Season 2, Episode 7 feat. Sam Doughton and Tayo Bailey-Duvall

[00:00:07] [SPEAKER_03]: Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Blue Raider Podcast hosted by Jake Bolden

[00:00:12] [SPEAKER_03]: and presented by the Kinsekka Group General Contracting and Mighty Dog Reefing.

[00:00:17] [SPEAKER_03]: Don't miss another Tuesday episode by subscribing to the podcast on all streaming platforms

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[00:00:30] [SPEAKER_03]: media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok at Blue Raider Podcast.

[00:01:03] [SPEAKER_03]: You'll be interviewed at the end, also at the preview of their ITA region.

[00:01:07] [SPEAKER_03]: Those that are supposed to be here in Murphysboro on October 10th and then last week we'll

[00:01:11] [SPEAKER_03]: wrap some things up with the fall season for golf and then lastly our repeat hopeful

[00:01:16] [SPEAKER_03]: repeat champion to the cross country season as they get closer and closer to their

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_03]: conference championship before we get to the interview with Sam.

[00:01:23] [SPEAKER_03]: I'd like to take a second to thank our sponsors of the episode and that is Mighty Dog Reefing

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[00:02:51] [SPEAKER_03]: Again, thanks to Mighty Dog Reefing and the Kinsekka Group for sponsoring the Blu-Rater podcast.

[00:02:56] [SPEAKER_03]: Now it is time to roll into our episode today like I said joining me is a staff writer from

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER_03]: goblurators.com in the MTSU Communications office. It is Sam Douten Sam, how's it going?

[00:03:08] [SPEAKER_01]: Jake, thanks to having me back. I decided to talk about all the sports that are happening this fall

[00:03:12] [SPEAKER_01]: which is a lot more than a lot of people think about when you think of the traditional fall

[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_01]: sports with football, volleyball, soccer and a lot more stuff going on right now as you well know

[00:03:23] [SPEAKER_01]: and your listeners know. So I talked about all of it this week as we get into the conversation.

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_03]: As a while I'm glad to have you on this type of episode I know we look forward to football season

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_03]: as everyone does and that's always the main topic but I was love spending time. It's special

[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_03]: talking with Sam here about all the other sports going on. There's going to be no one more knowledgeable

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_03]: about what's going on. I mean he's in the office. He's talking with the players, talking with

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_03]: Sam, come on and before we get into our football talk as always on the podcast here I love to play

[00:03:54] [SPEAKER_03]: coach Mason's opening statement of his post game press conference from this last match up here.

[00:04:00] [SPEAKER_00]: So let's hear from coach Mason. Talk to Ryan Silverfield and that Memphis team. They're good team.

[00:04:07] [SPEAKER_00]: I think our team grew up tonight. We had a second role game in the hospital environment like

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_00]: for us and I thought our kids responded the way we should stop gaming. We get the ball

[00:04:20] [SPEAKER_00]: and we go down and we put ourselves in position to score. And you know, unfortunately sometimes things

[00:04:28] [SPEAKER_00]: happen but I'll take a Maori all day long because I know a Maori in that receiver room

[00:04:36] [SPEAKER_00]: compete hard but today was just one of those days where you know I just felt good coming into this

[00:04:42] [SPEAKER_00]: game about this team. I thought we had made progress. I thought we'd tackle better and we still

[00:04:47] [SPEAKER_00]: got to find ways to run the football and we got to keep nick up right. I thought at times when we

[00:04:51] [SPEAKER_00]: gave him time in his search school you know when he's got to run for his life man it's it's tough

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_00]: but we're going to get that right because I saw some solid protections that we have to sort of

[00:05:01] [SPEAKER_00]: hold hang our head on and the rest of it man you junk it you know why because the dude is good so

[00:05:05] [SPEAKER_00]: you don't get him hit and I think we put up points. So defense getting better special teams man

[00:05:10] [SPEAKER_00]: we got to continue to keep going and I just got to make sure man that I don't I don't put our team

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_03]: in harm's way by getting him. Well there it was Sam I a lot to take away from that post game but

[00:05:23] [SPEAKER_03]: I think the big thing that we all saw although it's another loss in the category but I think the team

[00:05:28] [SPEAKER_03]: made some strides with actually was arguably the best game I'd really seen as play especially on

[00:05:34] [SPEAKER_03]: the defensive side kind of how they're back against the wall for a good majority of the game but

[00:05:38] [SPEAKER_03]: altogether I thought we saw some improvement from this week. Yeah no question Jake you know I think

[00:05:43] [SPEAKER_01]: look at the total yardage in the middle was actually able to to move the ball you know relatively

[00:05:48] [SPEAKER_01]: consistently on offense not on the ground but but had some good passing numbers were able to

[00:05:52] [SPEAKER_01]: hit some explosive plays over the top and you know including the unfortunate humble by umari

[00:05:57] [SPEAKER_01]: you know through the in zone uh you know on a play that would have been 69 year touch damage

[00:06:01] [SPEAKER_01]: a lot of really bad luck there for middle but but the defense is really what you you hang your head on right

[00:06:07] [SPEAKER_01]: you know that that's a Memphis team that's put up a lot of points early in the season even

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_01]: there a loss the previous week to maybe you know sort of a 40 points in that game set that

[00:06:15] [SPEAKER_01]: against a quarter back that you know is able to throw the ball around the yard you know middle hell

[00:06:19] [SPEAKER_01]: them just two hundred you know 27 yards in the air in that game and you know I think you you saw

[00:06:25] [SPEAKER_01]: I think in particular it was a secondary that finally you know got some consistency week

[00:06:30] [SPEAKER_01]: to week James Shaman and Marveille Meyer stayed the starters a corner John Halshin Xavier William

[00:06:34] [SPEAKER_01]: stayed the starters at safety and that played big dividends as far as consistency goes for that group

[00:06:40] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm really looking at some good pass break ups and and I thought the defensive wine did better

[00:06:45] [SPEAKER_01]: that they weren't as as flashy as you'd like them to be they weren't making the TFLs with a

[00:06:49] [SPEAKER_01]: sack which you'd like well they were making set hand again uncomfortable and that led to a

[00:06:53] [SPEAKER_01]: couple over for those that got the team up the field and gave the offensive chance unfortunately

[00:06:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Memphis played the field field position game well had some good pines that that pin middle really

[00:07:03] [SPEAKER_01]: deep in helped stall out some possessions and you know that's an offensive line that is very young

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_01]: to do the injury right now and it's still figuring things out you know one thing we talked about

[00:07:14] [SPEAKER_01]: in that post game media session with Coach Mason was you know how you know got like Isaac

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Rue retro freshman just just sort of getting the chance just because he's one of the guys

[00:07:23] [SPEAKER_01]: that's healthy and available and and when you have things like that you know the fumble that Nick

[00:07:28] [SPEAKER_01]: had in their red zone very clearly was either Nick forgot to slide protection or been more

[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_01]: likely in my eyes was was somebody missed the slide on that miss the call to account for that

[00:07:38] [SPEAKER_01]: puts in corner back because Nick was assuming that there was no pressure that side or the pressure

[00:07:43] [SPEAKER_01]: was covered so and he was pretty fired up on the sideline after that play and so you know

[00:07:48] [SPEAKER_01]: there's a lot of things to correct at this point but there was some good building blocks

[00:07:53] [SPEAKER_01]: particularly defensively that then you feel good about going into a conference USA that has a

[00:07:58] [SPEAKER_01]: lot of teams in similar positions to what Middles gone through early this season and you feel like

[00:08:03] [SPEAKER_01]: you've got a chance to compete and win and figure things out and against competition maybe

[00:08:08] [SPEAKER_03]: below or somewhere to you then the way you face so far this year yeah all great points one of

[00:08:15] [SPEAKER_03]: the things that you mentioned is this is the secondary group one thing that I love was

[00:08:19] [SPEAKER_03]: Xavier Williams for those that don't know the depth chart that was our QB3 going into week one

[00:08:24] [SPEAKER_03]: and he got the start at safety and really I mean from I haven't known the stats in front of me

[00:08:29] [SPEAKER_03]: I know he had nine tackles who tackles for loss I don't know where that stacks up against the team but

[00:08:33] [SPEAKER_03]: I'd have to think he was at the top there so you come back your first game at safety and you're

[00:08:37] [SPEAKER_03]: leading the team and tackles and tackles for loss so obviously he understands the position

[00:08:42] [SPEAKER_03]: to very low learning curve for him which is excellent news because like you've already touched on

[00:08:47] [SPEAKER_03]: they're having to shake up a lot of the secondary so I'm pleased with what Xavier Williams

[00:08:51] [SPEAKER_03]: is at safety because it doesn't I don't think we're getting burned in Harris back I think

[00:08:55] [SPEAKER_03]: they had made some sort of graphic there on ESP and that said he was out for the year so you

[00:09:00] [SPEAKER_03]: got to find something back there and Xavier kind of looked you know he looked the part didn't

[00:09:04] [SPEAKER_03]: look he was lost so that was that was pretty promising and then yeah the the body auto the the

[00:09:09] [SPEAKER_03]: sacs the I have it listed the six worth six worse in FBS and sacs allowed per game at 3.8

[00:09:16] [SPEAKER_03]: I mean Mason hit it on his postgame presser obviously it's something that they they know

[00:09:21] [SPEAKER_03]: is an issue but it is what it is at this point and again to credit to the line of what they've

[00:09:27] [SPEAKER_03]: had to face really you've kind of we already know we faced a gauntlet of non-conference play

[00:09:32] [SPEAKER_03]: but your you face an Ole Miss team who's one of the best front 7s in the country you're going

[00:09:36] [SPEAKER_03]: to face Duke is one of the best front 7s in the ACC you just got done playing Memphis who again

[00:09:42] [SPEAKER_03]: really really strong big front 7 in regards to G5 schools so I think for the most part you face

[00:09:49] [SPEAKER_03]: probably your toughest front 7 except maybe you could make an argument that liberty I

[00:09:54] [SPEAKER_03]: although they haven't really put up the numbers that we thought we'd see from them but that's

[00:09:57] [SPEAKER_03]: still going to be a good formidable front you're gonna face later in the year and hopefully

[00:10:00] [SPEAKER_03]: you've got enough games under your feet and your healthy enough going into that game with the

[00:10:03] [SPEAKER_03]: flames at home that you've given yourself a chance but I say all that I kind of want to move on to

[00:10:09] [SPEAKER_03]: the next topic because because because you talk about all the successes that they had this week

[00:10:15] [SPEAKER_03]: against Memphis you feel good about where this team is at you get a buy week a buy and a half

[00:10:21] [SPEAKER_03]: week if you will before you roll into Louisiana Tech and for once I know this is kind of doom and

[00:10:27] [SPEAKER_03]: gloom you're one and four but let's be honest this is where we thought we'd be and you feel good

[00:10:32] [SPEAKER_03]: and now you're moving into the stretch of three games that like you feel pretty good about Louisiana

[00:10:37] [SPEAKER_03]: Tech just lost a really bad road game to an FI team that a week is a week removed from losing

[00:10:42] [SPEAKER_03]: to an FCS school so they don't and losing a tech hasn't figured out their quarterback situation yet

[00:10:48] [SPEAKER_03]: you got Kinnis all say who just lost to an FCS Tennessee Martin and then you got Jacksonville

[00:10:52] [SPEAKER_03]: State who hasn't been the rich road regas Corvette speed offense they're supposed to be because

[00:10:58] [SPEAKER_03]: they also have some quarterback issues so Sam I'll turn it over to you I mean that was kind of the

[00:11:03] [SPEAKER_03]: best case in area you had a good game with Memphis and now you're rolling into where the game

[00:11:06] [SPEAKER_03]: is really matter and you got a three game stretch in front of you that could really set you up

[00:11:10] [SPEAKER_01]: for some bowl eligibility later on in the year well I think the big thing you know that this that

[00:11:15] [SPEAKER_01]: this by week's gonna have is two things one is you know obviously the time that you need to get

[00:11:20] [SPEAKER_01]: people back from injury sometimes and you just need the extra week that you have right now

[00:11:24] [SPEAKER_01]: to get somebody back that you wouldn't have otherwise the week before and so I suspect you

[00:11:29] [SPEAKER_01]: you'll you'll see a couple of the guys that are able to play you know maybe later this season

[00:11:32] [SPEAKER_01]: get a little bit closer or maybe guys have been limited that would be a limited just special team

[00:11:37] [SPEAKER_01]: snaps or something else get the chance to get back to sort of full availability in this week ahead

[00:11:43] [SPEAKER_01]: and that's gonna be huge just given the injury issues this team's dealt with early this season

[00:11:47] [SPEAKER_01]: but I think you know the bigger thing that the from a coaching perspective and a scheme perspective

[00:11:53] [SPEAKER_01]: is they have some stuff on tape now that they know what works and they're able to they're able

[00:11:58] [SPEAKER_01]: to figure out more of what this defense does well what this defense can run and you know one

[00:12:04] [SPEAKER_01]: thing Brendan Buck here mentioned after the games that defense is able to skyze more now

[00:12:08] [SPEAKER_01]: and that's just come with familiarity and I think on the offensive side you've seen a lot more

[00:12:12] [SPEAKER_01]: spread formations these past two weeks and have seen you know the team have some success move in

[00:12:17] [SPEAKER_01]: the ball out of those spreadsheets formations as well obviously it's a little more similar to what

[00:12:21] [SPEAKER_01]: they were running in the past under the previous staff then maybe what people expected to

[00:12:26] [SPEAKER_01]: get to read or to run you know from the start this year but but they're happy to have success

[00:12:31] [SPEAKER_01]: with it and they're adjusting to what the team's doing well and so you know give these coaches

[00:12:35] [SPEAKER_01]: you know a week or they're not as hyper focused on you know who they're playing in a given week

[00:12:41] [SPEAKER_01]: as they would be and maybe their review and you know their self-scouting look at their own

[00:12:45] [SPEAKER_01]: tape is there something that they did well you know three weeks ago that maybe they didn't catch

[00:12:49] [SPEAKER_01]: and now they can continue to implement into the offensive defense you know time I got as big

[00:12:54] [SPEAKER_01]: and really it's come at the perfect time for middle just because of the way the schedule

[00:12:58] [SPEAKER_01]: worked out this year where you really need these 11 days 12 days just a sort of reset and

[00:13:05] [SPEAKER_01]: and realize that you've got some goals in front of you and you have some win-a-bo games ahead

[00:13:10] [SPEAKER_01]: and you've done enough good things that you can't just pack it up and look at next year like

[00:13:15] [SPEAKER_01]: you you have the ability to go make your own moment sort of right now so yeah I'm excited to see

[00:13:22] [SPEAKER_01]: second half of the season I think you'll see a lot of improvement to get some of those guys get back

[00:13:26] [SPEAKER_01]: healthier and I think it's pretty wide open and sort of the in-comprehensive essay the rest of

[00:13:32] [SPEAKER_01]: the way I think Western is extending itself you know showing itself through one of the better teams

[00:13:38] [SPEAKER_01]: in the league this year liberty obviously hasn't lost yet so that you got to count them in that

[00:13:42] [SPEAKER_01]: conversation but behind those two it's pretty wide open and we've already played Western

[00:13:47] [SPEAKER_01]: Libertia really only team on schedule Sam Hustuch also mentioned having a good year but they're not

[00:13:54] [SPEAKER_01]: in remaining games you should feel good about your chances to win and six of them and really I

[00:13:59] [SPEAKER_01]: think you should feel like you can compete with Libertia as well I don't know if you need to

[00:14:03] [SPEAKER_01]: write off that game at home you know on a better end of weekend where which tends to be one of our

[00:14:07] [SPEAKER_01]: you know more pumped up days for the program for whatever reason so we you've got a chance to

[00:14:14] [SPEAKER_01]: to play yourself in the conversations build some stuff off of the season and set yourself up well for

[00:14:19] [SPEAKER_01]: future and you know I suspect that's what the staff folks are now at the moment.

[00:14:24] [SPEAKER_03]: I couldn't agree more with with the way that the season is now unfolding as far as the conference

[00:14:29] [SPEAKER_03]: by because going into the year we all thought Western Liberty Jacksonville State that's the top of

[00:14:36] [SPEAKER_03]: your conference everyone else is kind of it's a free for all we don't know what we got well it does

[00:14:40] [SPEAKER_03]: appear that Sam Hustuch in state is taking that role that Jacksonville State was supposed to be and

[00:14:45] [SPEAKER_03]: as you as you already said you feel that all those games are winnable road or not and we've seen how

[00:14:52] [SPEAKER_03]: this team performs on the road although Ole Miss the score is what it was I would I would agree

[00:14:58] [SPEAKER_03]: they played better in that game that they did in their two home games albeit the score thought the

[00:15:02] [SPEAKER_03]: offense moved the ball well the defense you know obviously could play better but you're playing against

[00:15:05] [SPEAKER_03]: the top 10 offense in the country and then the Memphis game again you played against a pretty good

[00:15:10] [SPEAKER_03]: Memphis team that we all thought was going to steam rolls because they'd be so mad about their

[00:15:14] [SPEAKER_03]: AV outcome and they held their own so that's always something that I would like to take into account

[00:15:19] [SPEAKER_03]: is going into the year with a new coaching staff you don't know how a team prepares for road games

[00:15:24] [SPEAKER_03]: what does the team like on the road because we see that we see that come to play with basketball last

[00:15:29] [SPEAKER_03]: year with Nick McDevitt a team that's so strong at home but has their road struggles but it looks

[00:15:33] [SPEAKER_03]: like again on from what we've seen I'm just as the eyeball test the scoreboard doesn't show this but

[00:15:37] [SPEAKER_03]: I think the team plays considerably well enough on the road that when you look at some of these

[00:15:43] [SPEAKER_03]: coming ones with the Louisiana Tech Jacksonville State that going into the year you think you know

[00:15:48] [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know I'm gonna give this to the home team because of unfamiliar airy but again I think

[00:15:53] [SPEAKER_03]: MTSU is a better team when you put them head-to-head with Louisiana Tech on a neutral floor per

[00:15:58] [SPEAKER_03]: say I would I would even make the argument for Jacksonville State when I when Jacksonville

[00:16:01] [SPEAKER_03]: States offense is rolling they're a very tough team to beat but this stretch was something that I

[00:16:13] [SPEAKER_03]: if you come out of Louisiana Tech with a loss you know you probably are a little doom and

[00:16:18] [SPEAKER_03]: gloom because now you're one in five your chances of getting to a bowl game have

[00:16:22] [SPEAKER_03]: have dropped significantly again your outlook you probably still feel good about

[00:16:26] [SPEAKER_03]: Kinesale State but you're out look for Jacksonville State doesn't look very good even

[00:16:29] [SPEAKER_03]: your road contest at UTEP because I would put UTEP and LaTec kind of in that same boat as far

[00:16:35] [SPEAKER_03]: as their performances thus far in the year so give yourself that the week and a half here to get healthy

[00:16:43] [SPEAKER_03]: get to rust in and again sunny comebe is Louisiana Tech is kind of in the boat that MTSU fans

[00:16:47] [SPEAKER_03]: were in last year you just kind of feel a little helpless so that and I hope that MTSU can kind

[00:16:53] [SPEAKER_03]: of contribute to that helplessness but I'll turn it over you know we'll roll over into the fall

[00:16:59] [SPEAKER_03]: supports now because we got so much to cover and the first one on my dock and I've got volleyball

[00:17:04] [SPEAKER_03]: and I'll go and put up our the coverage of this last week they go one and two this week they

[00:17:12] [SPEAKER_03]: the same Houston State Bearcats they dropped that contest both of them first one one to three

[00:17:17] [SPEAKER_03]: second one zero to three they go to FIU this upcoming we're sorry they're home against FIU this week

[00:17:23] [SPEAKER_03]: really as far as my notes go I just don't this isn't this isn't there here and I don't know

[00:17:29] [SPEAKER_03]: that that it's tough to say they have great players like lao and they've got players

[00:17:34] [SPEAKER_03]: like booth both that are that are seniors this year Audrey's been good

[00:17:39] [SPEAKER_03]: I think they're still wanting a little bit more from her but this team is just young and I

[00:17:44] [SPEAKER_03]: think you would agree with me Sam that they just got they've there are probably a year removed

[00:17:48] [SPEAKER_01]: from being a really good ball team. Jake it actually they remind me a little bit of where the

[00:17:54] [SPEAKER_01]: football program was last year where they have some good veteran players they have some you know

[00:17:59] [SPEAKER_01]: good young players in there as well but sort of the the leadership nucleus of the team from the previous

[00:18:06] [SPEAKER_01]: sort of group of athletes it has all graduated at this point so you're having players having to

[00:18:14] [SPEAKER_01]: step into new leadership roles in the team and that's a tricky process particularly if you're not

[00:18:19] [SPEAKER_01]: someone that's naturally inclined to be a vocal leader that's not something that that I've been

[00:18:24] [SPEAKER_01]: in particular nationally and mine personal life or say so I know that's tricky and teams need

[00:18:30] [SPEAKER_01]: those types of players sometimes and if you just don't have players necessarily super inclined to

[00:18:35] [SPEAKER_01]: it can be a bit of a transition for them or even if you are players inclined to but they haven't

[00:18:38] [SPEAKER_01]: done it in this environment or in this role before the good news for me I'll send a ct extent that

[00:18:45] [SPEAKER_01]: there isn't even a good news with the start they've had so they've been competitive in every game

[00:18:48] [SPEAKER_01]: they've played but you if there's not really been a game they've played this year as you didn't

[00:18:54] [SPEAKER_01]: feel like they could win at some point yeah yeah there were slept a couple times but they're

[00:18:57] [SPEAKER_01]: getting you know they're losing sets by two points or three points in those sets and if I was

[00:19:02] [SPEAKER_01]: very thin margins you swing a couple points your way you swing you it once swing one way once

[00:19:08] [SPEAKER_01]: one the other and you pull out some wins in those sets and so they got to find that sort of

[00:19:15] [SPEAKER_01]: grit that that will power back and you know I think you can talk a lot that up to the youth

[00:19:20] [SPEAKER_01]: the team right now but as you said a lot of good young players, Andy Spees obviously is a

[00:19:25] [SPEAKER_01]: setter that set the strong start to the year and while you know it's defensive player the week

[00:19:30] [SPEAKER_01]: can comfort you as a setting program record for digs and a set she switched over to

[00:19:35] [SPEAKER_01]: libero actually these past couple matches and it sort of you know helps solidify the defense

[00:19:39] [SPEAKER_01]: that that was pretty young as well so there are team that could make some noise down the

[00:19:44] [SPEAKER_01]: stretch and conference play if they start to figure things out and get a little more comfortable

[00:19:48] [SPEAKER_01]: in their shoes but they're in every match it's just that they got to find a way to get over the edge

[00:19:55] [SPEAKER_01]: and that could be you know those last three or four points can be the hardest ones to find sometimes

[00:20:00] [SPEAKER_03]: right and I want to highlight too I kind of missed it there the age of road as she said a program

[00:20:04] [SPEAKER_03]: record for sets or kills per set this last weekend at Sam Houston state and with 22 kills in

[00:20:10] [SPEAKER_03]: those three sets so yeah and you said it well and they're just barely missing the mark as you look at

[00:20:16] [SPEAKER_03]: scores for volleyball it's 3031 you think about whether getting you're getting blown out but you're

[00:20:21] [SPEAKER_03]: right on it I mean even this last week in the same Houston four of their six set losses were within

[00:20:25] [SPEAKER_03]: four points so you're you're a rally away from you're weathering away of the opposing teams

[00:20:32] [SPEAKER_03]: rally from maybe taking a set here and there and really the staff that stands out when I'm looking

[00:20:37] [SPEAKER_03]: over a lot of their box scores as a service air as it seems to be a problem for them they're

[00:20:40] [SPEAKER_03]: surrendering three service airs a set and then you're you're giving the the opposition three free

[00:20:46] [SPEAKER_03]: points and when you go back to those sets where you're losing three and four point sets I mean

[00:20:51] [SPEAKER_03]: those three points are obviously very critical so I think that speaks a little bit to the youth of

[00:20:55] [SPEAKER_03]: the team as far as a lot of their I want I want to say their their depth per say there's a lot of

[00:21:01] [SPEAKER_03]: girls are getting a lot of action that was nothing I kind of noted is 12 12 players have seen over half

[00:21:06] [SPEAKER_03]: a scene production over half of their set so I look forward to seeing where this team is as they've

[00:21:11] [SPEAKER_03]: kind of build that relationship that chemistry later on in the conference season as you said

[00:21:14] [SPEAKER_03]: and then of course where they're going to be in 2025. Yeah you know one thing about service

[00:21:19] [SPEAKER_01]: airs that I learned early on when I was covering volleyball you know when I was a student you

[00:21:23] [SPEAKER_01]: and see is that you know it's good to have a few because that means you're serving aggressive

[00:21:28] [SPEAKER_01]: and if you and you're not having any and a set that probably can do your server two conservatively

[00:21:32] [SPEAKER_01]: make a little bit too easy on your opponent but it's definitely swung too far in the other direction

[00:21:37] [SPEAKER_01]: you know right now though this is something that I saw you know early in the season that they're home

[00:21:41] [SPEAKER_01]: was they were just you know struggling to get the ball in at times you know you should serve an

[00:21:45] [SPEAKER_01]: over a lot in particular and you know so that's just that transition to serving in college is

[00:21:51] [SPEAKER_01]: different because it's so much more precise than maybe it was at the club or particularly the

[00:21:55] [SPEAKER_01]: high school level you know for these players when they were quiet because you're really looking

[00:21:59] [SPEAKER_01]: to try to target specific player a lot of times on those serves with some precision because

[00:22:04] [SPEAKER_01]: you're not targeting the right player it tends to be pretty easy attack for the ever team just

[00:22:08] [SPEAKER_01]: given the talent level of the team's middle spacing so that was something I know they're

[00:22:13] [SPEAKER_01]: working on you know a few times I've hooked my head in the gym that there's been a lot of time

[00:22:16] [SPEAKER_01]: on that for sure and you know something I hope continues to improve the rest of the way in

[00:22:23] [SPEAKER_01]: particular because I do think you counted on that that's something that seems easier to clean up

[00:22:28] [SPEAKER_01]: than maybe some of the other things that there would like be a more consistent right now

[00:22:33] [SPEAKER_03]: right well another team of the program that is just kind of barely missing their mark

[00:22:38] [SPEAKER_03]: is is the soccer team they went one in one this week that got their road win in El Paso

[00:22:43] [SPEAKER_03]: to zero and then on Sunday lost in the 88th minute to I would assume the favorite for conference

[00:22:50] [SPEAKER_03]: USA this year's New Mexico state if not the favorite they're going to be a top three team but

[00:22:55] [SPEAKER_03]: they're they are one and two conference play now first first game was last week or excuse me

[00:23:02] [SPEAKER_03]: we're we're a week ahead but two weeks ago against FI you at home you go you're going in a half

[00:23:06] [SPEAKER_03]: time with a lead like it's a very good FI team you give up a hat trick things kind of get at a

[00:23:12] [SPEAKER_03]: hand late in that game and then you put your handle business at you tip as you should and then

[00:23:17] [SPEAKER_03]: I guess that New Mexico state you were hanging zero zero with them and you give it going last two minutes

[00:23:21] [SPEAKER_03]: they're just just barely missing it and I big a big shout out to a dimmy grown hour

[00:23:27] [SPEAKER_03]: who is the the goalie she is played or but off she played her butt off against New Mexico state

[00:23:32] [SPEAKER_03]: thinks she had face 24 shots I'm not sure how many were on net but and a third number of shots

[00:23:37] [SPEAKER_03]: that New Mexico state fixture so a lot of credits are heard the defense seems to be making

[00:23:42] [SPEAKER_03]: the improvements it's just a matter of sometimes like when things get rolling downhill

[00:23:47] [SPEAKER_03]: they just kind of get off their mark like like we saw in the FI you game but it just goes to show

[00:23:52] [SPEAKER_03]: how close this team really is to being to competing at a high level in conference USA

[00:23:57] [SPEAKER_01]: but yeah I think that the big thing for this team is here is that they've improved going forward

[00:24:02] [SPEAKER_01]: is that they have you know more cohesion you know attacking than they did the previous year and

[00:24:07] [SPEAKER_01]: then you see them the goal numbers that they're able to score work consistently than they were a

[00:24:12] [SPEAKER_01]: year ago so as a collective as a team and you know unfortunately for the team you know that has

[00:24:16] [SPEAKER_01]: come at the same time that the defense is maybe taking a step back this year we would

[00:24:20] [SPEAKER_01]: shoot expect it started to you know if your seniors that's center back last year had a

[00:24:25] [SPEAKER_01]: fear senior in goal and hamster as well that's a lot of experience it's a lot of reps

[00:24:30] [SPEAKER_01]: say in college soccer and you know institutional knowledge that you lost with that so it is taking

[00:24:36] [SPEAKER_01]: them some more time I think to sort of you know get those defensive fundamentals down

[00:24:41] [SPEAKER_01]: you know the two wingbacks that they use or two fullbacks are safe to events in launch

[00:24:46] [SPEAKER_01]: rancher are both really good you know crossing offensive threats and I think that that's probably

[00:24:52] [SPEAKER_01]: the better parts of their game compared to the offensive play as well which only adds more stress

[00:24:57] [SPEAKER_01]: you know to the center back sometimes that that you know say DMR and aren't good defenders because

[00:25:01] [SPEAKER_01]: they've shown that ability I just think that sometimes they get far forward on the field because

[00:25:05] [SPEAKER_01]: that's you know one of their strengths is crossing it and being you know physical on attack and

[00:25:10] [SPEAKER_01]: putting pressure on the wings you know for other teams and that can sometimes put some stress on the

[00:25:14] [SPEAKER_01]: center backs and so that I don't think you know this is team I watch a lot and I want to stack

[00:25:18] [SPEAKER_01]: through for our soccer games to help them out the athletic communications office and the matches

[00:25:23] [SPEAKER_01]: are always exciting they're incredibly fine because the teams got some real attacking crowds this year

[00:25:28] [SPEAKER_01]: but but teams have been able to stay in the games because they've been able to get their goals too

[00:25:32] [SPEAKER_01]: and you know Dami's done a great job her first year she she she's shown great shot stopping ability

[00:25:37] [SPEAKER_01]: in particular you know I think 49 saves so far the seasons pretty high up there in a conference rankings

[00:25:42] [SPEAKER_01]: you know and had had seven saves against Utah where which is you know first career shut out

[00:25:46] [SPEAKER_01]: so Utah team that leave transition had coaches this off seasons so they're definitely rebuilding

[00:25:52] [SPEAKER_01]: in all pass out so but good to get a win going to get three points on the board and you've got

[00:25:58] [SPEAKER_01]: two I think pretty win-able games this week at home that if you know if this team wants to

[00:26:03] [SPEAKER_01]: get back into the conference tournament you know you can't stop state I think it as one

[00:26:07] [SPEAKER_01]: maybe I think they drew their first game in conference play or maybe they drew two games in

[00:26:11] [SPEAKER_01]: conference play and Jack state you know it's not near the top of the league necessarily either so

[00:26:16] [SPEAKER_01]: you know both at home both in front of the you know the DNA Hayes you know track in soccer stadium

[00:26:21] [SPEAKER_01]: crowd and you know you've got a chance to pick up six points this weekend and I think that's

[00:26:27] [SPEAKER_03]: gotta be the goal you know for the team yeah I know coaches hate this term but I would say

[00:26:33] [SPEAKER_03]: going one-o with New Mexico State would be considered a moral victory I mean you got again you got

[00:26:37] [SPEAKER_03]: some momentum real one your way I know and then you were hanging that long with New Mexico State

[00:26:42] [SPEAKER_03]: but let's move our attention to the tennis teams as I preview there the very top they got their

[00:26:48] [SPEAKER_03]: ITA regionals coming up the men just wrapped up their all American had a few guys compete there

[00:26:54] [SPEAKER_03]: talking about the men Ross of Slav howfinger I believe I'm saying that correctly I haven't

[00:26:59] [SPEAKER_03]: haven't spoken with coach Jimmy yet to get for my pronunciation keys as we always do but

[00:27:04] [SPEAKER_03]: that seems to be like a great addition for the men side there's only so much you can do to replace

[00:27:09] [SPEAKER_03]: number one and the same could be said for the women once we get to the women's conversation as well

[00:27:14] [SPEAKER_03]: but he seems to look the part with the lone all American win there in the round a 68 or 64

[00:27:21] [SPEAKER_03]: and then you've got other guys that are returning that we haven't seen this fall Marseille Camarielski

[00:27:26] [SPEAKER_03]: my understanding is he's playing over in Poland as a part of their pro circuit that's over there so he's

[00:27:31] [SPEAKER_03]: just taking a semester off he'll return back to us I would assume he's gonna be the number one

[00:27:37] [SPEAKER_03]: again things always change and matchups are always different but good to have him back

[00:27:41] [SPEAKER_03]: but when you talk about the youth of this team because health fingers the only guy on roster that's

[00:27:46] [SPEAKER_03]: gonna be graduating this year you're returning all these key pieces that performed at such a high

[00:27:51] [SPEAKER_03]: level I think they're going into this year as a preseason ranked top 38 in the in the country

[00:27:55] [SPEAKER_03]: court in the ITA poll so you return everybody assuming no one leaves in the transfer board but you

[00:28:01] [SPEAKER_03]: return everybody I'm I'm excited for Jimmy and his opportunity to get six straight because I think

[00:28:06] [SPEAKER_03]: that's his expectation but I'm really excited to see what this team looks like in the 2025 26 season

[00:28:11] [SPEAKER_03]: because of this this roster that he's built and he's commited and I would have assumed Jimmy being

[00:28:17] [SPEAKER_03]: Jimmy he's gonna find someone in the transfer board as well that's just gonna bolster that roster

[00:28:21] [SPEAKER_01]: even more next season you know he sort of got like a new you know the old big three that he had was

[00:28:28] [SPEAKER_01]: you know Francisco Roka you know Steinslum and a pavill modal you know they won you know four titles

[00:28:34] [SPEAKER_01]: and four tries and their four chances you know as blue raiders and you know pavill's doing

[00:28:40] [SPEAKER_01]: you know great things you know touch of Barbola you know on the you know WTA right now but when

[00:28:47] [SPEAKER_01]: those three laugh you know you had a core that you know you could just sort of insulin to a spot

[00:28:51] [SPEAKER_01]: in the lineup every single time and singles and doubles that you need a replacement he's sort of

[00:28:56] [SPEAKER_01]: you know found another group of three if that are all the same class like those three guys were

[00:29:01] [SPEAKER_01]: in Marcel came rousey who you mentioned is playing overseas as semester and then you know Andre Horak and

[00:29:07] [SPEAKER_01]: in two matchesaka you know they've all shown good things in their careers

[00:29:12] [SPEAKER_01]: and

[00:29:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Neability to play when you have a core three like that that are all coming up together that are all improving together at the same time

[00:29:18] [SPEAKER_01]: It makes you on the rest of the roster a little bit easier you know yeah across like so you get his first

[00:29:23] [SPEAKER_01]: all with the team if you're during the team you know for the spring you know for the first time

[00:29:27] [SPEAKER_01]: and then you know come on and see his refreshment that really good freshman year for the team

[00:29:31] [SPEAKER_01]: Excited see what he does sort of a full year in the system you know developing you know you know under

[00:29:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Coach Jimmy and you know got new assistant and now you know obviously Andre Calilliana Cali Gianna left for Cal

[00:29:41] [SPEAKER_01]: So they got some transition there on you on the assistant range but

[00:29:46] [SPEAKER_01]: Excited see what they do and you know rostov is you know a guy in the vein of you know

[00:29:56] [SPEAKER_01]: Claim to some or top in the lineup where that's one or two you know things on you know how how

[00:30:01] [SPEAKER_01]: the guys do and then they're you know battle matches sort of you know setting the lineup for the year

[00:30:05] [SPEAKER_01]: But you know somebody that I could make some noise and it's had some good results so far this this fall

[00:30:10] [SPEAKER_01]: That I think gives you some confidence moving forward

[00:30:14] [SPEAKER_03]: And the women's team like I like a tease at the beginning. I've got

[00:30:17] [SPEAKER_03]: Coach Teo Bailey do ball coming on after this so I I encourage you to stick around and learn a little bit about her team

[00:30:23] [SPEAKER_03]: But real quickly on on theirs

[00:30:25] [SPEAKER_03]: We talk about in the interview is the need to get the double point

[00:30:29] [SPEAKER_03]: It's kind of the area that they faltered a lot on this last year that kind of kept them out of really competing and a lot of those close matches

[00:30:35] [SPEAKER_03]: But they've got the the transfer from Southern Misses and LIM someone who was great in doubles at Southern Miss

[00:30:41] [SPEAKER_03]: I think

[00:30:42] [SPEAKER_03]: Coach Coach Teo is very confident that she's gonna kind of help

[00:30:53] [SPEAKER_03]: You see with the grain assault because both both programs are typically feeling their way out seeing what works and what doesn't work

[00:30:59] [SPEAKER_03]: But she feels real confident and I kind of share that confidence whether because in the same in the same vein as the men

[00:31:05] [SPEAKER_03]: They return a lot of players that produced for them last year unfortunately you lose your number one gear

[00:31:10] [SPEAKER_03]: Connie to the transfer portal as she goes to Kansas State

[00:31:13] [SPEAKER_03]: but you still you

[00:31:14] [SPEAKER_03]: You're bringing back a lot of these young players that that had production had some success in the lower

[00:31:21] [SPEAKER_03]: Lines if you will and the singles in the spring

[00:31:24] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, you know that doubles point is so critical

[00:31:26] [SPEAKER_01]: As Teo mentions you know, I think that's been an underrated aspect of you know why you know the men's team's been so successful

[00:31:33] [SPEAKER_01]: Underchimmy born names that they're usually really good in doubles. They usually have at least one of those

[00:31:38] [SPEAKER_01]: You know three teams nationally rank sometimes I got two those teams nationally ranked and

[00:31:42] [SPEAKER_01]: When you can get that first point you only got to win three of the singles matches, you know the rest of the way and that that takes a lot of pressure off everybody

[00:31:49] [SPEAKER_01]: You know if you if things aren't going well

[00:31:52] [SPEAKER_01]: On a particular court next to you you don't feel like that pressure come onto your court as much necessarily

[00:31:58] [SPEAKER_01]: If you know that you know your team just needs three default the match went so so again that double points can be critical for that team

[00:32:05] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm excited for them the host, you know, I T a regional's you know in town for them

[00:32:08] [SPEAKER_01]: I know I know you guys are gonna talk about that and y'all's interview but I think it's you know big for

[00:32:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Middwell merge for our tennis community and big for you know the one stance program as well to showcase you know some of the

[00:32:19] [SPEAKER_01]: So many stuff that you know university and city been doing for them over the last several years

[00:32:25] [SPEAKER_01]: Two sort of the regional tennis community. I think that you know it's gonna be great for them

[00:32:28] [SPEAKER_01]: And it's gonna be good chance to maybe get some good results as well in that tournament

[00:32:31] [SPEAKER_01]: You know give a you know, they grab all the benefits of you know sleeping in their own beds and all that jazz you know when that comes around

[00:32:38] [SPEAKER_03]: I encourage fans that are listening that are big in the tennis community as as this program is to stick around

[00:32:43] [SPEAKER_03]: Listen to the interview. We got all the insight for that I T a regionals

[00:32:47] [SPEAKER_03]: It's it's kind it's it's pretty neat really that you get to host something like that your first full

[00:32:52] [SPEAKER_03]: school year with with the new facility so a lot of great tennis is gonna be played here for the Ohio Valley region

[00:32:58] [SPEAKER_03]: That's Tennessee Kentucky I believe it's Southern Indiana and Ohio those are the areas anyways of the schools that are within that

[00:33:04] [SPEAKER_03]: That range a region if you will that will be playing so really exciting again

[00:33:09] [SPEAKER_03]: That's gonna be coming up October 10 and they will roll all the way to the 15 with our believers a Thursday to a Tuesday

[00:33:15] [SPEAKER_03]: So a lot of it's free access

[00:33:18] [SPEAKER_03]: You get to see all the tennis you can possibly consume in that time

[00:33:21] [SPEAKER_03]: So again highly encourage

[00:33:23] [SPEAKER_03]: Those that love the game of tennis. You're gonna see a lot of great women's tennis here in Murphy's Burles

[00:33:28] [SPEAKER_03]: So moving on over let's talk a little bit of golf action here

[00:33:33] [SPEAKER_03]: women

[00:33:34] [SPEAKER_03]: Coach Wom's Lee

[00:33:36] [SPEAKER_03]: Newseki or where I've already I've already blanked out on what her first name was as she got here, but

[00:33:41] [SPEAKER_03]: Coach Wom's Lee she got a win and her second ever tournament has had coach

[00:33:45] [SPEAKER_03]: Had a rough first one and you're thinking well, you know, they're kind of this team is young

[00:33:49] [SPEAKER_03]: You know, they're they're you got kind of manored back from injury. You know, maybe this team is just

[00:33:53] [SPEAKER_03]: Take a little bit to get their feet underneath them

[00:33:55] [SPEAKER_03]: But they win the cardinal cup

[00:33:56] [SPEAKER_03]: Huge deal they're up there in Louisville. I was extremely impressed with them. Elie Manley

[00:34:00] [SPEAKER_03]: She is exactly who we thought she was kind of proving that that freshman campaign wasn't a full-ook

[00:34:05] [SPEAKER_03]: She's a she's a player and she's going to be especially in conference USA look forward to her future

[00:34:10] [SPEAKER_03]: And then as I said about Kendall Manard she's back better than ever

[00:34:14] [SPEAKER_03]: To I think you have two top 10 finishes this fall already

[00:34:19] [SPEAKER_03]: Exciting stuff for women's sin for women's golf

[00:34:22] [SPEAKER_01]: No, no no question Jake you know, I think this is a program that that's dealt with some off the field injuries

[00:34:28] [SPEAKER_01]: You know some stuff that

[00:34:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe they'd even sustain you know in golf first age. It just some you know

[00:34:34] [SPEAKER_01]: Health that she's popping up in a couple of their golfers that has

[00:34:38] [SPEAKER_01]: You know limited you know the coaching staff both you know coach Adam's previously and Coach Wams

[00:34:42] [SPEAKER_01]: It's been able to pick you know from the full gamut every single week

[00:34:45] [SPEAKER_01]: And the cardinal scumplis I think maybe the first chance that the she add everyone available to her

[00:34:51] [SPEAKER_01]: Since she's been hearing and you saw the results, you know, I think there's a lot of golfers that played really well

[00:34:56] [SPEAKER_01]: This summer on some of the summer circuit

[00:34:58] [SPEAKER_01]: You know, have you least someone that that dip took you on her own safety Kentucky?

[00:35:02] [SPEAKER_01]: You know sort of on the amateur circuit there

[00:35:04] [SPEAKER_01]: And you know you you've seen success for them early on and I think that that's only gonna get buy in under a new coach

[00:35:10] [SPEAKER_01]: And in the new staff and you know a new vision for where that program can be and

[00:35:15] [SPEAKER_01]: You know and then it gives everybody confidence gives you know coach counseling the players could players confidence in a coach gives the players

[00:35:22] [SPEAKER_01]: Comments in each other

[00:35:23] [SPEAKER_01]: And you know it's a program that that's you know continuing a good culture that was established and and you know changing it in new ways under a new coach

[00:35:31] [SPEAKER_01]: But it's gonna continue. I suspect the house success and if they can keep everyone healthy, you know by the time

[00:35:37] [SPEAKER_01]: Conference tournament rolls around on the spring, you know, this team is gonna be a threat for sure

[00:35:42] [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely and the they are back in action this weekend. They're actually all the way up and Denver call around to take an part and he

[00:35:48] [SPEAKER_03]: Ron Moore intercollegiate

[00:35:50] [SPEAKER_03]: That is starts on this Friday the fourth and they will conclude on the sixth so we will have a full update for you in our next episode

[00:35:58] [SPEAKER_03]: But let's turn our attention over to the men's

[00:36:00] [SPEAKER_03]: JJ Zimmer off to a great fall

[00:36:02] [SPEAKER_03]: top four finish there the Argent financial classic their first I guess sanction match or rounds if you will

[00:36:09] [SPEAKER_03]: Early in this fall, but

[00:36:12] [SPEAKER_03]: Kind of the the the low is the lone senior the the lone leader if you will if you always equate that to the class that they are

[00:36:18] [SPEAKER_03]: But the team is young and they still look relatively competitive in regards to the conference as a whole still even as young as they are

[00:36:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Jake definitely your transition for them in his golf program. How about how to a lot of senior leaders fifth your seniors on that previous team

[00:36:34] [SPEAKER_01]: You know, we're just you know easy right ends, you know for from our next tire, you know to the extent that he

[00:36:40] [SPEAKER_01]: Error didn't guys at all, you know he had the luxury of being able to you know go full, you know sort of you know

[00:36:46] [SPEAKER_01]: Play your way into the in the lineup, you know with that team because they had so much depth and they're starting to rebuild that depth

[00:36:52] [SPEAKER_01]: Now let's see be on you guys and I know they were really excited. We've had two freshmen make make the you know

[00:36:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Tennessee did well in the Tennessee amp for them this year

[00:37:00] [SPEAKER_01]: In the summer and it had some good results, you know from that period that to build on but you know college got a bit of adjustment

[00:37:07] [SPEAKER_01]: You think golf can be similar

[00:37:09] [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe more similar than other sports because it's ultimately just you and the ball out there, but

[00:37:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Different level pressure, you know when you're going up against a guy that you know is just as good as you are

[00:37:18] [SPEAKER_01]: Every single week in your group and you know that can takes in time and if you particularly could take some time

[00:37:23] [SPEAKER_01]: Doing you know sort of intro team you know sort of dynamics where you your compete just responsible lineup

[00:37:28] [SPEAKER_01]: You know that I can be a bit of adjustment for these guys

[00:37:31] [SPEAKER_01]: Come into the college game, or maybe they were consistently the best guy on their high school team or the best guy in their area and now they if you know

[00:37:37] [SPEAKER_01]: You got six guys. I can take their spot every week. Obviously that level of competitions what you want

[00:37:41] [SPEAKER_01]: But it can't be a bit of a mental adjustment for guys coming in so definitely team

[00:37:46] [SPEAKER_01]: I have my eye on them moving forward

[00:37:48] [SPEAKER_01]: I tend to fall with golf disorder, you know you can win tournament awesome. That's great

[00:37:52] [SPEAKER_01]: But you know it's more of time to figure out your game and get stuff to prep for for the spring season

[00:37:58] [SPEAKER_01]: Which we'll get you ready for those crucial conference tournament moments

[00:38:01] [SPEAKER_01]: You know come April

[00:38:03] [SPEAKER_03]: Right and so many so many new names there

[00:38:06] [SPEAKER_03]: Keep your eyes tuned for them this upcoming weekend as well

[00:38:09] [SPEAKER_03]: They will be at photo golf coast at the island at West Bay in vitational

[00:38:14] [SPEAKER_03]: Short stint there, but that will be a I believe it's a Sunday to Monday the six through the seventh there

[00:38:20] [SPEAKER_03]: So again we will have a full update from their trip all the way down there

[00:38:24] [SPEAKER_03]: Lastly, I will shift our attention to cross country who is in full swing of their season

[00:38:29] [SPEAKER_03]: They just get back from Columbia Missouri at Gons Creek

[00:38:32] [SPEAKER_03]: Min finished 15th to 37

[00:38:34] [SPEAKER_03]: Allen Kippelagot who has kind of been the race horse for this team

[00:38:38] [SPEAKER_03]: Finishes 10 amongst all the individuals Brian Kipptos at 27th

[00:38:42] [SPEAKER_03]: You know the women's side you've got 19th finish out of 38 teams and then Odylia, Jet Chumba continues

[00:38:49] [SPEAKER_03]: The young sophomore I do believe Sammy correct me if I'm wrong there, but

[00:38:54] [SPEAKER_03]: Got those are both of our top runners there are all they're underclassmen

[00:38:58] [SPEAKER_03]: I think Allen or Allen or I don't know which one is a freshman once a sophomore and then you've got Odylia who's a sophomore

[00:39:05] [SPEAKER_03]: So you've got the underclassmen to kind of take in a lead to these teams

[00:39:09] [SPEAKER_03]: Promising obviously for the future and all that but I know that you kind of have a little bit more insight to this than I do and regards to

[00:39:15] [SPEAKER_03]: You know, they're not running everybody they're not exactly 100% healthy

[00:39:18] [SPEAKER_03]: But as we know about cross country it's it's a one one race matters more than anything and it's that one

[00:39:25] [SPEAKER_03]: It's that championship coming up on on November 2nd

[00:39:29] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah Jacob me you know, I'm obviously not somebody that that you know runs for sport necessarily at any point

[00:39:34] [SPEAKER_01]: But but talking to Keith Roman and talking to people around that program

[00:39:38] [SPEAKER_01]: There's a method to sort of what they're doing in the fall and some of these events leading up to the conference championship as far as

[00:39:45] [SPEAKER_01]: You know figuring out that figuring out who you know the people you're gonna run are gonna be

[00:39:49] [SPEAKER_01]: You know because that that fifth guy can matter a whole lot

[00:39:52] [SPEAKER_01]: You know when it comes down to points off and you know those

[00:39:55] [SPEAKER_01]: Conference championships are one less by your top runners than they are by your fifth or six best runners

[00:40:00] [SPEAKER_01]: You know, sort of you know the way that's pouring system works

[00:40:03] [SPEAKER_01]: You have somebody you know really dragging down the teams total point total as is your final score

[00:40:08] [SPEAKER_01]: You know, it doesn't matter if you have you know three guys go one two three or something at the top

[00:40:12] [SPEAKER_01]: You know, it can really

[00:40:14] [SPEAKER_01]: hurt things so you've got to test your depth and find your depth early and so if you have guys and gals

[00:40:19] [SPEAKER_01]: That you know are gonna be insisting at the top

[00:40:21] [SPEAKER_01]: They don't have to travel every weekend necessarily that they can do other training here in Murphy'sboro

[00:40:27] [SPEAKER_01]: They can go run as individuals in certain events rather than you know running with the team necessarily

[00:40:33] [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe focus on you know something they want to try out something they want to do to run their race

[00:40:39] [SPEAKER_01]: So you've got to look for individual performances like O'Delia like Allen that you said that that the people that are running that you expect to be in the lineup

[00:40:46] [SPEAKER_01]: That are doing well and I think you can't have what being encouraged by them

[00:40:51] [SPEAKER_01]: You mentioned that you for this team. I know you know Coach Roman feels very strong about where the cross country program

[00:40:57] [SPEAKER_01]: We'll be headed the next year's based on you know who's in the system and who he's pruding

[00:41:02] [SPEAKER_01]: I think he feels like this might be the last chance for some teams of conference USA to get him this year

[00:41:07] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, they're sort of in that transition in between classes because I think once everybody's here next year

[00:41:11] [SPEAKER_01]: I know he feels very very confident that they're

[00:41:15] [SPEAKER_01]: Will that middle be on top and that and both both teams for a pretty long time

[00:41:20] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, he was very confident in our our interview

[00:41:23] [SPEAKER_03]: Earlier this season about where where the cross country team is and where they will be so

[00:41:29] [SPEAKER_03]: It is his objective this year is just to break the even your curse so

[00:41:33] [SPEAKER_03]: But this this team looks strong to do it

[00:41:35] [SPEAKER_03]: Well Sam that that's that's fall sports. That's that's all of it right there

[00:41:40] [SPEAKER_03]: I think we hit it all in a pretty timely manner

[00:41:42] [SPEAKER_03]: I know you've had the pleasure

[00:41:44] [SPEAKER_03]: I will go ahead preview our next episode a little bit

[00:41:47] [SPEAKER_03]: I will be fortunate enough to sit down with with Coach Rick and soul lady raiders head basketball coach and then I'll be sitting down with nickmic devot men's head basketball coach and our next episode

[00:41:57] [SPEAKER_03]: I haven't had the opportunity to lay eyes on practice. I've been able to meet with with Matt obviously earlier in the summer and then I was able to meet with nick at media days

[00:42:05] [SPEAKER_03]: Obviously both coaches feel great about where the rauses are you have your feet on the ground there

[00:42:10] [SPEAKER_03]: I know you said you were at practice actually today of recording you feel good

[00:42:14] [SPEAKER_03]: Where you kind of feeling about about the programs right now

[00:42:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, you know they're exciting in different ways which I think it has always been the case

[00:42:22] [SPEAKER_01]: You know this time of the year for provot basketball programs since I've been here

[00:42:26] [SPEAKER_01]: But you know next team on the men's side is extremely veteran lady and you see that in practice

[00:42:31] [SPEAKER_01]: That they understand that you want to defend the nuances of attacking plays and other things at a very high level

[00:42:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Sort of as a team and they have you know even with all the new faces

[00:42:42] [SPEAKER_01]: You know some cohesion already to it now. They just got to find you know

[00:42:46] [SPEAKER_01]: There's already five that works and then you know the specific combinations off the bench

[00:42:50] [SPEAKER_01]: But they think it's gonna work, you know one thing, you know

[00:42:52] [SPEAKER_01]: I think they really feel like all 13 scholarship guys, you know can play for them this year and make an impact and so you could see some

[00:43:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Interesting, you know

[00:43:01] [SPEAKER_01]: Situation first lineups, you know a 3.1st lineup a defense first lineup

[00:43:05] [SPEAKER_01]: Pressing you know first lineup where you know in certain situations

[00:43:09] [SPEAKER_01]: Where guys maybe you're only getting you know could get just two minutes and I have those two minutes and I can be very impactful

[00:43:14] [SPEAKER_01]: But anyone that get on the court

[00:43:16] [SPEAKER_01]: So very interesting team

[00:43:18] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm so so many new faces, you know that I'd like to see them play against someone other than themselves

[00:43:22] [SPEAKER_01]: To get a little bit better feel because I think you know

[00:43:25] [SPEAKER_01]: With as much length as they have defensively it can be hard to judge you know how they look offensively at times

[00:43:30] [SPEAKER_01]: You know it gets to team that maybe looks a little different than what middle has on the court

[00:43:35] [SPEAKER_01]: But excited to get into their you know secrets cremages not sure who they're playing this year

[00:43:40] [SPEAKER_01]: But they usually get two of those in there and

[00:43:42] [SPEAKER_01]: You know hopefully we'll hear good things, you know from those when they occur

[00:43:45] [SPEAKER_01]: And then you know the women side, you know I think a lot of people are maybe expecting a slight step back nationally or regionally in compared to a

[00:43:54] [SPEAKER_01]: If you if you talk to the right people maybe in Lynchburg, Virginia about it

[00:44:00] [SPEAKER_01]: But I think they would be making a bad mistake that they thought that seemed would take

[00:44:06] [SPEAKER_01]: Step back you know no disrespect to surveying the wheel or according woods and of course you know two extraordinary players

[00:44:11] [SPEAKER_01]: It's after a place, but I think they've found a different concoction that's gonna be just as lethal for opposing teams this year

[00:44:19] [SPEAKER_01]: And maybe has a little more depth

[00:44:21] [SPEAKER_01]: off the bench

[00:44:22] [SPEAKER_01]: You know with you know players like Emily Monson Savannah Davis coming to the program

[00:44:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Then then they've had in the past you know the champs team is true freshman and he Monson a local kid from Murphy'sboro played a little bit at Purdue last year

[00:44:34] [SPEAKER_01]: But both of them have found ways to make an impact and practice early and and play themselves and into some playing time conversations

[00:44:41] [SPEAKER_01]: And then you know further deeper on the bench. You have fifth year, you know senior and jade of granum

[00:44:46] [SPEAKER_01]: That are expecting big things from you know to sort of be that back up five as well and then you know in the starting lineup

[00:44:52] [SPEAKER_01]: You know you add in a former all defensive player and conference USA in in the winter reggae

[00:44:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Who's gonna give you 25 you know whole-acious minutes, you know for the other team and I that that's a good story as well as her

[00:45:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Her defensive abilities

[00:45:06] [SPEAKER_01]: You add court you likely back, you know to to be the the true point guard for this team

[00:45:11] [SPEAKER_01]: Different style of game from Savannah wheeler, but it's gonna be a totally different defensive scout

[00:45:16] [SPEAKER_01]: You know because of her speed and her ability get downhill

[00:45:19] [SPEAKER_01]: Can compare what the teams are doing we were last year have any you know three stars return

[00:45:24] [SPEAKER_01]: Jim Gregory to me Scott an institutional drava. I think every team in the conference would like to have anyone of those three

[00:45:29] [SPEAKER_01]: And they're starting lineup as well

[00:45:31] [SPEAKER_01]: Would play start instantly for any one of them

[00:45:34] [SPEAKER_01]: So watch out coming back a lot talent they've added and

[00:45:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Just a really fun team

[00:45:41] [SPEAKER_01]: To be around they just looking press it every time they take a court and you know

[00:45:47] [SPEAKER_01]: They they have a non-conference schedule that will test them early

[00:45:50] [SPEAKER_01]: Which I think you know shows the confidence that they're written the rest of the staff have in this group

[00:45:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, you'd be sorely mistaken if you think that losing wheeler and Whitson is gonna take this team

[00:46:00] [SPEAKER_03]: A step back and rightfully so again if you don't really follow women's basketball that would be a rightful opinion

[00:46:05] [SPEAKER_03]: But yeah, the the addition or I should say re-adition of Courtney Blakely back at point guard

[00:46:11] [SPEAKER_03]: Along with you know, hopefully a healthy jade of Harrison

[00:46:14] [SPEAKER_03]: You know at the point guard position and then a leader or reggae

[00:46:17] [SPEAKER_03]: It's crazy to me that the number one conference USA defense by a long shot

[00:46:21] [SPEAKER_03]: It's not like they they won that title by a few points per game

[00:46:24] [SPEAKER_03]: I think it was like 10 15 points per game that they won that title by

[00:46:27] [SPEAKER_03]: But now they're gonna have two

[00:46:29] [SPEAKER_03]: Conference USA defense a player of the year on one at one time on the floor

[00:46:33] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, if even if you don't get the scoring production that you're maybe missing with wheeler because I don't think as well as you know

[00:46:40] [SPEAKER_03]: Blakely play

[00:46:42] [SPEAKER_03]: Blakely's not wheeler and I don't think in solace brought her on the program to be a wheeler

[00:46:46] [SPEAKER_03]: But she fits she's a she's a great distributor. She's gonna be the fastest player on the court every night

[00:46:52] [SPEAKER_03]: So she just provides a different level that your offense can perform at because of her vision

[00:46:57] [SPEAKER_03]: Because of her speed that she can play with under control and again

[00:47:01] [SPEAKER_03]: She's had a season under you know p4 competition that if anything would elevate her game and it regards

[00:47:07] [SPEAKER_03]: Because the one the one criticism if I had to give her one was it sometimes she could get a lot out of control

[00:47:12] [SPEAKER_03]: But Matt gave us a little tease of this last week on Twitter. I like what I see with her

[00:47:16] [SPEAKER_03]: She's she's just as fast as she ever was she's still under control

[00:47:20] [SPEAKER_03]: She hits the reverse layup with a lot more ease. I would say so I'm impressed with with what that group is done

[00:47:26] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm excited to see

[00:47:28] [SPEAKER_03]: Them it practice this upcoming week and then obviously we'll have the sit down interview with Rick and then back to the men's conversation

[00:47:34] [SPEAKER_03]: You know we can see what Nick McDev it is able to do with the right players in and with his philosophy

[00:47:42] [SPEAKER_03]: Because I think a lot of people tend to question Nick's philosophy

[00:47:45] [SPEAKER_03]: How does it do in conference USA? I mean the guy won 26 games. He's just he's just three years removed from that

[00:47:51] [SPEAKER_03]: He's you know, does he win 26 last year with fully healthy roster?

[00:47:55] [SPEAKER_03]: You know maybe I don't know and I don't that's tough to say

[00:47:58] [SPEAKER_03]: But he's got a lot of the pieces that you're talking about he's got a deep bench

[00:48:02] [SPEAKER_03]: I would say he's probably got one of the deeper benches in conference USA because of the effort that he put on the transfer portal

[00:48:08] [SPEAKER_03]: So I look forward to seeing the steps that this team makes

[00:48:12] [SPEAKER_03]: It may be a philosophy change. I look forward to talking and Nick about that a little bit because some of these pieces aren't

[00:48:18] [SPEAKER_03]: The same as we've seen in years past so

[00:48:20] [SPEAKER_03]: But I think as you touched on the experience that a lot of these guys bring because they all have division one playing experience

[00:48:26] [SPEAKER_03]: A lot of these were were bench riders a lot of these guys are coming in with with with with time

[00:48:31] [SPEAKER_03]: Under pressure there so I again both both teams

[00:48:34] [SPEAKER_03]: I think should be top of the conference

[00:48:36] [SPEAKER_03]: I know that some may maybe down on the basketball team, but I would say not so fast my friends

[00:48:42] [SPEAKER_03]: You know stay tuned for what Nick McDevitt has for this men's program because there's a lot to be said about there

[00:48:47] [SPEAKER_03]: And then the women's team obviously I think you put them on the floor with anybody and I truly mean that that's not hyperbably

[00:48:52] [SPEAKER_03]: I think anybody you put that that women's team up against they've got an opportunity to win that game. So

[00:48:58] [SPEAKER_03]: Next week

[00:49:00] [SPEAKER_03]: BRP fans stay tuned for that a lot of basketball talk of this podcast anything. It's gonna be a basketball podcast huge

[00:49:05] [SPEAKER_03]: Huge tubes fans here from your host, but Sam again most knowledgeable person in the department

[00:49:12] [SPEAKER_03]: That can come here and talk with me about all things fall. I'm very thankful for you stopping by

[00:49:17] [SPEAKER_03]: Tell us a little bit what you're working on what is what are some things coming down the pipe for us

[00:49:20] [SPEAKER_03]: I'll be right or stop calm

[00:49:22] [SPEAKER_01]: You know the open week opens the door to a lot of different possibilities

[00:49:26] [SPEAKER_01]: So you'll probably see a bit of an off-the-wall feature story for me this week something outside of

[00:49:33] [SPEAKER_01]: You know the football program might take a look at you know some of the strength work men's basketballs done

[00:49:38] [SPEAKER_01]: I think Joshua Oficson's been you know a great addition as a strength coach for them has done some really cool work this off season

[00:49:44] [SPEAKER_01]: With that

[00:49:45] [SPEAKER_01]: Have a couple other irons and the fire as well just as you know different features go and like to try to highlight some of these sports that we're talking about

[00:49:51] [SPEAKER_01]: When I have some time you know during the season because you know it's a rarity one once football season gets going

[00:49:56] [SPEAKER_01]: You know me, but you know a lot of my focus right now is you know as some people in our vintage basketball

[00:50:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Progress mode says is you know on people Western North Carolina

[00:50:05] [SPEAKER_01]: Who are obviously you know her by hurricane Halloween this past weekend

[00:50:08] [SPEAKER_01]: Nick with Debits from that area

[00:50:11] [SPEAKER_01]: And

[00:50:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously played a UNC Asheville and I know that his hometown was hit particularly hard

[00:50:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Marshall North Carolina

[00:50:19] [SPEAKER_01]: And you know, there's a lot of people in my personal life just growing up in North Carolina growing up

[00:50:23] [SPEAKER_01]: But you know sort of in the foot hills of the Appalachian mountains

[00:50:26] [SPEAKER_01]: Ablau family good and good friends you know from that area. Have a brother goes to App State so

[00:50:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Whole areas struggling a lot right now keep them in your thoughts and prayers if you have the means to

[00:50:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Encouragement you know for places to donate to to help those communities because it's gonna be a long road back

[00:50:40] [SPEAKER_01]: For a lot of them a lot of longer back for you know our friends in East Tennessee as well you know sort of that that whole region

[00:50:46] [SPEAKER_01]: Kind of a lot of stuff to deal with you know these past few days so

[00:50:50] [SPEAKER_01]: You know been focused on them and keep my thoughts with them and you know taking some time on this in this open week for football

[00:50:56] [SPEAKER_01]: To you know think about them as well

[00:50:58] [SPEAKER_01]: And so you know hopefully we'll you know see some progress there in the coming days people get some power back

[00:51:03] [SPEAKER_01]: You know here's some good things, but it's gonna be a long road for them and you know

[00:51:09] [SPEAKER_01]: Did just just hope for for some more good news to keep coming out of that area?

[00:51:12] [SPEAKER_01]: You know in the near future

[00:51:14] [SPEAKER_03]: Right hopefully get some a little bit of relief at the end of this week isn't now

[00:51:17] [SPEAKER_03]: It seems that the rain is found to clear it out over there. So again as you said

[00:51:21] [SPEAKER_03]: Give what you can a lot of a lot of help is needed in those areas and of course

[00:51:25] [SPEAKER_03]: So what wishes sent to you know you're from the area as well as as you touched on Nick McDevitt to his family

[00:51:31] [SPEAKER_03]: From you said Marshall North Carolina so yeah absolutely

[00:51:37] [SPEAKER_03]: Sam I appreciate you stopping by once again, and I look forward to having you on again as we get closer

[00:51:43] [SPEAKER_03]: into basketball season

[00:51:45] [SPEAKER_01]: It's abjake you know we're defy me and if you you for a

[00:51:48] [SPEAKER_01]: Sliced and don't know we're defy me pretty easy find me on Twitter at SJ down to your UGHTO and

[00:51:53] [SPEAKER_01]: You can you know read all my stuff there or just go to go bluewriters.com and usually something I wrote on the front page

[00:51:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Every time you click on it

[00:52:02] [SPEAKER_03]: Excellent thanks again Sam

[00:52:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you

[00:52:08] [SPEAKER_03]: The VRP is proudly partner with rivals network affiliate go middle dot com subscribe for premium content for all the inside

[00:52:14] [SPEAKER_03]: Excuse one of them to issue athletics for pruning or join our free forms to discuss today's episode in all things bluewriters

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[00:52:39] [SPEAKER_03]: Our next guest is the

[00:52:41] [SPEAKER_03]: Women's head tennis coach going into her seventh season leading the lady writers. I am pleased to be joined by tao Bailey do ball coach

[00:52:48] [SPEAKER_03]: How's it going?

[00:52:49] [SPEAKER_02]: It's going good. Thanks for having me

[00:52:51] [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely and there's so much

[00:52:53] [SPEAKER_03]: To really talk about your team, but I know in coming weeks here we can have actually

[00:52:58] [SPEAKER_03]: You're gonna be hosting the ITA Ohio Valley regional tournament here in Murphy's bro

[00:53:03] [SPEAKER_03]: I think it's a unique opportunity for so many reasons one you get to compete at a very high level

[00:53:08] [SPEAKER_03]: You also get to show off this brand new beautiful facility that that opened up this last spring

[00:53:13] [SPEAKER_03]: What can you tell us a little bit about this upcoming original tournament?

[00:53:18] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, this year is the first year they've changed the NCA individual tournament

[00:53:24] [SPEAKER_02]: To the fall so it's going to be held in November

[00:53:26] [SPEAKER_02]: Compared to May which it used to be right after the team NCA tournament

[00:53:31] [SPEAKER_02]: So the winners of the ITA region is now this fall

[00:53:35] [SPEAKER_02]: You know automatic pass over bid into the NCA individual tournament

[00:53:40] [SPEAKER_02]: So it's a little bit of a more of a big deal now

[00:53:44] [SPEAKER_02]: It's both for men's and women's

[00:53:46] [SPEAKER_02]: so I think

[00:53:47] [SPEAKER_02]: The teams we're experiencing a different way of having players into into the tournament who's eligible

[00:53:54] [SPEAKER_02]: So it makes it a little bit tougher and a little bit more competitive field now

[00:54:00] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, and as you as you really spoke to there it just means a lot more now and as you're promoting this event

[00:54:06] [SPEAKER_03]: And those antennas the tennis environment is rich in the in the Murphy's bro community

[00:54:11] [SPEAKER_03]: So one thing I just want to let the people know you know how accessible. I'm sure they have is there tickets per session

[00:54:16] [SPEAKER_03]: How does that work how accessible is it to to the people at Murphy's bro?

[00:54:20] [SPEAKER_02]: It's open free for anyone who wants to come and enjoy some good tennis

[00:54:25] [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely and and again I want to shout that out because I know

[00:54:28] [SPEAKER_03]: How many people follow the tennis community here

[00:54:30] [SPEAKER_03]: A lot of talented people are going to be rolling into the Ohio Valley regional so a lot of a lot of eyes there

[00:54:37] [SPEAKER_03]: I want to know about you as far as this fall season goes for you

[00:54:41] [SPEAKER_03]: You one your second straight season of double digit wins back in 2024 in the spring

[00:54:46] [SPEAKER_03]: That's you're kind of rolling into this year with a really experienced group

[00:54:50] [SPEAKER_03]: You know it's early in the fall season. What do you see in out of out of this roster?

[00:54:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, we're excited because some of the injuries that we had last year that were chronic and kind of just plaguing our team

[00:55:01] [SPEAKER_02]: They're not here and some players who transferred in we didn't get to see a lot of

[00:55:06] [SPEAKER_02]: They were not playing at their peak or their max effort

[00:55:10] [SPEAKER_02]: We're hoping that that stays the same and we're able to see that there's coming here which should

[00:55:15] [SPEAKER_02]: And turn just make us a much stronger team

[00:55:18] [SPEAKER_03]: And with all that adversity as you touched on you know as far as how are you how are you gonna be able to

[00:55:24] [SPEAKER_03]: Garner that success that you had last year?

[00:55:26] [SPEAKER_03]: It sounds like you're still mixing some things up and definitely this last weekend

[00:55:29] [SPEAKER_03]: We saw a lot of mixups with the with the line up with your doubles

[00:55:32] [SPEAKER_03]: You know how are you still trying to find your way through all that in the early going

[00:55:37] [SPEAKER_02]: You know we just kind of let them go out there and play and show us where they are

[00:55:41] [SPEAKER_02]: We get to see the work that they put in over the summer

[00:55:43] [SPEAKER_02]: And get to see the effects of the work we're putting in now

[00:55:47] [SPEAKER_02]: Especially with the conditioning and a lot of running

[00:55:50] [SPEAKER_02]: That that we're doing on court and off court with the team so we're excited about what's the

[00:55:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Come and those who are gonna play it regionals and those who are gonna play in our invite

[00:55:58] [SPEAKER_02]: That we're hosting right after regionals, but I think overall it should be a good fall for us

[00:56:04] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm sure there's there's no shorting a short coming of of leaders on this team like I touched on this a very

[00:56:09] [SPEAKER_03]: Experience group I only count two underclassmen as of now on the roster tell me about some of those leaders

[00:56:14] [SPEAKER_03]: It kind of just have taken the fourth the front running up being leaders on this team

[00:56:19] [SPEAKER_02]: Well our captains this year our Eloise Warbric and it's a largest society who is a graduate student

[00:56:25] [SPEAKER_02]: She went to school in Italy and she transferred here technically last year

[00:56:29] [SPEAKER_02]: And so this is her second year or third semester and so actually second semester

[00:56:35] [SPEAKER_02]: So she is more of she just a older person and she's more mature so her leadership style kind of comes from there

[00:56:41] [SPEAKER_02]: And she she's a hard worker and an Eloise Warbric who's been here four years from Australia

[00:56:47] [SPEAKER_02]: She's just a great leader a great example. She leaves by example for the girls

[00:56:51] [SPEAKER_02]: And so the other leaders on the team I guess would be a Cassidy

[00:56:55] [SPEAKER_02]: And she's graduating this year just a natural position and unless he had true and who's also graduating this year

[00:57:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Transfer student but both of them are very high level quality players and I think there's a natural

[00:57:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Expectation of leadership because of how good they play and how they carry themselves on the court

[00:57:13] [SPEAKER_02]: But I and and I think with the two new girls coming in and those for

[00:57:18] [SPEAKER_02]: I think we should have a really solid team of of girls who were really motivated and confident and leading those young ones on a team

[00:57:26] [SPEAKER_03]: And one of the areas I know that you're really gonna shuffle through this year as you lose

[00:57:31] [SPEAKER_03]: Santa from last season it's kind of a one that a big hit for your team

[00:57:35] [SPEAKER_03]: But the doubles is an area that's always proves vital when it comes in a doals

[00:57:39] [SPEAKER_03]: You know that something you're kind of working through where where your eyes where your eyes there as far as a groupings go there

[00:57:44] [SPEAKER_02]: Well Ellie and

[00:57:45] [SPEAKER_02]: Alessia played really well the regional last year

[00:57:48] [SPEAKER_02]: They actually this past weekend. They won at number one doubles against global

[00:57:52] [SPEAKER_02]: So those two are pretty solid pairing

[00:57:55] [SPEAKER_02]: I like that when Cassidy is out there

[00:57:58] [SPEAKER_02]: She's she's a little banged up now, but when Cassidy's out there

[00:58:00] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes, great doubles instincts as well and whoever we pair up with that should be a really solid pairing and then

[00:58:08] [SPEAKER_02]: You know the two new girls coming in have some experience and doubles and actually enjoy doubles

[00:58:12] [SPEAKER_02]: I think we have a good chance of getting more doubles wins this year than we did in past years

[00:58:17] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned Zin Lym the the Southern Miss transfer something that stood out to me whenever I just like looked at some of her numbers from this last year

[00:58:25] [SPEAKER_03]: An exceptional doubles player and I know that that doesn't always necessarily translate team to team

[00:58:30] [SPEAKER_02]: Right, but does show that her willingness and ability to play with others right and that in that's a that's a big

[00:58:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Recruiting point

[00:58:37] [SPEAKER_02]: Because doubles is such and so important in college and you know when we're talking to recruits

[00:58:42] [SPEAKER_02]: We're like hey, do you like doubles? Do you play doubles and they're some that don't you know

[00:58:47] [SPEAKER_02]: There are some countries out there. They don't play any doubles and some girls are coming in like a fish out of water

[00:58:52] [SPEAKER_02]: And so it's a it's a bit of a hurdle to jump over when we to try to get them to enjoy and play doubles

[00:58:58] [SPEAKER_02]: It usually takes a little time but they come around eventually

[00:59:01] [SPEAKER_02]: But to be able to recruit those already naturally loving it that's key and

[00:59:07] [SPEAKER_02]: Once they get once they understand how to play college doubles then it kind of really shist them to that next level

[00:59:14] [SPEAKER_03]: How long do you kind of let them figure each other out because I know it's a chemistry thing

[00:59:18] [SPEAKER_03]: Just as much as it is you know a score looking like on a scoreboard kind of thing. Yeah, we a lot of it

[00:59:25] [SPEAKER_02]: It's just communication and feedback, you know

[00:59:27] [SPEAKER_02]: They'll play a match then I'll go up to both of the players. Accum hella fell

[00:59:31] [SPEAKER_02]: How everything went and they'll give me feedback about the other persons

[00:59:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Maybe tendencies and if it if it bitch well so

[00:59:40] [SPEAKER_02]: Personalities do come and play a lot with the doubles

[00:59:43] [SPEAKER_02]: But also most importantly the game style and where they're strengths and weaknesses are and that's how I like the pair of my my parents

[00:59:51] [SPEAKER_03]: And let's move over a little bit talk to the singles there. I know you try to a lot of people out everywhere

[00:59:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Garconi as we already touched on was your number one and she's transferred out

[00:59:59] [SPEAKER_03]: You know as of now

[01:00:01] [SPEAKER_03]: I know this is where we're in September this releases it in early October

[01:00:05] [SPEAKER_03]: This is probably a hard question

[01:00:07] [SPEAKER_03]: Do you have any idea if you know where that one is gonna be is it something that you you're probably still play with when the season comes around

[01:00:13] [SPEAKER_02]: I'll probably still play with it a little bit

[01:00:16] [SPEAKER_02]: We have I think we have natural players who can play top three

[01:00:21] [SPEAKER_02]: It's just where they're gonna be at and that in those top three, you know and you know

[01:00:26] [SPEAKER_02]: Not knowing how the the new recruit were coming in who's a freshman who were signing for the spring

[01:00:33] [SPEAKER_02]: She's a solid aggressive player

[01:00:35] [SPEAKER_02]: But one two a guitar on campus. We don't really know where she falls in his lineup

[01:00:40] [SPEAKER_02]: Then has some experience at the top of the lineup

[01:00:44] [SPEAKER_02]: So if she's back playing pretty solid, you know we're really looking at potentially a

[01:00:49] [SPEAKER_02]: Laurya plane in the top three for sure. We don't know where she played two last year and she handled her position pretty well

[01:00:56] [SPEAKER_02]: So and then Alessia actually Alessia true to and as she's back

[01:01:00] [SPEAKER_02]: More healthy than she was last year

[01:01:03] [SPEAKER_02]: She she just played really well this past weekend and so to really see her strengths and see her compete

[01:01:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Was really exciting and to show us that you know we actually do have another player who could play top three rather than bottom three

[01:01:15] [SPEAKER_02]: Which is where Alessia was playing last year

[01:01:17] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I touched on Alessia at a right later wrap up at their last episode about you know her her weekend there

[01:01:23] [SPEAKER_03]: So it's good to hear that things like that are going well and then but another one I wanted to highlight they did really well say in the mid

[01:01:28] [SPEAKER_03]: I know they played the four and the five a lot for you was Alina

[01:01:31] [SPEAKER_03]: Pierre and then you had Alui Swarbric those two had winning record double digits

[01:01:35] [SPEAKER_03]: I mean that's something that again is promising for that middle

[01:01:38] [SPEAKER_03]: Because it's all comes down to matchups too. What does the other team putting on the court?

[01:01:42] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes, yes, you know

[01:01:44] [SPEAKER_02]: The top of the lineup is always really tough

[01:01:47] [SPEAKER_02]: So you gotta have someone who's mentally emotionally tough and know they're gonna be grinding out and if we can push

[01:01:53] [SPEAKER_02]: Really stop at players down to our middle with a bottom line up that gives us a better chance to get into wins down there

[01:01:58] [SPEAKER_02]: When we know one in two are always gonna be battles

[01:02:02] [SPEAKER_02]: So knowing that Ellie or you know Laina you know Laina is a very powerful aggressive player

[01:02:08] [SPEAKER_02]: And which she has a game style really fit for number one player but as she matures

[01:02:14] [SPEAKER_02]: Into just a more you know strategic player in college

[01:02:18] [SPEAKER_02]: That's when it helped her game raise and be able to play at the one spot

[01:02:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Compared to the middle three four spot that she might be at because she's still learning how to play a little bit more smart tennis

[01:02:31] [SPEAKER_03]: And you go in into conference this year again. You had a successful season last year when you return in all these players

[01:02:37] [SPEAKER_03]: Have a familiarity with their opponent now, you know you've played a whole season having a lay eyes on those those teams

[01:02:43] [SPEAKER_03]: What is what do you see as far as this roster goes that shapes up better or more opportunistic for you guys to kind of make a move

[01:02:49] [SPEAKER_03]: I know FI use always a team that's always up there in contention and liberty is as well

[01:02:53] [SPEAKER_03]: How do you kind of fit in the puzzle of conference USA and how was this team gonna be competitive?

[01:02:58] [SPEAKER_02]: I think mainly because we're gonna be more healthy. That was a big contention

[01:03:02] [SPEAKER_02]: Contention area that we had last year

[01:03:05] [SPEAKER_02]: If we're more healthy and we have a

[01:03:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Lessian Cassidy in our lineup at the end of the year

[01:03:11] [SPEAKER_02]: I think we have a really good chance of

[01:03:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Going a distance in conference now. We know FIU is always pretty solid

[01:03:17] [SPEAKER_02]: But we also know towards the middle of bottom of the lineup is where we compete well against them

[01:03:22] [SPEAKER_02]: So if we look at the scores of the last hit the head matches we had against them

[01:03:25] [SPEAKER_02]: We were very competitive at the four five and six position and then also at one or two of the doubles position

[01:03:31] [SPEAKER_02]: So we look at it from that standpoint that there is ways to beat this solid team

[01:03:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Really good coaching, right? And you know being in good shape to play now liberty

[01:03:42] [SPEAKER_02]: They did change their coach actually my assistant coach is from Liberty. She was their GA last year

[01:03:47] [SPEAKER_02]: So we have a little inside scoop on liberty to an extent

[01:03:50] [SPEAKER_02]: But they're kind of in a rebuilding stage as well. So we'll see how the new coach is doing

[01:03:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Once they get started and see how the season starts off for them and we'll see what we land

[01:04:01] [SPEAKER_02]: In their conference kind of line up or rankings as we go

[01:04:06] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm glad you brought up your new assistant, Michaela Ode tell us about about her and how she's how she's working with the with the roster this year

[01:04:13] [SPEAKER_02]: She's been doing good the girls lover

[01:04:15] [SPEAKER_02]: She's on a court a lot and I like that and that that's really what I want it from my new assistant

[01:04:20] [SPEAKER_02]: As someone who had the passion for the sport but also the ability and willingness to get out there and work with the girls as much as needed

[01:04:29] [SPEAKER_03]: And what's that dynamic like because it's tennis is a little bit different you're obviously working with fewer players and say like

[01:04:35] [SPEAKER_03]: Other sports or you think like football or basketball and baseball

[01:04:38] [SPEAKER_03]: So what's that dynamic like for having a head coach in an assistant coach?

[01:04:42] [SPEAKER_03]: Because typically the assistant coach is kind of like the the protégé if you will they're learning

[01:04:45] [SPEAKER_03]: Constantly and they're kind of a little bit more in in tune with the athletes on a more personal level

[01:04:50] [SPEAKER_03]: You know what what's that dynamic like with Michaela?

[01:04:52] [SPEAKER_02]: It's the same you know, she's building relationships with the girls get in and know them on the court off the court

[01:04:57] [SPEAKER_02]: What makes them take how to be a good coach for them

[01:05:01] [SPEAKER_02]: So at the more we compete the more she's out there with them

[01:05:04] [SPEAKER_02]: She's gonna learn how to be the best coach for each individual player and that's just a challenge that we have as an individual sport coach

[01:05:12] [SPEAKER_02]: Everyone is individually taking care of and focused on because each of those matches are very particular and important

[01:05:18] [SPEAKER_02]: But she's doing really good with that adjustment

[01:05:21] [SPEAKER_03]: Can she still lace it up?

[01:05:23] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, she's killing it today. She played doubles with the girls that was yellow talking jog and she was doing good

[01:05:28] [SPEAKER_02]: She always gets out there and tries to show them she still has it

[01:05:33] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, she had a solid career there at Liberty saw and she's not too far removed from her play days

[01:05:36] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm sure I'm sure as most people that play tennis they still are involved in some capacity

[01:05:40] [SPEAKER_03]: So it's good to see that she's she's competitive there with the with the team

[01:05:46] [SPEAKER_03]: But coach before we sign off here after the ITA region is that that are coming up here in mid-October

[01:05:51] [SPEAKER_03]: You finish with the MTSU invitation as you touched on

[01:05:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Again, tell me a little bit about like inside ball here

[01:05:57] [SPEAKER_03]: You know your playing teams there. I've got lips going be circumventucky Western Kentucky and then North Alabama

[01:06:02] [SPEAKER_03]: That's just some of the teams I was able to find but those are teams that you typically find on your schedule

[01:06:06] [SPEAKER_03]: So I want to know again, it's some inside ball here like are you keep things close to your chest

[01:06:11] [SPEAKER_03]: You're trying some things you maybe wouldn't try in the spring. You know, how does that work?

[01:06:16] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you know, I tried to explain to the girls the fall we do move around line ups and get people matches so some of the girls who may be

[01:06:23] [SPEAKER_02]: lower in the lineup we don't see a lot of matches they may get in

[01:06:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Over some of the other girls just to get some experience in there

[01:06:31] [SPEAKER_02]: These teams there I think everyone's on our schedule except for northern Alabama

[01:06:35] [SPEAKER_02]: or northern Alabama and

[01:06:38] [SPEAKER_02]: You know we just kind of see where they are whether coming in it's the last invite probably for everyone after that

[01:06:46] [SPEAKER_02]: But it's usually a good time get out there and change around some doubles

[01:06:49] [SPEAKER_02]: See where everyone is and then we go and then we know what we need to work on for the offseason

[01:06:55] [SPEAKER_02]: When we come back in January so it's a good ending

[01:06:59] [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely and there's so many opportunities for

[01:07:01] [SPEAKER_03]: Raider tennis fans to get out and see the lady Raiders in action again the ITA regionals coming up

[01:07:06] [SPEAKER_03]: It is October 10th through the 14th that is a Thursday

[01:07:10] [SPEAKER_02]: So the 15th yes Thursday through Tuesday the first three days are going to be at the Adams tennis complex

[01:07:16] [SPEAKER_02]: And then the final three days are going to be here on campus

[01:07:20] [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, and then your obviously your M2 issue invite I assume whether pending that will also be at the outdoor or that'll be at the Adams tennis

[01:07:27] [SPEAKER_03]: Outdoors on campus. Okay, okay, so plenty of opportunity to see the Raiders in action and before again

[01:07:34] [SPEAKER_03]: I sign off here. I want to know how are you adjusting to the new facility? I know you got a nice big office now

[01:07:39] [SPEAKER_03]: You got a beautiful view the courts. I'm sure or are easy to share with with Jimmy

[01:07:43] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm sure he's not hogging any of the courts or anything like that right? Oh, we're all good

[01:07:47] [SPEAKER_02]: We're all good. We used to having four courts a team

[01:07:50] [SPEAKER_02]: So it's the same when we go over to Adams tennis complex the new facilities great we're right here

[01:07:56] [SPEAKER_02]: You know it's easy for the girls to get to their locker room after practice or after weights and shower and get the class

[01:08:02] [SPEAKER_02]: And come back and forth and that's great

[01:08:04] [SPEAKER_02]: We're right next to the girls before our locker room was inside Murphy Center

[01:08:08] [SPEAKER_02]: And so I get to see the girls more often as they're trickling in and out of the locker room and on and off the court

[01:08:14] [SPEAKER_02]: Especially if they're having their individuals so it's a little bit more close knit now

[01:08:18] [SPEAKER_02]: They can come in and pick their head in and chat with me pretty easy

[01:08:22] [SPEAKER_02]: But we love it. We love the courts on campus

[01:08:24] [SPEAKER_02]: I think it's really offering the girls the their opportunity to get as much training as they like

[01:08:30] [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely, that's great stuff coach Bailey Duval head women's tennis coach

[01:08:35] [SPEAKER_03]: I appreciate you taking the time this fall and we look forward to seeing the ladywriters this spring as well

[01:08:40] [SPEAKER_02]: All right. Thank you very much Jake

[01:09:01] You