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What makes an athlete recruitable beyond their physical skills? In Part 1 of this conversation, Susan sits down with Dana Burkholder, founder of Volleyball Village and a former two-time First Team All-American setter at the University of Arizona, to explore the person behind the player. Dana shares why self-worth, confidence, and self-awareness matter in athlete development, and how a performance-focused culture can sometimes leave athletes questioning whether they’re good enough. They discuss how athletes can recognize the value they bring to a team beyond points and statistics, and why personal growth matters just as much as achievement. They also explore how coaches’ words can shape an athlete’s beliefs, why positive and intentional communication matters, and how coaches can challenge players while still helping them build confidence. Susan and Dana discuss the balance parents face between providing support and allowing athletes to develop independence. Dana explains why athletes need opportunities to take ownership, solve problems, ask for help, and become more resourceful in their own development. If you’re an athlete, parent, or coach looking to build confidence and develop the person behind the player, this conversation offers a valuable perspective on what growth in volleyball can really look like. Chapters 00:00 – Developing the person behind the athlete 02:30 – Dana’s journey from player to coach 05:00 – Why youth volleyball needs a more holistic approach 08:00 – Self-worth beyond performance 12:45 – How coaches’ words shape athletes 15:30 – Resources for coaches and personal development 18:15 – Building self-awareness and emotional regulation 20:45 – What a resourceful athlete looks like 23:30 – Hydration and caring for your body 25:15 – Helping athletes without doing everything for them 28:15 – Supporting athletes through stress and pressure 32:15 – Building capacity for recruiting and college volleyball 33:00 – What’s coming in Part 2 About the guest: Dana Burkholder is the founder of Volleyball Village, a resource center supporting athletes, parents, coaches, and others in the volleyball community. A former two-time First Team All-American setter at the University of Arizona and member of the USA National Team, Dana has spent more than two decades coaching and directing club volleyball programs. Her work now focuses on whole-person development, self-awareness, and helping athletes and coaches thrive both on and off the court. Connect with Dana: Website: https://volleyballvillage.com/home  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@volleyball-village/featured  Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

Recruiting feels slower in the fall, and if you're watching other athletes commit while your inbox stays quiet, it's easy to wonder if you're falling behind. But a quiet recruiting season doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. In this episode, Susan explains why college coaches have less time for recruiting during their competitive season and why sending more emails isn't always the best way to make progress. Instead of creating activity just to feel productive, you can use the fall to become a better player, evaluate your recruiting strategy, and prepare for the opportunities that may come in the spring. Susan shares three things athletes should focus on right now: improving their volleyball skills, making sure their target list is aligned with their abilities and goals, and getting organized before club season begins. She also explains why recruiting happens in waves, why other athletes' commitment announcements don't tell the whole story, and how to stay connected with college coaches in a thoughtful, intentional way. Chapters 00:15 – Why recruiting feels slower in the fall 01:45 – What college coaches are focused on during season 03:45 – When doing more doesn't mean making progress 06:30 – Three things to focus on right now 08:30 – Evaluate your recruiting strategy 10:00 – Prepare now so you're ready for club season 11:15 – Organizing your recruiting process with RallySend 14:00 – Recruiting happens in waves 17:30 – Get ready for the right opportunity 18:15 – How to email college coaches during the fall 20:30 – Finding the right recruiting support https://nxtvb.circle.so/options-d39582 Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What happens when your target list is too high? In this episode, Susan breaks down one of the most important—and often misunderstood—parts of volleyball recruiting: targeting the right schools. She explains what can happen when athletes build a list filled almost entirely with reach schools, from getting ignored by coaches to spending more time, money, and energy trying to get attention. That lack of response can start to affect an athlete’s confidence, mindset, and even how she performs on the court. Susan also explains the positive cycle that happens when athletes target well. When coaches start responding, athletes gain confidence, create options, and can actually play more freely. And sometimes, that confidence and improved performance can even open the door to schools that once felt like reaches. The conversation also explores why families should not overlook Division II volleyball. Susan shares why D2 can offer competitive volleyball, scholarship opportunities, strong coaching relationships, and another path to playing college volleyball—and why staying open to different levels can ultimately help athletes find the right fit. If you’re building or questioning your target list, this episode will help you think differently about what it means to recruit strategically, create options, and take the pressure off. Susan also shares information about the upcoming Division II College Coaches Camp in Petaluma, California, and how athletes can use opportunities like this to gain exposure, experience, and connections with college coaches. Chapters 00:00 – What happens when you target well 02:00 – The confidence cycle of getting recruited 04:00 – When your target list is too high 06:00 – How recruiting pressure affects performance 08:30 – You might have a targeting problem, not an exposure problem 10:00 – How to build a smarter target list 12:00 – Creating options instead of chasing one school 15:00 – Why you shouldn’t overlook Division II 17:00 – The D2 opportunity families are missing 20:00 – Why college coach connections matter 21:30 – Using camps to create exposure and experience 24:00 – Recruit smarter, not just higher 25:30 – How Susan can help you build your target list 26:15 – Upcoming D2 College Coaches Camp https://nxtvb.circle.so/options-d39582 Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

How much should parents actually be involved in their daughter’s volleyball recruiting process? What does it actually take to become a Division I volleyball player, and is D1 always the right goal? In this special episode, Susan shares a preview of her conversation with her friend Desi McPhail on Your Mental Weight Room. Desi works with athletes on the mindset and mental side of performance, and the two dig into some of the parts of recruiting and college athletics that families don’t always get to see. Susan breaks down what she sees in athletes who reach the D1 level, including the physicality, competitiveness, drive, and mindset required to compete at that level. She also explains why being undersized doesn’t automatically take D1 off the table and what some athletes develop to overcome physical limitations.  But reaching D1 isn’t the only definition of recruiting success. Susan and Desi talk about why athletes need to understand what they actually want from their college experience, why playing and contributing at another level may be more valuable to some athletes, and why the path doesn’t always look the way you originally expected.  They also pull back the curtain on conversations with college coaches and why coaches may be more direct behind the scenes than they are with recruits themselves. This is only a small piece of Susan and Desi’s full conversation. Listen to the complete episode of Your Mental Weight Room HERE.  Chapters 00:00 –Susan introduces Your Mental Weight Room 01:40 – What does it really take to become a D1 volleyball player? 03:00 – Why physicality matters in D1 recruiting 04:30 – Can undersized athletes still play D1? 06:25 – Is D1 actually what you want? 07:30 – When D2, D3, or another path may be a better fit 10:30 – Choosing your path based on desire instead of obligation 11:30 – What college coaches say behind the scenes 14:25 – Where to hear Susan and Desi’s full conversation  Connect with Desi: Instagram: @thisiscoachdesi Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

How much should parents actually be involved in their daughter’s volleyball recruiting process? In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with three dads of 2028 Division I commits, the conversation shifts from what happened during recruiting to what it was really like to navigate the process as a parent. The dads share the roles they took on behind the scenes, from managing spreadsheets, emails, film, travel, and school research to helping their daughters think through what they actually wanted in a college experience. They also get candid about the harder part: knowing when to stop coaching, listen more, manage their own stress, and give their daughters space to simply be teenagers. They also talk about what happens after the commitment, why June 15th does not define an athlete, and the importance of running your own race instead of comparing your recruiting journey to someone else’s. The conversation closes with practical advice for looking beyond brand-name schools, evaluating where an athlete realistically fits, and using tools like Massey Ratings and virtual campus tours to discover programs families may otherwise overlook. If you’re a parent wondering how to support your daughter without taking over her recruiting journey, this episode offers an honest look at what these dads learned along the way. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome back to Part 2 01:20 – What role should dads play in recruiting? 03:20 – Helping your athlete figure out what she really wants 05:20 – When being the coach gets in the way of being dad 07:40 – Protecting time for athletes to just be kids 08:35 – Who was actually the most stressed? 12:30 – What the dads will miss about recruiting 15:45 – What happens after your athlete commits? 17:30 – Final advice for parents navigating recruiting 19:20 – June 15th does not define your athlete 21:45 – Stop chasing only the brand-name schools 23:00 – Using Massey Ratings to find the right competitive fit 27:20 – Using virtual campus tours to narrow your list  About the Guests: Jason Wender Father of Liv Wender, 2028 S, West Virginia Commit Matthew Delaney Father of Carolina Delaney, 2028 OH, Pepperdine Commit Brett Baatrup Father of Amaya Simon, 2028 MB, Colorado State Commit Connect with the Players: Amaya Simon: @amayaclassof2028 Carolina Delaney: @carolinadelaneyvb Liv Wender: @livwendervolleyball Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What was it actually like to be inside Wrigley Field for one of the most talked-about volleyball events of the year? In this bonus episode, Susan takes you behind the scenes of her experience at the Wrigley Field volleyball matches in Chicago. From attending Mizzou’s practice and getting media access to watching the matches from field level, Susan shares what she saw firsthand and what the experience was really like inside the stadium. She talks about the unique challenges of playing volleyball outdoors, the elevated court, the atmosphere inside Wrigley, and what was happening from a fan’s perspective when court conditions eventually stopped play. Susan also shares what stood out to her about the athletes and their willingness to adapt, help find solutions, and make the most of an incredibly unusual situation. But this episode is about more than what went wrong. Susan reflects on what it meant to see more than 40,000 volleyball fans show up for an event like this and how far the sport has come from the days when she had to record Olympic volleyball on VHS in the middle of the night just to watch it. Was everything perfect? No. But Susan believes there’s a lot the volleyball world can learn from Wrigley and even more to be excited about when it comes to where the sport is headed.  Chapters 00:00 – Why Susan went to Wrigley Field  01:45 – Susan’s lifelong connection to volleyball  05:00 – From recording volleyball on VHS to filling stadiums  07:15 – Behind-the-scenes access at Wrigley  09:10 – Seeing the outdoor court and practice firsthand  11:00 – The challenges of playing volleyball outdoors  12:00 – Why Susan was so impressed by the athletes  15:00 – What happened with the court conditions  17:00 – What the experience felt like inside the stadium  18:00 – How the athletes responded  20:00 – Was the Wrigley Field event still a success?  24:00 – Susan’s favorite part of the entire experience  27:00 – What Wrigley says about the future of volleyball  Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What does the volleyball recruiting process actually look like from the parent side? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Susan sits down with three volleyball dads whose daughters recently committed to Division I programs in the class of 2028. Each came into volleyball with experience in other sports, and each quickly discovered that college volleyball recruiting operates very differently. They share what surprised them most about the process, what happened when June 15th arrived, and just how quickly calls, emails, offers, and decisions started moving. They also talk about college camps, visiting campuses early, building and narrowing a target school list, and trying to understand where their daughters realistically fit within the national recruiting landscape. Susan also breaks down why recruiting can feel so subjective in volleyball, why measurable stats only tell part of the story, and why gaining clarity early can help families spend their time, energy, and resources more strategically. If you’re a parent trying to understand what may be coming next in your daughter’s recruiting process, this episode gives you an honest look at what these families learned while going through it in real time. Chapters 00:00 – Susan’s recruiting support and Volleyball Recruiting School 06:00 – Why these three dads wanted to share their experience 07:25 – Meet the volleyball dads and their daughters 11:25 – How volleyball recruiting differs from other sports 13:30 – What happened when June 15th arrived 18:50 – When families realized recruiting was moving fast 19:10 – Visiting campuses early to gain clarity 22:55 – Why camps matter more than families may realize 24:20 – Narrowing the school list and targeting strategically 27:20 – A late-blooming athlete and a very fast recruiting journey 29:20 – Why evaluating volleyball recruits is so subjective 31:35 – The importance of jump touch and measurable traits 32:20 – What’s coming in Part 2 About the Guests: Jason Wender Father of Liv Wender, 2028 S, West Virginia Commit Matthew Delaney Father of Carolina Delaney, 2028 OH, Pepperdine Commit Brett Baatrup Father of Amaya Simon, 2028 MB, Colorado State Commit Connect with the Players: Amaya Simon: @amayaclassof2028Carolina Delaney: @carolinadelaneyvbLiv Wender: @livwendervolleyballConnect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What does an SEC head coach really look for when evaluating recruits? In this episode, Susan sits down with University of Missouri head coach Dawn Sullivan to talk about recruiting, culture, and what she’s building at Mizzou. Dawn shares why talent is only one piece of the evaluation process and what she notices about an athlete’s competitiveness, resilience, communication, coachability, and how they respond when things don’t go their way. They also dive into how Dawn rebuilt Mizzou’s roster, the role the transfer portal has played in the program, and why finding the right people and creating genuine relationships are at the center of her recruiting philosophy. Dawn gives athletes and parents a behind-the-scenes look at the things college coaches may be evaluating that recruits don’t always realize. Then the conversation heads to Wrigley Field. Dawn shares how Mizzou was selected for the SEC-Big Ten Challenge, how the team has prepared to play outdoors, and what she hopes fans see when Mizzou takes the court on one of volleyball’s biggest stages. Whether you’re navigating recruiting or simply excited about where college volleyball is headed, this episode offers an inside look at what it takes to build a program where talent, culture, and the right fit all matter. Chapters 00:00 – Why this Mizzou conversation is special 02:25 – Meet Mizzou head coach Dawn Sullivan 05:35 – Dawn’s coaching journey and philosophy 07:15 – Building a program around people and culture 09:10 – Recruiting athletes who fit the program 11:20 – How Dawn evaluates character 12:20 – Building confidence, trust, and connection 16:25 – Rebuilding Mizzou volleyball 19:00 – Recruiting Missouri athletes 20:05 – How the transfer portal fits into Mizzou’s strategy 23:25 – What Dawn really looks for in recruits 27:05 – Grit, ownership, and the role of parents 30:00 – How the Wrigley Field match came together 32:20 – Preparing to play volleyball outdoors 36:20 – Mentally preparing for the Wrigley stage 37:35 – The personality behind this Mizzou team 40:05 – What Dawn hopes fans see at Wrigley  About the Guest: Dawn Sullivan is the head coach of Mizzou Volleyball, where she has quickly helped reestablish the Tigers as a contender in the SEC. Sullivan took over the program in December 2022 and led Mizzou to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in her first two seasons, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2024. She was named SEC Coach of the Year in her first season and AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year in 2024. Now entering her fourth season at Mizzou, Sullivan has compiled a 57–33 record with the Tigers and recently signed a contract extension through the 2029 season. Before Mizzou, Sullivan spent five seasons as the head coach at UNLV, where she built the Rebels into one of the Mountain West's top programs. She went 109–38, led UNLV to five straight postseason appearances, two Mountain West championships and the 2021 NIVC Championship, while earning Mountain West Coach of the Year honors twice. Prior to UNLV, Sullivan spent 13 seasons on staff at Iowa State. A former All-American at Kansas State, she helped lead the Wildcats to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances as a player and was inducted into the Kansas State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. Connect with Dawn: Website: https://mutigers.com/sports/womens-volleyballInstagram: @dawn3sullivanLink to the book: Sidelined No Longer: The Untold Story of Women's College Sports by Karen S. Rudolph (Susan's Mom) Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What if volleyball could help you build opportunities that last long after your playing career ends? In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with professional volleyball player Bella Bergmark, they shift the conversation off the court and into NIL, social media, personal branding, and what athletes can start building while they’re still playing. Bella shares how she went from being skeptical of social media to growing an audience, working with brands, and creating income through content. She explains why athletes don’t need a massive following to get started, what brands are actually looking for, and how sharing her own experiences with burnout and mental health helped her connect with thousands of other athletes. They also get practical about overcoming the fear of posting, staying consistent, approaching brands, working with agencies, and creating content that fits into an already busy athlete schedule. More than anything, Bella and Susan explore how athletes can use the opportunities available today to build skills, income, relationships, and a personal brand that can create more options when their playing career eventually ends. Chapters 00:00 – Building opportunities beyond volleyball  02:05 – Bella’s introduction to NIL  04:25 – How athletes can build an audience  06:05 – Why brands work with athletes  07:40 – Getting over the fear of posting  10:10 – Sharing her mental health journey  15:10 – Using content to help other athletes  18:40 – Creating content consistently  22:15 – Brand partnerships and agencies  27:40 – Turning what makes you different into an advantage  30:00 – Create more than you consume  33:00 – The growing opportunities in volleyball  35:15 – NIL and life after sports  39:45 – Final takeaways About the Guest: Bella Bergmark is a professional volleyball player and coach originally from San Francisco. She played her undergraduate volleyball at UC Berkeley before transferring to the University of Texas, where she won two national championships. Since turning pro, Bella has competed across three professional seasons — in Puerto Rico, France, and most recently with LOVB Austin, where her team won the league championship last season. Beyond competing, Bella runs volleyball clinics around the country each year and coaches athletes online through her program, the Bergmark Performance Academy, offering personalized film review and 1-on-1 coaching for players looking to take their game to the next level. She's also active on social media, sharing volleyball tips, strength and conditioning content, and volleyball humor with her audience. Off the court, she lives with her dog Freyja and her cat Mochi. Connect with Bella: LOVB Website: https://www.lovb.com/teams/lovb-austin-volleyball Instagram:@bella.bergmark Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

Bella Bergmark’s volleyball journey is proof that being overlooked early does not mean you are behind. In Part 1 of this conversation, Susan sits down with Bella to talk about the path that took her from being a developing recruit in the Bay Area to UC Berkeley, the University of Texas, two national championships, and eventually a professional volleyball career. Bella opens up about changing positions during recruiting, dealing with performance anxiety, redshirting at Cal, navigating the disruption of COVID, and reaching a point where she knew she wanted more from her volleyball experience. She shares what pushed her to enter the transfer portal, how quickly Texas came calling, and what it was like stepping into a gym filled with All-Americans and competing for a role on a championship team.  They also talk about the coaches who believed in Bella before she fully believed in herself, learning to trust the process, and how taking a chance on herself ultimately opened the door to a career she never imagined when she was a high school athlete. Today, Bella has played professionally in Puerto Rico, France, and with LOVB Austin, where her team won the league championship last season. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, behind, or unsure where your recruiting journey is headed, Bella’s story is a powerful reminder that your first opportunity does not have to be your final destination. Chapters 00:00 – From an overlooked recruit to Cal 04:20 – Bella’s recruiting journey and position change 07:35 – Arriving at Cal and fighting for playing time 12:25 – When volleyball stopped feeling fun 16:40 – Deciding to enter the transfer portal 20:05 – Why Bella took the chance on Texas 23:15 – The coach who believed in her 25:15 – Building belief and detaching from outcomes 28:15 – From college volleyball to playing professionally About the Guest: Bella Bergmark is a professional volleyball player and coach originally from San Francisco. She played her undergraduate volleyball at UC Berkeley before transferring to the University of Texas, where she won two national championships. Since turning pro, Bella has competed across three professional seasons — in Puerto Rico, France, and most recently with LOVB Austin, where her team won the league championship last season. Beyond competing, Bella runs volleyball clinics around the country each year and coaches athletes online through her program, the Bergmark Performance Academy, offering personalized film review and 1-on-1 coaching for players looking to take their game to the next level. She's also active on social media, sharing volleyball tips, strength and conditioning content, and volleyball humor with her audience. Off the court, she lives with her dog Freyja and her cat Mochi. Connect with Bella: LOVB Website: https://www.lovb.com/teams/lovb-austin-volleyball Instagram:@bella.bergmark Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

Most volleyball families spend hours researching schools, tracking coaches, copying emails, and trying to stay organized throughout the recruiting process. But what if there was a better way? In this episode, Susan sits down with Mike, founder of RallySend, to talk about how a simple goal of helping his own daughter navigate recruiting turned into one of the most innovative tools available for volleyball athletes today. With a background in product development at Snapchat and years in the tech industry, Mike shares how he applied technology to solve some of the biggest pain points families face during recruiting. Beyond the software itself, this conversation explores why volleyball is experiencing incredible momentum, what professional volleyball in the United States means for the next generation of athletes, and why the recruiting process should be about finding the right fit, not simply getting an offer. Whether you're just beginning your recruiting journey or already reaching out to college coaches, this episode is packed with practical insights that can save you time, reduce stress, and help you approach recruiting with more confidence. Chapters 00:00 – Meet Mike and RallySend 02:15 – From tech to volleyball 04:15 – Investing in pro volleyball 08:45 – Why volleyball is ready to grow 13:00 – What pro volleyball creates for young athletes 15:15 – Entering the recruiting process as a parent 18:15 – The biggest recruiting time-wasters 20:15 – How RallySend was created 22:45 – Using roster trends to target schools 25:30 – The features that make outreach easier 28:15 – Tracking coach engagement 29:45 – Keeping coach information current 31:15 – The future of RallySend 32:30 – What Mike hopes his daughter remembers 34:30 – How families can get started  About the Guest: Mike Su is a volleyball dad, serial entrepreneur, and founder of RallySend.com, the premier tool for streamlining athlete outreach to college coaches. Mike is also a minority owner of the San Francisco Signal, LOVB's newest expansion team. With a 25+ year career as a product executive at companies like Snap, mitú, and Upworthy, he now focuses his expertise on solving the recruiting grind. When he's not building RallySend or editing highlights for his daughter Kylie (2028 scrappy libero with a 4.36 GPA *hint hint* ), he is involved with his local church, Defy Ventures, and Rideback Rise. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, three kids, and their dog, Boogie. Connect with Mike: Website: www.rallysend.com Instagram: @getrallysend @biggiesu Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What if practice was something your daughter actually wanted to show up for? In Part 2 of her sit-down with University of Nevada head coach Jason Borchin, Susan goes deep into the coaching philosophy and practice model Jason has spent years refining, first at Cal Poly and now at Nevada. This one is a masterclass in what a healthy, high-performing college volleyball environment can actually look like. Jason walks through how his team lifts for 30 to 40 minutes right before practice, why he ditched the traditional dynamic warmup and pepper drill in favor of letting his athletes self-direct their warmup, and why he refuses to run practices longer than two hours. He explains how giving athletes ownership over their own development, from what they choose to work on before practice, to what they stay after for, to what they eat, has become the center of his coaching philosophy. He also shares the simple challenge he gives every player: "Give me two days a week where you stay after 10 minutes and work on something." Susan and Jason then get into the concept of "enough-ness" and why celebration motivation is more sustainable than pushing yourself from a place of lack. Jason shares how becoming a dad, working alongside Cal Poly head coach Caroline Walters, and lots of self-reflection shaped the kind of coach he wants to be, and the kind of coach he would want his own kids to one day play for. He closes with what drew him to Nevada, from Lake Tahoe and ski mountains 15 minutes from campus, to state-of-the-art facilities, to a tight-knit community he can't wait to build a program around. If your daughter is trying to figure out what a healthy college volleyball environment actually looks like, this episode is a must-listen. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome back to Part 2 01:00 – Practice as a choice, not a chore 02:30 – Ditching pepper and the dynamic warmup 06:30 – The 2-hour practice cap and why every rep matters 11:00 – "Give me 10 minutes after practice" 17:00 – Enough-ness: celebration over lack motivation 19:00 – Why he trusts his athletes with their nutrition 23:00 – How becoming a dad changed his coaching 27:30 – What drew him to Nevada 33:30 – Vibe attracts your tribe About the Guest: Jason Borchin is the head coach of the University of Nevada Women's Volleyball program, named to the role in December 2025 after helping lead Cal Poly to a historic Cinderella run to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Over nine seasons at Cal Poly, he served as recruiting coordinator and associate head coach, helping the Mustangs win back-to-back Big West titles and earn multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to Cal Poly, Jason coached at Notre Dame and Sacramento State, and he brings 18+ years of coaching experience across the intercollegiate, high school, and club levels. He and his wife Jessie (who advises athletes at NXTVB) have three young children. Connect with Jason: Nevada Wolf Pack Volleyball: @nevadavolleyball Coach page: Jason Borchin at Nevada Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What actually separates the athletes who get offered from the ones who don't? For the 50th episode of the podcast, Susan sits down with a good friend and one of the most talked-about names in college volleyball right now: Coach Jason Borchin. Jason was the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Cal Poly during their Cinderella Sweet 16 run in 2025, and just weeks later, he was named the head coach at the University of Nevada. Jason takes us behind the scenes of the whirlwind that was Cal Poly's postseason: upsetting #5 BYU and #4 USC as an unseeded team, interviewing for the Nevada job the Monday after the tournament ended, and uprooting his family with three young kids in tow. He shares what made the Cal Poly team so magical, from a culture of celebration and authenticity to the philosophy that "the right kid beats the best athlete," and why letting players be fully themselves is what unlocks the confidence to win. The second half of the conversation is a masterclass in recruiting. Jason walks through what actually separates athletes at the finish line of a coach's target list, the "genuine interest hack" that gets him to invest more time watching a recruit, and why copy-paste emails get ignored while a personal, well-researched email can move an athlete up the board. He also shares what it looks like when an athlete is willing to wear her heart on her sleeve, and why that vulnerability is often the difference between an offer and a pass. If your daughter is on a college coach's radar (or trying to be), this episode is exactly what she needs to hear. Chapters 00:00 – Celebrating 50 episodes with Coach Jason Borchin 02:00 – The whirlwind from the Sweet 16 to the Nevada job 06:00 – Managing chaos, family, and the transfer portal 09:00 – What made Cal Poly's Cinderella team so special 13:00 – Confidence, celebration, and letting kids be themselves 17:00 – Being underestimated as a mid-major program 19:00 – "Cal Poly kids": the right kid over the best athlete 23:00 – Building the same culture at Nevada 26:00 – What genuine interest looks like on a recruiting call 33:00 – Why copy-paste emails get ignored About the Guest: Jason Borchin is the head coach of the University of Nevada Women's Volleyball program, named to the role in December 2025 after helping lead Cal Poly to a historic Cinderella run to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Over nine seasons at Cal Poly, he served as recruiting coordinator and associate head coach, helping the Mustangs win back-to-back Big West titles and earn multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to Cal Poly, Jason coached at Notre Dame and Sacramento State, and he brings 18+ years of coaching experience across the intercollegiate, high school, and club levels. He and his wife Jessie (who advises athletes at NXTVB) have three young children. Connect with Jason: Nevada Wolf Pack Volleyball: @nevadavolleyball Coach page: Jason Borchin at Nevada Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What's the first thing you should say when your daughter comes home from a camp, tryout, or tournament totally deflated? In this episode, Susan shares a simple but powerful tool she learned in her life coaching certification called the Ratings Game. It's a set of scaled questions parents and coaches can use to help an athlete process a tough day without spiraling into "I'm not good enough" thinking. Susan walks through exactly how the tool works, from asking your daughter to rate her performance from 1 to 10, to the crucial follow-up question of "Why isn't it a 1?" that gently gets her focused on what she actually did well. She also shares how to handle the "I don't know" answer, how to reflect her thinking back to her, and a reframe on motivation she calls "gas car vs. electric car," why celebration motivation is faster and more sustainable than being hard on yourself. If you're holding space for an athlete chasing a big goal, this episode gives you a script you can use the very next time she comes to you upset. Chapters 00:00 – Behind the scenes at Girls Junior Nationals 02:00 – Advisor vs. recruiter (and what parents often misunderstand) 05:00 – Why college coach interviews matter 07:30 – Doing scary things and building the podcast 11:00 – Where this episode's tool comes from 13:00 – Susan's life coaching certification story 19:00 – Introducing the Ratings Game 20:00 – How to ask the 1-to-10 question 22:00 – The "Why isn't it a 1?" follow-up 23:00 – What to do when she says "I don't know" 25:00 – Celebration motivation vs. lack motivation 28:00 – What would have made it a 10? 29:30 – Reflecting her thinking back to her 31:00 – Focusing on what she can control Follow Coach Desi on Instagram: @thisiscoachdesi  Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

Are you actively choosing your recruiting process, or quietly letting it happen to you? In this episode, Susan builds on the last two conversations and gets into one of the biggest reasons recruiting timelines look so different from athlete to athlete: different goals create different timelines. She walks through a spectrum she sees almost every athlete fall somewhere on, from the very specific athlete who knows exactly what she wants to the more open-minded athlete who's willing to explore, and explains why neither path is right or wrong, just different. Susan shares her own story of holding out for a Top 25 or Pac-10 program as a 16-year-old recruit, why she sat on offers from schools that didn't match her vision, and what made the wait worth it. She also tells the story of a former club athlete who chose to commit to the first offer she received from her dream conference, and how having a little specificity with an open mind made for one of the smoothest recruiting processes Susan has seen. She closes with a powerful reframe: in your recruiting process, you are the driver, not the victim. If you're not getting interest from the schools you want, you get to decide whether to double down, adjust your list, or become the athlete who's good enough for the goal. Leaning into desire rather than fear is what changes everything. Chapters 00:00 – Why timelines feel like a verdict (and shouldn't) 01:30 – The recruiting spectrum: specific vs. open-minded 03:00 – Why clarity moves you forward faster 04:00 – Specific athletes, smaller pools, longer timelines 05:30 – Susan's recruiting story: holding out for the Pac-10 08:00 – When backup offers become teachers 09:30 – Why two athletes' timelines should never match 11:30 – The West Coast Conference athlete who said yes to the first offer 13:30 – Choosing your process instead of being a victim to it 15:00 – Leaning into desire over fear Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.