24.800
<v Arielle Houlihan>Hi, Daniel.

00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:25.360
<v Daniel Rasay>Hello.

00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:28.240
<v Daniel Rasay>Uh I don't know.

00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:43.600
<v Daniel Rasay>I played volleyball in college at UH and moved here and started coaching some college and got into Stanford somehow as a volunteer in 2010 and won a national championship, and they decided to offer me a full-time position there.

00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:49.040
<v Daniel Rasay>And uh Matt convinced me to quit uh Stanford.

00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:50.000
<v Daniel Rasay>Sick.

00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:52.160
<v Arielle Houlihan>Whoa, what a long con.

00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:55.040
<v Arielle Houlihan>He had that on his vision board.

00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:10.639
<v Daniel Rasay>Uh left Stanford to spend more time with my family and started RBC, Recide Performance Coaching, uh, coaching kids on the mental side of the game, and been steadily growing thanks to uh the assists from the Beta Bay people.

00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:21.279
<v Daniel Rasay>And I'm also a not a mother, but a father of two children who may try out this spring for some volleyball.

00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:22.480
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:24.480
<v Matt Houlihan>I'm just looking forward to having Anne Rasai back.

00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:24.800
<v Matt Houlihan>Sure.

00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:25.759
<v Matt Houlihan>Let's get Anne back in there.

00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:26.399
<v Matt Houlihan>She's the goat.

00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:27.680
<v Daniel Rasay>That's the long con.

00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:28.480
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah.

00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.120
<v Daniel Rasay>But uh yeah, happy to be here.

00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.079
<v Matt Houlihan>Love it.

00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:35.839
<v Matt Houlihan>Uh Daniel, uh, I'm gonna give Daniel a little side intro as well.

00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:37.920
<v Matt Houlihan>I definitely did not convince him to leave Stanford.

00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:39.279
<v Matt Houlihan>I'm just gonna say that right now.

00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:51.680
<v Matt Houlihan>I was happy to talk to him about entrepreneurship and going out on your own way and being an ear, just as he has been the ear for me in almost everything uh I've done over the past probably decade now.

00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:54.000
<v Chad Gordon>And then he said no, and then now look at his finger.

00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:55.120
<v Chad Gordon>Look what you did to that guy.

00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:56.480
<v Chad Gordon>Are you kidding me?

00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.120
<v Arielle Houlihan>Owner of the world's craziest finger.

00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:00.480
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah, it's a great story.

00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:04.240
<v Matt Houlihan>Uh yeah, but my update is Yeah.

00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:05.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>What's your update, Matt?

00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:06.959
<v Matt Houlihan>Nothing.

00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:08.480
<v Matt Houlihan>I got nothing for this episode.

00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:10.000
<v Matt Houlihan>We'll have more for you guys later on.

00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:11.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>Matt has a big update coming.

00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:14.399
<v Arielle Houlihan>He just can't tell us right now because we're trying to get this episode.

00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:16.560
<v Matt Houlihan>I signed an India and you can't talk about it yet.

00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:21.600
<v Matt Houlihan>If you guys don't mind, are we ready to get into our predictions for the men's collegiate volleyball season?

00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:22.399
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yes.

00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:23.199
<v Matt Houlihan>All right, good.

00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:24.639
<v Matt Houlihan>Do it overwhelming.

00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:24.959
<v Matt Houlihan>Yes.

00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:25.920
<v Matt Houlihan>We're starting.

00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:27.360
<v Matt Houlihan>We're gonna start right at the top.

00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:27.920
<v Matt Houlihan>Right at the top.

00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:30.480
<v Matt Houlihan>We're going straight into national champions.

00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:31.199
<v Matt Houlihan>Oh, okay.

00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:34.319
<v Matt Houlihan>We're gonna go down the list and we're gonna start with Chad.

00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:39.600
<v Matt Houlihan>Chad, can you give us your prediction and give us a little taste of why for who's winning the 2026 Natty?

00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:44.720
<v Chad Gordon>Oh man, I mean, the the Vegas odds, I think, are are smart on UCLA.

00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:49.680
<v Chad Gordon>I mean, not losing, you know, really that much of that roster.

00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:57.600
<v Chad Gordon>And I think, you know, it's just it's an offense that's gonna hit like 600 on you, and then they'll get better defensively.

00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:02.160
<v Chad Gordon>I mean, they're just gonna be really hard to slow down, and I think we saw that over the per first couple games.

00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:12.800
<v Chad Gordon>So I I like I like their just evenness and depth kind of across across that roster, and I I think it's gonna pay dividends for them in the long long run.

00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:16.800
<v Matt Houlihan>Who was your favorite person from that roster watching at the uh the first point challenge?

00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:18.560
<v Matt Houlihan>I didn't go to a single UCLA game.

00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:19.040
<v Chad Gordon>Oh, you didn't?

00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.839
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yeah, we all went to the first games, and then we were like, we need to get out of the community.

00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:27.279
<v Chad Gordon>But I am responsible, and I did pull some stuff up today and watched, and uh, I think Sean Kelly's playing really well.

00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:32.799
<v Chad Gordon>Obviously, Rowan is is flinging it around, but I think Zach Rama had quite a night of couple couple nights, I guess.

00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.440
<v Chad Gordon>Just clear the T on some out of system balls.

00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:41.759
<v Chad Gordon>I'm like, like Loyal is like not tiny, like and he's just going over the top and having his way and like picking spots.

00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:43.440
<v Chad Gordon>What are you gonna do?

00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:45.519
<v Chad Gordon>Like stack guys on top of each other to block.

00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:50.320
<v Chad Gordon>Like, I mean, if that's them when they're in trouble, like that's a that's a problem for other people.

00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:51.039
<v Chad Gordon>Yep.

00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:52.320
<v Matt Houlihan>All right, are we all?

00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:59.039
<v Arielle Houlihan>Um, I too like UCLA, but I like to pick what people don't pick.

00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:03.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>So I uh I'm gonna go with USC.

00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:08.559
<v Arielle Houlihan>Not because I want to, and not just because it's a ballot take.

00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:11.120
<v Arielle Houlihan>I uh like what Dustin is saying.

00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:19.519
<v Arielle Houlihan>Dustin's pushing USC right now, and I think that they have the two best the group best group of middles, I think, in the country.

00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:25.679
<v Arielle Houlihan>I think that Dylan Klein is uh very, very, very good.

00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:41.519
<v Arielle Houlihan>Um and I think that they have the ability to get hot enough to be able to take one off of UCLA in the at least one off of UCLA in the uh regular season, and I think that they could be good by the end.

00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:45.120
<v Arielle Houlihan>I think a lot is going to depend on who's healthy by the end and like where everything's gonna be.

00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:51.120
<v Arielle Houlihan>Um, but I do I think it might be cool to see them.

00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:57.519
<v Arielle Houlihan>The UCLA USC matchup is I think gonna be one of the better matchups between those two this year than it has been in a very long time.

00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:58.879
<v Arielle Houlihan>So I'm looking forward to seeing that.

00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:00.559
<v Arielle Houlihan>So I'm gonna take U USC.

00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:02.480
<v Matt Houlihan>I think that's I think that's a great pick.

00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:05.919
<v Matt Houlihan>That's I mean, they they took down UCLA regular season last year.

00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:09.679
<v Matt Houlihan>If they were healthy going into the playoffs rather than limping going to the playoffs, yeah.

00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:16.000
<v Matt Houlihan>I mean, honestly, even if they if they were one of the at-largest going into playoffs, they probably would have been a major problem.

00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:16.399
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:16.799
<v Matt Houlihan>Right?

00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:22.000
<v Matt Houlihan>They just kind of got injured towards the end, but uh you get that extra week of rest.

00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:26.080
<v Matt Houlihan>Who knows what that roster does when you're stepping in the into actual playoff time.

00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:32.240
<v Matt Houlihan>So this year expanded expanded bracket, I I absolutely think that's a good that's a solid pick.

00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:34.159
<v Matt Houlihan>Doc, what do you got?

00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:36.639
<v Matt Houlihan>You're gonna be a homer and pick Hawaii right now?

00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:37.759
<v Daniel Rasay>No.

00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:46.159
<v Daniel Rasay>Uh I also wanted to choose somebody that people wouldn't choose, but I didn't, and I chose UCLA.

00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:48.000
<v Chad Gordon>The coward's choice.

00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:51.039
<v Daniel Rasay>Well, for all the same reasons that Chad said, right?

00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:55.840
<v Daniel Rasay>A lot of depth and stuff, but two main reasons Milan on staff now.

00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:57.840
<v Daniel Rasay>Okay, there's a there's a Hawaii bias right there.

00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:58.399
<v Daniel Rasay>Sure.

00:10:58.399 --> 00:10:59.440
<v Daniel Rasay>Great guy.

00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:02.480
<v Daniel Rasay>Um, and the only other the other thing is they're hosting.

00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:02.639
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah.

00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.759
<v Daniel Rasay>NCAA Championships.

00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:04.879
<v Daniel Rasay>Oh, that's a good point.

00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:06.000
<v Daniel Rasay>Very, very good point.

00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:08.799
<v Daniel Rasay>There's extra motivation to win one at home.

00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:09.279
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yep.

00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.240
<v Daniel Rasay>It's a good feeling.

00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:10.799
<v Daniel Rasay>There you go.

00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:11.519
<v Daniel Rasay>Plain and simple.

00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:12.960
<v Daniel Rasay>Have you done that?

00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:14.720
<v Daniel Rasay>I have experienced that.

00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:16.399
<v Daniel Rasay>Ah, Stanford.

00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:19.840
<v Daniel Rasay>It was a crazy, crazy time on Stanford campus.

00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:20.480
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.240
<v Matt Houlihan>But man, I remember we went to that game.

00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:24.159
<v Matt Houlihan>We were up, we were up in the rafters up there.

00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:26.960
<v Matt Houlihan>The whole student section was absolutely packing it.

00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:28.159
<v Matt Houlihan>They did a great job.

00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:33.279
<v Matt Houlihan>Brad Lawson was hit like 9,000 for 100 students.

00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:36.159
<v Chad Gordon>At least his only error was a footfall that he got a kill on the bick.

00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:36.960
<v Chad Gordon>Like anyway.

00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:38.399
<v Chad Gordon>Like, what a that was insane.

00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:38.720
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:39.600
<v Matt Houlihan>It was wild.

00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:42.080
<v Matt Houlihan>Uh well, speaking of, my pick is Stanford.

00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:44.879
<v Arielle Houlihan>So Oh, that's that's weird.

00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:48.080
<v Daniel Rasay>Wait till we get my trend get to my trends.

00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:52.559
<v Matt Houlihan>There's a couple things I think we we've hit upon for the next one.

00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:55.039
<v Matt Houlihan>Uh all right, we've got our national champion predictions.

00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:56.559
<v Matt Houlihan>We'll see who's we'll see who's right.

00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:58.480
<v Matt Houlihan>We've done historically.

00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:02.559
<v Matt Houlihan>Historically, we've done pretty good on uh on these predictions.

00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:03.919
<v Matt Houlihan>At least one of us has hit them.

00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:07.440
<v Matt Houlihan>Our next prediction, player of the year.

00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.080
<v Arielle Houlihan>Okay.

00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:09.919
<v Matt Houlihan>Would you like me to start?

00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:10.879
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah, you want to go the other way?

00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:11.759
<v Matt Houlihan>Gladly start.

00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.360
<v Matt Houlihan>All right, my player of the year.

00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:17.039
<v Matt Houlihan>Uh couple things I think about when we're talking about player of the year.

00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:20.720
<v Matt Houlihan>You gotta be you gotta be on a team that's gonna make the playoffs, in my opinion.

00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:24.879
<v Matt Houlihan>So uh thinking about which players are gonna help.

00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:28.240
<v Matt Houlihan>We're gonna be on rosters that can make the playoffs, which players have enough volume.

00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:33.840
<v Matt Houlihan>You're either a setter that's running a super strong offense, or you're a super high volume attacker.

00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.720
<v Matt Houlihan>And so for that reason, I'm going with the high volume attacker.

00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:38.080
<v Matt Houlihan>I'm going Jalen Phillips.

00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:45.840
<v Matt Houlihan>I think he's gonna be the highest volume attacker in the country this year, and I think he is yes?

00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:48.399
<v Matt Houlihan>You think oh, you don't think they're gonna make the playoffs, huh?

00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:50.320
<v Matt Houlihan>Are you betting against my Mataballs?

00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:56.960
<v Daniel Rasay>No, though the the way you were steering it, I wasn't sure what direction you were going in.

00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:58.080
<v Daniel Rasay>So I was a little surprised.

00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:58.720
<v Matt Houlihan>Oh, okay.

00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.039
<v Matt Houlihan>All right.

00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:00.639
<v Matt Houlihan>Well, I'd love to hear more why you're surprised.

00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.159
<v Matt Houlihan>But yeah, I'm going Jalen Phillips.

00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.679
<v Matt Houlihan>Opposite, C Sun.

00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.840
<v Matt Houlihan>Um, gonna get a ton of balls this year.

00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:07.919
<v Matt Houlihan>I think he's gonna put away a ton of volleyballs.

00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:13.679
<v Matt Houlihan>And I think that C Sun is definitely on the cusp of being able to make the tournament.

00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:17.919
<v Matt Houlihan>And if they make the tournament, it's gonna be because Jalen Phillips was real, real good this year.

00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:19.440
<v Matt Houlihan>Setter's still there?

00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:19.919
<v Matt Houlihan>No.

00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:21.200
<v Matt Houlihan>New Setter, but he's good.

00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:21.759
<v Matt Houlihan>I have a question.

00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.200
<v Matt Houlihan>I see Legend Setter, Dauphiner.

00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:28.639
<v Arielle Houlihan>If you think that C Sun is making the tournament, do you also think that Stanford is making the tournament?

00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:30.399
<v Matt Houlihan>Stanford's winning the MPSF tournament.

00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:30.799
<v Arielle Houlihan>Okay.

00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.919
<v Arielle Houlihan>So they're number one.

00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:32.960
<v Arielle Houlihan>We're getting the auto bid.

00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:37.519
<v Arielle Houlihan>So MPF's tournament, you have Stanford is number one, and C Sun is number two.

00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:39.440
<v Matt Houlihan>Well, C Sun's in the Big West.

00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:40.320
<v Arielle Houlihan>Never mind.

00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:41.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>So C Sun's winning the Big West.

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:45.279
<v Matt Houlihan>No, I think C I think C Sun is going to be viable for an at-large bid.

00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:45.679
<v Arielle Houlihan>Okay.

00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.399
<v Daniel Rasay>Who's hosting the MPSF?

00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:48.960
<v Daniel Rasay>BYU?

00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:49.759
<v Daniel Rasay>BYU.

00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:50.879
<v Matt Houlihan>BYU, yeah.

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.399
<v Daniel Rasay>Okay.

00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.919
<v Matt Houlihan>Bulls at altitude.

00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:56.559
<v Matt Houlihan>Daniels.

00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:01.679
<v Matt Houlihan>Daniel's looking at the betting odds on uh on DraftKings right now, like questionable.

00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:03.679
<v Arielle Houlihan>Okay, Daniel, who do you got?

00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:09.360
<v Daniel Rasay>Um the safe choice for me is Rowan.

00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:10.399
<v Daniel Rasay>UCLA.

00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:10.879
<v Daniel Rasay>Right?

00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:13.039
<v Daniel Rasay>Picked him to win a national championship.

00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:13.279
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah.

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:16.399
<v Daniel Rasay>So they're gonna be in the playoffs and make a deep run.

00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:21.679
<v Daniel Rasay>Um with what you said though, I had a kind of a 1B.

00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:28.320
<v Daniel Rasay>And this might be just recency bias of watching Ball State play, but Patrick Rogers.

00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.200
<v Daniel Rasay>Patrick Rogers.

00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:30.879
<v Chad Gordon>I love Patrick Rogers.

00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:33.039
<v Chad Gordon>That's a good name for this this house.

00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:38.399
<v Daniel Rasay>He was so efficient and like limited on attempts, too.

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:49.759
<v Daniel Rasay>He I don't think he had the most attempts, but hit close to 600 um in both matches this weekend, and they could feed him a lot more, and his numbers could go up, and he could be a high volume guy as well.

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:52.960
<v Daniel Rasay>He was just impressive attacking-wise all the way.

00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:54.320
<v Arielle Houlihan>Who's that player of the week this week?

00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:54.639
<v Daniel Rasay>Right?

00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.240
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:02.000
<v Matt Houlihan>I mean, if they if they would beat UCLA, for sure would have been him.

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.360
<v Matt Houlihan>But yeah, he was a stud.

00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:18.159
<v Matt Houlihan>Sally Dang at Sal Sal's Flicks on Instagram posted a video of Patrick Rogers' first serve against UCLA, and it was the most wicked right-handed jump serve I've you've seen like the lefty on Japan's curve serve.

00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:24.639
<v Matt Houlihan>He hit a righty curve that was the most insane spin I've ever seen.

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:32.960
<v Matt Houlihan>I was like, you this needs to turn this into a um like a true reel so I can share this with my right-handed players of like that, do that.

00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:34.000
<v Matt Houlihan>He was real good.

00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:39.360
<v Chad Gordon>I saw that one, I that was one of the things I pulled up, and I was like, man, he must have like mishid it or something.

00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:43.120
<v Chad Gordon>And that thing, I mean, it it bites like eight feet.

00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:50.480
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah, it goes from like four feet to your left to five feet to your right on on the crossover.

00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:51.120
<v Matt Houlihan>It was crazy.

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.480
<v Matt Houlihan>Witchcraft for sure.

00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.440
<v Matt Houlihan>I like that pick.

00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.159
<v Matt Houlihan>That's a good one.

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:55.600
<v Matt Houlihan>Ariel, who you got?

00:15:55.840 --> 00:16:08.720
<v Arielle Houlihan>Um I also think that Rowan should get player of the year if UCLA wins and he they have a great season, like regular season.

00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.000
<v Arielle Houlihan>I think that Rowan should probably get the game.

00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.440
<v Matt Houlihan>If they make it to the national championship.

00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.080
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yes.

00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:22.799
<v Arielle Houlihan>Um But I also think that if Dylan Klein has the year and is healthy and has the year that he's gonna have that that I think that they will have, then he could probably be in contention as well.

00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:24.720
<v Matt Houlihan>But you're going you're going Rowan.

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.759
<v Matt Houlihan>I need a I need a pick.

00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.080
<v Matt Houlihan>I need to.

00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:32.799
<v Arielle Houlihan>I think I'm gonna go Rowan, but I'm also gonna say USC wins a national championship, so I'm right at something.

00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:35.600
<v Arielle Houlihan>Because I'm smarter than everybody else.

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:36.879
<v Chad Gordon>She's placing her bets.

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.000
<v Chad Gordon>It's called hedging your bags.

00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.480
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah, exactly.

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.120
<v Chad Gordon>It's like roulette, just put one on everyone, exactly.

00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.240
<v Chad Gordon>No problem.

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:45.360
<v Chad Gordon>Um, yeah, I mean, I I agree.

00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.799
<v Chad Gordon>I love I love the Rowan.

00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:54.000
<v Chad Gordon>Um, you know, you could you could throw a Zach Rama in there, but you know, because it's so balanced, he probably doesn't have the standout numbers, in my opinion.

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.000
<v Chad Gordon>Personally, I like DK.

00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:00.720
<v Chad Gordon>I think he's going to be obviously the highest you know usage for for USC.

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:03.519
<v Chad Gordon>I think the big kind of question mark is how healthy is he?

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:05.599
<v Chad Gordon>Because he's going to take so many swings for them.

00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:08.640
<v Chad Gordon>Um but again, I think I agree, right?

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:13.200
<v Chad Gordon>The caveat being like if USC is healthy enough, I think he's he's got to be that guy.

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:16.079
<v Chad Gordon>I mean, he just takes over some matches that it's pretty impressive.

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.480
<v Chad Gordon>Yep.

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.920
<v Arielle Houlihan>So which one do you got?

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:18.880
<v Chad Gordon>I'm taking DK.

00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.440
<v Arielle Houlihan>Oh, nice.

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.000
<v Chad Gordon>All right, there we go.

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.640
<v Chad Gordon>We have our EC.

00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:22.079
<v Arielle Houlihan>So we're doing the opposite.

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.400
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah.

00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:25.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>I'll go Rowan and USC, you go UCLA and DK.

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.160
<v Matt Houlihan>Perfect.

00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:26.319
<v Matt Houlihan>Okay.

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.039
<v Matt Houlihan>Perfect.

00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:28.400
<v Arielle Houlihan>Chad and I are gonna win something.

00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:28.960
<v Matt Houlihan>All right.

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:34.079
<v Matt Houlihan>Not player of the year, but still we're going freshman of the year now.

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.960
<v Matt Houlihan>Freshman of the year.

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.519
<v Matt Houlihan>Ah, okay.

00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:39.920
<v Matt Houlihan>Daniel, can we uh can we get your first pick for freshman of the year?

00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:46.240
<v Daniel Rasay>I love the UCI French pipeline.

00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:48.880
<v Daniel Rasay>I'm going French kid from UCI.

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.880
<v Matt Houlihan>Yokonovich?

00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:51.759
<v Matt Houlihan>Jokonovich.

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.319
<v Daniel Rasay>I have no idea.

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.319
<v Matt Houlihan>Andre Andre Yokonovich.

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:54.720
<v Matt Houlihan>Yep.

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.759
<v Matt Houlihan>I got you.

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.279
<v Matt Houlihan>I think that was someone else's.

00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:01.839
<v Arielle Houlihan>I was gonna pick him, but now I'm gonna go this bitches love so so kid.

00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.559
<v Matt Houlihan>Loyal opposite.

00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:05.200
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yeah.

00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:05.839
<v Arielle Houlihan>Yeah.

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:17.599
<v Arielle Houlihan>That kid was uh lights out against Stanford the other night, and he, if Loyola does well, then he will be in contention for it.

00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:21.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>Um and I don't think does UCLA have a freshman playing?

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.640
<v Arielle Houlihan>Playing.

00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:23.119
<v Arielle Houlihan>No.

00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:23.680
<v Arielle Houlihan>No.

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:25.680
<v Arielle Houlihan>And then does USC?

00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.720
<v Arielle Houlihan>No.

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:29.279
<v Matt Houlihan>Well, uh Cooper Keen could be the opposite.

00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:29.759
<v Arielle Houlihan>Sure.

00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.240
<v Arielle Houlihan>And I'm gonna go Sosa over Cooper Keen.

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.279
<v Arielle Houlihan>Okay, okay.

00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.319
<v Chad Gordon>Jen?

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:39.440
<v Chad Gordon>I couldn't name a lot of freshmen, and then I decided on red shirt freshman, Cameron Costi.

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:40.240
<v Arielle Houlihan>I love that pick.

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:43.200
<v Chad Gordon>That's a good pick as setter, right side.

00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.559
<v Arielle Houlihan>And personal fan favorite.

00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:45.920
<v Chad Gordon>Personal fan favorite.

00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:48.559
<v Chad Gordon>Maybe play some middle, you know what Ned likes to do with setters.

00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:50.000
<v Chad Gordon>Versatile.

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:52.880
<v Chad Gordon>By the end of the season, he'll have middle setting and setters, you know.

00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.039
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah.

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.079
<v Chad Gordon>Middle blocking.

00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:56.640
<v Chad Gordon>So yeah, give me uh give me some CK on that one.

00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.279
<v Matt Houlihan>There you go.

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:59.599
<v Matt Houlihan>I am following you on the redshirt freshman train.

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:02.720
<v Matt Houlihan>I'm going Grant Lemoreau from Pepperdine.

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.880
<v Arielle Houlihan>Uh he's not a redshirt freshman, though, is he?

00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:05.839
<v Arielle Houlihan>Or is he redshirt?

00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.680
<v Matt Houlihan>Well, I think he's a true freshman.

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:11.599
<v Matt Houlihan>No, he was on he was in Jersey last year, but he did not play.

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:14.319
<v Matt Houlihan>He was like a high school senior, but went to school early.

00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:14.640
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah.

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:16.079
<v Matt Houlihan>Um so redshirted.

00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:20.640
<v Matt Houlihan>Put some put some meat on the bones, you know, uh, and is looking pretty good thus far.

00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:23.839
<v Matt Houlihan>I think he was leading the country in aces after two weeks.

00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:25.920
<v Matt Houlihan>Obviously, depends on your competition.

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:31.839
<v Matt Houlihan>But um, I think he's he's gonna continue to rise in terms of the uh the stock market there.

00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:33.200
<v Matt Houlihan>So a good mix.

00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.160
<v Matt Houlihan>I like it.

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:37.359
<v Matt Houlihan>Um coach of the year is what we've got coming up next.

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.559
<v Matt Houlihan>Coach of the year.

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:41.680
<v Matt Houlihan>Daniel, can you give me your c what's your criteria first?

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:45.200
<v Matt Houlihan>Just set the stage for our our audience here on what coach of the year.

00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:48.000
<v Arielle Houlihan>Your criteria is gonna be different than my criteria.

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.599
<v Arielle Houlihan>My criteria is gonna be different than your criteria.

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:54.000
<v Matt Houlihan>How about when you give your answer, how about you give a little bit of your criteria just so everyone can hear that?

00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.119
<v Daniel Rasay>I mean, it makes it tough, right?

00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:03.359
<v Daniel Rasay>Because if winning is my criteria, then I gotta go with Hawks, right?

00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:06.319
<v Daniel Rasay>Because that's my choice for for winning national championship.

00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:09.200
<v Daniel Rasay>But I think that's boring.

00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.079
<v Daniel Rasay>That is boring.

00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.440
<v Daniel Rasay>And that's why I don't want to go with it.

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:13.839
<v Matt Houlihan>They also select the coach before the national championship.

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.200
<v Matt Houlihan>So it's selected before that.

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.599
<v Matt Houlihan>Sure.

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:18.000
<v Matt Houlihan>So that's not that's not the ABCA criteria.

00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.559
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah.

00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:24.160
<v Daniel Rasay>Uh my criteria is somebody that I like a lot.

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:30.160
<v Daniel Rasay>Um that I've had nice meaningful conversations with and have been able to connect with.

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:34.880
<v Daniel Rasay>So I'm going with NIF from UCI because I love that guy.

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:42.160
<v Daniel Rasay>And he asks the best questions to get you thinking about a lot of things and I imagine he does that with his players too.

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:45.359
<v Daniel Rasay>And so um he thinks outside of the box.

00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:53.519
<v Daniel Rasay>And I like a coach that does that but also does a good job with his players and I think he does that as well.

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:58.480
<v Daniel Rasay>I think you have to have that certain connection with him too.

00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:03.759
<v Daniel Rasay>Not everybody understands his personality but he's my choice.

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:10.079
<v Matt Houlihan>I'm going uh to go next because I as well selected one David Niffin as my coach of the year.

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:15.519
<v Matt Houlihan>My criteria similar I have the I have the personal bias of just liking to hang with Niff.

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:22.079
<v Matt Houlihan>Like he is a just a quality human being and I love the way that he approaches the game recruiting everything.

00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:24.640
<v Matt Houlihan>The dude is running a 7-3.

00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:39.119
<v Matt Houlihan>He's got three setters three opposites going through these matches right now at the start of the year he does all sorts of wild and wacky things but he finds a way to win and this team theoretically losing Heno they lost a lot.

00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:50.559
<v Matt Houlihan>They should not be as good as they were last year and they are already proving that not only are they good they are very good like contending for the Big West.

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:59.759
<v Matt Houlihan>They took down Pepperdine who was ranked four at Pepperdine and he's doing it in a typical NIF way and that's super impressive to me.

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:01.680
<v Matt Houlihan>So that's my pick as well.

00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:05.039
<v Arielle Houlihan>Okay well I'm not picking NIF.

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:07.920
<v Arielle Houlihan>I love NIF but I'm not picking him because that's a boring podcast.

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:31.200
<v Arielle Houlihan>Um okay now that like these these are like the criteria which I like these criteria if I had to pick a uh let's say a coach that I identify with the most and like think is doing a good job firing on all cylinders, I think it's McRae at Long Beach.

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:46.559
<v Arielle Houlihan>And I think that that's that to me the way his transition now is going to be interesting and it's hard for me to pick him right now because it's going to be a little while before he gets this program going exactly in the direction that he wants it to go.

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:48.319
<v Arielle Houlihan>So he probably needs a little time.

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:50.720
<v Arielle Houlihan>So maybe I'll pick McCray in like two years.

00:22:50.720 --> 00:23:20.480
<v Arielle Houlihan>But that would be like my automatic that I would say uh and I also think that I would put Shane Davis also in that category because I think that's going to take it's it's going to take him a couple years to to I'm not going to say fix but change things into what uh he wants it to be um and then so I will say that who is doing that now that I wouldn't have given it to a couple years ago is Winder.

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:55.440
<v Arielle Houlihan>And I think that Pepperdine is uh starting to uh come out of the Marv era and Hunt had it for a little while and they were going and they were they did well under Hunt and they've consistently been performing and finishing at the top of the MPSF and I think that um they're now at a place where like Winder is just doing a good job with what he's got going on there and is is recruiting and uh coaching to the brand of volleyball that Pepperdine is maybe name another coach.

00:23:56.160 --> 00:24:03.519
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah I mean I I think a lot of good things have been said I mean obviously Shane going back to Loyola he's got the pedigree there.

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:05.680
<v Chad Gordon>Winter's done a great job at Pep.

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:12.000
<v Chad Gordon>Niff couldn't find the box if he tried like I mean that guy is so unique and it's it's amazing to watch.

00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.279
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah 7-3.

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:30.240
<v Chad Gordon>Sure this is why like yeah Cossy I don't know freshman year in any position who cares um for me though I am a coward and so I'm going Hawks because I think it's going to be UCLA at the end and it's one of those I think the joke last year was like Hawks like don't screw it up kind of thing.

00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:39.519
<v Chad Gordon>Like he really just has that now again but Long Beach doesn't have Moni and I think that's going to be not that like it's just because of Moni but like I think the setting's going to struggle at Long Beach.

00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:48.480
<v Chad Gordon>And then I don't think it's going to be Hawaii and I don't man like SC like Nygaard needs to do like a really good job with those guys.

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:50.960
<v Chad Gordon>I mean he has that's the roster to deal with for sure.

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:57.599
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah um I just think I think UCLA with the assist of Milan just is going to be that I mean they're going to be there.

00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:02.240
<v Arielle Houlihan>That makes sense because Hawks should get coach of the year for bringing Milan in that's the GM of the year.

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:02.880
<v Matt Houlihan>Perfect.

00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:05.440
<v Matt Houlihan>So good ass yeah sold.

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.880
<v Matt Houlihan>I like it all right we've got our predictions in for coach of the year change my answer.

00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:16.319
<v Daniel Rasay>Please do is that allowed on this podcast don't make it a th make it a trend.

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:27.440
<v Daniel Rasay>So based on my same criteria and also because I don't want the listeners to think that there's a bias towards the West Coast here.

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.400
<v Daniel Rasay>I'm going pav.

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:40.960
<v Daniel Rasay>Oh that's a nice one great guy great conversations I've had uh I hope Penn State does well I just think it's good for volleyball as a whole and final season pav.

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:46.799
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah it's he's going out and so he's been around since forever.

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:51.200
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah we played them in the final four when I was at Hawaii so that was a long time ago.

00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.599
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah.

00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:53.359
<v Daniel Rasay>So I'm changing my answer.

00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:54.640
<v Daniel Rasay>I like that same criteria.

00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:55.839
<v Arielle Houlihan>I like that too.

00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:57.839
<v Arielle Houlihan>I will allow you to change your answer.

00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:02.160
<v Matt Houlihan>I think Pav might be one of the most genuine coaches out there.

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:06.559
<v Arielle Houlihan>And that man is just always best communicator best yeah agreed.

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:46.240
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah Peter Chris uh talking with talking with the Chris family on the Peter's recruitment process for Penn State uh the thing that stuck out for me the most and and chatted with them as well um Pav remembered Andrew the youngest brother at the time like he was I think he was 13 and Pav like went to go watch Andrew's games and they talked about I think baseball trading cards and they like he remembered everything about Andrew and like went out of his way to be super kind to the little brother Andrew which is such a no just such a no-brainer in recruitment but he just did that genuinely not because he was just trying to get Peter to commit to Penn State but because he genuinely was like I like this little kid.

00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:49.759
<v Matt Houlihan>I'm gonna I'm gonna go check in on him so just fun cool stories.

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:56.400
<v Matt Houlihan>I think we need we need like a a call in episode of just good PAV stories from uh from the world of volleyball I'm sure there's plenty.

00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:58.079
<v Arielle Houlihan>All right good good answer.

00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:58.799
<v Matt Houlihan>Good change.

00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.519
<v Matt Houlihan>Good change.

00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:15.839
<v Matt Houlihan>We're going into trend of the year trend of the year for collegiate men's volleyball last year I had said men's coaches getting poached to the women's game which is still a trend which is probably just always going to be a trend because men's volleyball is just the superior product.

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:21.279
<v Matt Houlihan>No I'm joking Ariel literally looked at me like you cannot say that.

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:52.960
<v Matt Houlihan>Obviously it's just men's men's here's what I would say about this and that trend and then I'll move to the to the next part I think the thing about men's volleyball and the reason why the women's game pulls a lot of coaches from it is because men's volleyball is such a great proving ground right it's quote the farm league but it's also the place where you can get creative right in order to win a men's volleyball with less resources you have to play in creative ways you need to train in creative ways uh and you learn to do things across the board right in a men's volleyball program you're much less funded and so you do every job.

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:58.880
<v Matt Houlihan>And so when you come to a women's program all of a sudden you know how to do everything in that program and it's a huge value add.

00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:12.240
<v Matt Houlihan>So you're welcome women's volleyball um let's get to the next trend sorry for that little tirade Chad what do you've got on the trend of the year if I just give you more space you'll just keep going for a second let's not get ourselves out of here.

00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:12.960
<v Chad Gordon>Great.

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:57.119
<v Chad Gordon>Yeah I mean I usually approach this more from like the technical side I think um and so something that I have been seeing a lot I saw it more internationally this year than ever and then just watch a couple matches this weekend it's like the two-handed recycle it's no longer like a hey it's just tip it it's literally guys like they're like straight up catching it and then like hmm and then they just take it right back if they're too far away or yeah if you're 50-50 then you're trying to joust or whatever but just so many guys just like run underneath it I don't like it boop cover and I was like oh try again yeah yeah and just keep going to you like uh like your chances so two-handed recycle I'm gonna put my name on that one okay we can make a montage at the end of this year on all the two handed recycles I would love that I think there's a lot.

00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:17.839
<v Arielle Houlihan>Arielle what do you got um I wouldn't say that this is I don't really have a good one for collegiate men's but the trend that I'm seeing in club is that the lift is the new double and now it's just getting called as a lift instead of anything weird is a lift and it's not like there isn't doubles anymore.

00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:23.839
<v Arielle Houlihan>The third contact over can be a double which they do call but anything else is just a lift.

00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:34.079
<v Arielle Houlihan>Is that the refs looking to just find something new to blow their whistle on well the two hand jam down that is not getting called in the college game gets called every time in club now.

00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:51.119
<v Arielle Houlihan>And so you've got kids trying to do what they see in college and they're going and turning and putting that third ball or the even the second ball down and it's over the net and they're calling it as a lift or as a throw um which is not being called internationally and not being called in the collegiate game.

00:29:51.119 --> 00:30:05.839
<v Arielle Houlihan>So there's a little bit of dis disparence trans disconnect disconnect between the between the two disparity is that what that was disparity disparity that's a good SAT word.

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:11.039
<v Arielle Houlihan>Javi is over there and has no idea what I'm saying Javi learned something new today.

00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:32.640
<v Matt Houlihan>I like that take that's a it I mean when you think about what the rule change was supposed to do it was supposed to remove the whistle from more rallies right and oh the whistle is not the referee are finding finding yeah there's creative ways to continue to insert themselves where I think there's most of these rule changes are trying to minimize the insertion of referees.

00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:37.119
<v Arielle Houlihan>Correct nope that's not that has not happened yet in the juniors game.

00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:52.319
<v Matt Houlihan>It has in the collegiate game though and I do think that the the no double is great for the collegiate game someone asked me um when we were we were watching in Phoenix this weekend they're like what do you think after it's been a year now like how do you feel about the no doubles roll I love it.

00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:55.279
<v Matt Houlihan>I love it too and I thought I might not let it fly.

00:30:55.279 --> 00:31:05.519
<v Matt Houlihan>Yeah like let everyone go be aggressive with their hands set the rock put it up on the net let us get the best opportunity to swing for every age group it is so much better.

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.960
<v Matt Houlihan>And then there's just less calls.

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:25.279
<v Arielle Houlihan>And nobody's trying to double it like you're trying to cleanly put that ball up there and so there's so many times mid-rally that you'll see a ball spin weird and that would have been called a double beforehand and you're like wow this is kind of nice that we don't have to stop the play just because of that and it's a question mark.

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:28.319
<v Arielle Houlihan>I thought I might hate it and after watching for a while I love it.

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:37.839
<v Daniel Rasay>Yeah for sure I want to see people start purposely doubling putting the spin on the ball for the hitter so that they can just get more speed off the hand that would be amazing.

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:46.160
<v Arielle Houlihan>In practice you can come in and try and okay great perfect out of out of system setting from Daniel just double it putting extra back spin on it.

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:56.400
<v Matt Houlihan>Shoot that to the moon well is that your trend of the year Daniel or do you got something different?

00:31:56.960 --> 00:32:11.920
<v Daniel Rasay>Cat posit balls balls um mine's in the men's collegiate game the trend and I asked is it okay if I talk about something trending downwards and I don't want this to be a trend.

00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:47.599
<v Daniel Rasay>It's the smart kids trending downwards and this might be the overreaction of seeing Princeton, Harvard, Stanford I think they all went OFR in these first couple of weekends um and the landscape of college athletics with NIL money and talking with somebody that went through the recruiting process recently and he was saying that you know I want to go to a place that there's a high chance that we're gonna win a national championship and that is becoming fewer teams per se.

00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:52.240
<v Daniel Rasay>You know the Hawaii's Long Beach UCLAs have been pretty dominant in recent years.

00:32:52.240 --> 00:33:13.440
<v Daniel Rasay>And so some top recruits are going in that direction and money may be a factor but um again I don't want that to be the trend but I know having firsthand experience at Stanford the challenges of recruiting high level athletes and students is pretty tough.

00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:22.079
<v Daniel Rasay>And so I'd like to see those programs turn around this season and and hopefully your prediction is close to being right.

00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:27.200
<v Daniel Rasay>And um that is not actually a trend and just a overreaction to the first weekend.

00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:36.799
<v Arielle Houlihan>I have a lot of thoughts about that and I am absolutely not going to say them on camera because I don't need to do that.

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:40.079
<v Arielle Houlihan>But let's talk after this because I have some I definitely have some thoughts on that.

00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:58.720
<v Matt Houlihan>That is a I mean an interesting and probably pretty valid take in terms of like I agree the synopsis of where things currently stand and maybe it's less about where the you know the the pieces on the on the board are right now but where it's going to be right as as things continue to go.

00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:04.640
<v Matt Houlihan>Because you see it trickle down anything from football basketball trickles down eventually that is the case.

00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:10.719
<v Matt Houlihan>You get more and more haves and have nots um in in the world when more money gets involved.

00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:16.719
<v Matt Houlihan>So that's that's what's your trend Matt my trend is expansion.

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:42.400
<v Matt Houlihan>My Pacific added well yes Pacific added that's uh that's hell yeah that's my that's my guy over there yes Pacific getting added uh is a is the start is I'm hoping is the start of the the trend the spark that lights a little bit of fire but it it goes a little bit actually counterintuitively to what Daniel's talking about where you have these very well funded high level programs that are constant national championships.

00:34:42.400 --> 00:35:05.920
<v Matt Houlihan>I think the trend that we're gonna see is and the trend that's a little bit already developing Pacific being a good example of it is smaller private institutions are looking for ways to drive enrollment and one of the ways that they are seeing an opportunity to get more students on campus specifically in a lot of these smaller liberal arts schools is they need more males at school they can bring in sports.

00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:13.440
<v Arielle Houlihan>Click the link below for Matt's mini pod on how to bring back a sport to your school we got one more prediction category.

00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:14.079
<v Matt Houlihan>You guys ready?

00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:36.800
<v Matt Houlihan>Yep international of the year can I go first yes you can go first all right great my international of the year is our neighbor to the north in Canada Skylar Varga of Long Beach State senior outside hitter barely barely counts barely counts it's it's they are a neighbor but they're still in a it's still a nation that is not ours so it's international.

00:35:36.800 --> 00:36:16.079
<v Matt Houlihan>Skylar Varga's my pick I'll leave it at that it's not ours well I won't count Greenland we don't own them I won't count Greenland because they could be ours who knows I have a question speaking of nations that are ours we don't have any transfers from Iceland are there any Puerto Ricans playing in college volleyball right now for sure for sure Javi for sure what there's definitely Puerto Ricans playing name one there's got to be a libero out there definitely is I'll find there's gotta be one at like Purdue Fort Wayne or something.

00:36:16.079 --> 00:37:28.880
<v Matt Houlihan>I'll find you a Puerto Rican from being oh oh oh Lewis's setters Puerto Rican no Menlo's setters Puerto Rican same as my freshman French freshman Yukonovich that's not his name I don't know how to say it but me neither that's why I've been calling him the French guy the the Irvine outside hitter got it with a with a face mask mask next week uh mine is uh the bitches love sofsa again this is really easy wasn't it Chief Keith getting a lot of playtime on the pond tonight right that's fine sure is there another one that I had you tell us I like the French kid me too Chad who you got I like France but uh everybody from Sofia Bulgaria seems to be a winner so I'm taking Titritsky Christian yeah I can't say that last name Titritski Christian Titritsky yeah I struggle with it but that guy can side out he can he really can side out the only thing on him is that you got you got Kinoa right behind him so that it's like he constantly gets swapped right now.

00:37:29.119 --> 00:38:31.920
<v Chad Gordon>Not worried about a serving sub no he's been I mean he got swapped in the Loyola game real quick worried about nepotism I'm not worried about I well yeah but like not in this case because yeah it's gonna play but volleyball nepo babies you always gotta be careful about him we've had a whole episode about that I thought yeah or is that just one of the ones that one of the last volleyball nepo baby the shojus oh yeah duh that was easy or my own kid that made a team that probably shouldn't have yeah that was nice what are you talking about you paid club dues so we'll take anyone now I'm kidding he earned that spot Eli you earned that spot Eli's listening on his listening on his iPod or that's on the podcast appear he's on the Apple Watch right now seriously play the coach's group chat uh okay well that's it for uh this episode hopefully not recorded it and push play we are so bad guys cannot wait