Summer Series: Episode 5 feat. Laure Jansen, Lauren Spaanstra, and Adri Rhoda

[00:00:08] You're listening to the Blue Raider Podcast. Your number one resource for all the latest news updates and game recaps from Middle Tennessee athletics. Join us every Tuesday for a weekly interviews with players, coaches, and local media personalities alike.

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[00:00:35] Lastly, I'd love to hear your feedback. So don't forget to subscribe to Go Middle.com to discuss this week's episodes along with the latest news and updates around Middle Tennessee. Welcome back to the Blue Raider Podcast. I'm your host, Jake Bolden.

[00:00:55] Today is our fifth installment of the BRP Summer Series, and as a summer wine's down today, we will begin highlighting some returning talent for our fall sports. We will specifically highlight the talent from our women's volleyball and soccer teams in this episode.

[00:01:07] In first joining us, she was a second team all CUSA volleyball selection after a stellar season, where she performed at a high level in both fats to the game, finishing third and team kills and second and team digs.

[00:01:17] Coming to Murphas Burrell from Arkansas, Little Rook all the way across the pond and the Netherlands. It is large ants and Laura. How are you doing? Good. How are you? Thank you for having me. I'm doing pretty well. The summer, as I said, is winding down.

[00:01:28] I think as we interview today, you're just over a month out from the season starting. Tell me a little bit about your excitement for this upcoming year.

[00:01:34] Yeah, I'm very excited. We had a lot of girls graduate last semester, so we have a bunch of new girls coming in. Yeah, I'm super excited to play with them and I'm very excited as well to see what we can do to season this set.

[00:01:50] I think it was interesting how last year, you were first year here in Murphas Burrell, and we kind of had a good turnaround this last year. The overall record was about 500.

[00:01:58] The conference record was what we wanted it to be, but a part of the team just collectively had a good turnaround last year.

[00:02:04] Tell me a little bit about what went right for you guys. What did you see before you came here that you kind of again helped improve your high and the kills in the digs?

[00:02:10] Yeah, I think we had such a great group like all together. Everyone was really in the work for each other. We were a great player. I think that's one of the most important things for team to work well.

[00:02:22] It was just flowing. It went really well. We had a great preseason. I thought that gave us a lot of trust as well. So we went into the season with a really good feeling.

[00:02:34] Tell me about going into this year, what's the offseason been like for you? Are you able to go back home? What are you doing? What is a team doing at this stage in the year?

[00:02:42] I've been home last two months. It's been great to see my family and my friends again working out. We have this group snap that we show each other's pictures in while we're working out and high-pitched her up.

[00:02:56] And yeah, I'm motivated each other as well on this since. That worked for me really well because everyone just is willing to work hard during the season or do a period where we're not together.

[00:03:10] Now, we back play with each other. No coaches are allowed. We have camps right now. We've worked out. So yeah, we're definitely busy and we're starting to have a good team bonding again.

[00:03:26] Building as much as we can before the coaches can step in and we can go full. You're not training or anything like that. Our coach is really strict on that. He says the first month do not touch a ball.

[00:03:42] Just be a kid, hang out with friends and family and do fun things. After a while we start touching a ball twice the time's a week and then we build up from there.

[00:03:54] It was a really good combination of having to relax, be with family and have a little different mindset. Yeah, so we can like fill recover from it and just now we're ready to roll again. So that's really helpful.

[00:04:08] Is that tough for you to draw back from volleyball for a little bit from a view on your Instagram? You're well-traveled. It looks like you like to get out in nature. What are things you like to do?

[00:04:16] Yeah, I really really like to hang out with my friends and family whenever I get to chance too. Obviously, I see them twice a year. So a lot of ketchup to do as well. I really like to travel. Well, yeah, stuff like that is amazing to do.

[00:04:34] What you've been to America? Have you been prior to you coming because then you came across when you signed with our consultal Litterock had you been over here before and now that you're over here what are some of the places that you like to go

[00:04:44] Here in America? That's a good question. I've never been to America before I went to college here. So I, one of the favorite things that I did in Litterock, Arkansas was hiking. They're like beautiful places to hike, which I really liked

[00:05:02] After we travel to New York City as well. I've been to Vegas with a friend of mine and a Mexico. I'm not really sure what was my favorite thing but I would definitely say that being active during those trips is like a

[00:05:20] Favorite thing to do, seeing all those things we see in movies for us. It's a little unreal. All these big cars, big trucks, big everything is big. So that was that's so fun to actually seeing real life.

[00:05:34] Tell me about your transition to Murphy'sboro. You go from a little rock, kind of a little nowhere place. Well, I mean it's a big city but compared to Murphy'sboro, which is just south of Nashville.

[00:05:42] Have you had the opportunity to really take in the Nashville scene that is Broadway and all those kind of things to enjoy Murphy'sboro that kind of that scene?

[00:05:50] Yeah, I really do enjoy it here, especially the country where I'm from. We don't listen to country music at all, but now I really like it actually and my friends back home kind of make fun of me.

[00:06:03] Sometimes, but yeah, I know it's awesome. I really like it. I feel like I live here forever.

[00:06:09] As someone that grew up in the area, I also didn't love country music and then I met my wife and then she loves country music and she does a square dancing and a line dancing and all that stuff.

[00:06:18] And so I've been hitched ever since. So just at some point the country music just takes you in. There's really nothing much you can really do about it. Just does that to you. So I'm interested to know too.

[00:06:27] I'm talking about Netherlands and we'll get back to the volleyball topic here. The Olympics are coming up. Netherlands has made a bid to play volleyball and Paris this upcoming summer Olympics.

[00:06:37] Where does your allegiance line out? Now you're from Netherlands, are you rooting for America? What kind of the Olympics? What does that mean to you and what do you watch in?

[00:06:45] Well, I definitely saw all the games like of the VNL like us trying to get into the spot of the Olympics.

[00:06:54] I'm so happy we got in and obviously we're gonna watch all their games. My hope is obviously that they win but we'll see America such a great team as well.

[00:07:07] Yeah, is there any other sports that you like to watch at the Olympics or so? There's so many options. I'm just curious if there's anything else you tune into.

[00:07:14] That's a good question. I really like the beach volleyball as well. Yeah, we have some great Dutch teams as well that are competing and one of them is actually like one of my, how do you say that?

[00:07:27] Like one of my examples because she's not as tall. I'm not as tall either and whenever she was younger she told me interview that people always told her that she would not be able to make it because of her height.

[00:07:42] And beach volleyball is like obviously like a little bit different than indoor but yeah, she made it and that was a great thing for her and yeah. That made me really open my eyes and be like, oh, you can't. Yeah, so I'm very happy to see her play and follow that along and the beach volleyball is definitely a more exhilarating sport.

[00:08:05] I mean, with two to a side like that, it's a pretty high pace. I like beach volleyball myself a lot.

[00:08:11] I want to know from the Netherlands perspective was coming to America kind of the dream for you to get over here play college and then once you're out of college because you're a senior this year, what's your, what's your expectations moving out of college? What's your goal with volleyball?

[00:08:26] So first up, I always really wanted to come visit America for us. It's such a like the American dream kind of thing.

[00:08:36] I never really expected me to like go to college here as well because I already graduated my college back home because our school system is super different that we graduate high school at 1617ish and then you start your college.

[00:08:50] So after my college, I was like 19 and really trying to figure out what I wanted with my life and if I wanted to start working yet or not. And then at one point I got the opportunity to play and travel in America but also obviously go to college, which I was super excited for and I never expected me to be there for so long.

[00:09:15] I thought, oh, I'll go for a year and travel and play a little bit and see how it goes and go back home but no, now I'm not here, I'm a senior already and I'm almost done. And I think that I really want to try to go play pro whenever I graduate in Europe hopefully I go closer to home.

[00:09:36] Yeah, if that's not the case then it's okay for me to and I'll just go back home and start my life there. I've reached and everything so I thought that was also like super important and interesting.

[00:10:22] Yeah, combined with that, yeah, I think that's what attracted me the most to it and I really not gonna lie, I really also wanted to just have like not as much like pressure on school work.

[00:10:42] So I thought that, okay, this is something I really like and I feel like I'm good at. Maybe I should pursue something in this and not try something completely different than where I have to really focus on school a lot because obviously I'm just trying to be the best volleyball player here I can be so.

[00:11:02] Absolutely. You try to switch up, you got your priorities and that's always good to have. Let's shift our attention over to the upcoming season.

[00:11:09] So I, that preview to the very beginning in the intro you were third on the team and kills your second on the team and digs. You're obviously that's both sides of the game of volleyball.

[00:11:19] What makes you, and maybe it's the fact that you're an outside here that puts you in those positions, but you're also capitalized on those opportunities.

[00:11:24] So tell me about your game, where do you think you're good at and what are some areas that you wanting to improve moving into your senior year? Yeah, I think I'm overall like a pretty solid decent player.

[00:11:33] My passing is like one of my best skills and I feel like as an outside you have to do a lot. So you have to pass, you have to defend, you have to hit serve everything.

[00:11:44] And I think we're being like a stable passer and makes me really all around with that being said, I think my hitting wise as well. Like I really like to use the blog and try to be a more smart player than

[00:12:03] I see I'm like I'm tall but not like super tall. We have been a lot of tall players in our team and yeah, they're really they can hit really hard. They're to hit and block and I'm more like

[00:12:17] Stabilizer and try to keep the team calm and yeah, like that.

[00:12:24] Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, no, I'm interested because you talk about your height there and you're not necessarily the tallest volleyball player but one thing that's interesting about volleyball is again, you're either really tall. You could reach over the block.

[00:12:35] You can slam it over or kill it over that way or you can deflect it off the block as you're mentioning for those that don't necessarily know volleyball when you're practicing how does how does one practice hitting it off the block and trying to get an out of bounds call on the other team.

[00:12:47] Yeah, so at practice we use big shovels like snow shovels and we hold them against the net and then we have to try to go through the end of the shovels. So like height as high hands that kind of thing. So high use the hands block out just tip knowing where to set or is at the moment know where you have to tip yeah, so it's very we work very like civic on different

[00:13:16] like position lies. So I think it really helps me to see the court and think about what rotation we're in and yeah, be smart about that. Your team loses air and Eisenhardt and Kayla Henley both of which who led you in those categories I mentioned earlier.

[00:13:34] Do you see yourself taking on a bigger role this upcoming year now that they're absent and you bring back Audrey who's obviously a great hitter. So where do you see yourself filling in this year and taking over as a leader?

[00:13:45] Yeah, Erin and Kayla they were very very important for us. I think with them leaving my job is exactly to fulfill those roles that they had by talking a lot by making sure everybody stays engaged.

[00:14:07] But also keep keep it calm because I feel like there has to be a stabilizer that can like carry the team when it's not going great or whenever it's going great.

[00:14:19] You know, you always have to be stable and I think that's one of the things that's going to be my job this year and I'm very excited for that. Yes, so we'll see if that's going to hurt.

[00:14:31] You've finished second team all C USA last year. Do you ever feel like that now that get in that first team accolade or is that first team award? Is that important to you this upcoming season? Well, I wouldn't say important.

[00:14:42] I always like to have I mean I rather have it like a trophy as a team or like a accomplishment as a team but obviously it works for your confidence.

[00:14:53] You're willing to get more and you're really you're like getting acknowledgement of like how you're doing which works a lot like works works really good for you just like wanting to one more and work hard.

[00:15:07] And so I'm very excited to like see what else I can like improve on and like try to try to make it the first team all conference. Absolutely. Well, that's great stuff for me.

[00:15:21] Laura I appreciate you taking the time out of your off season to come do this with you with us and I look forward to the upcoming season with you and the volleyball team. Awesome.

[00:15:31] Our next featured interview is returning to the lady Raiders soccer program for her fifth season in the blue and white. She earned all C USA's second team honors as a defender and led the team with five assists from Franklin Tennessee. It's Lauren Spanstra. Lauren, how are you doing?

[00:15:46] I'm excellent and I'm really happy to have you on to the episode when you're kind of a local local talent coming all the way from Franklin is that accurate though because you're from independent high school which is most notably known for for Thompson station.

[00:15:57] So where do you rely over there in Williamson County? Yes, Franklin is right just very South Franklin almost Thompson station actually so.

[00:16:05] Okay, was there ever a battle for you when you were going into high school about where you may end up landing where you always going independence because that can be kind of heavily talked about in today's world.

[00:16:14] Yeah, not really I mean donning change sometimes but it was independence for the sport. Awesome. So tell me a little bit about your off season. I know that the season as we're doing this interview you're just a little over a month away from getting going.

[00:16:26] What is your off season look like for you? You don't you don't have a far way to travel back home do you stay in Murphy's barrel through through the off season and through summer school.

[00:16:33] Yeah, so when we end in May I typically at least for the past three years have played on a summer league team out of Franklin Tennessee soccer club it's the women's usl league. So I do that in May and June.

[00:16:51] Just training with the team training with Bunch of girls that I used to play with and club back in high school some familiar coaches.

[00:16:57] So like that, and then as soon as July hits we're back together as a team for the most part it's optional training in July but most was make the trip back to Murphy's barrel.

[00:17:08] So yeah, we've been back together for about a week and a half now just training together as a team and having fun. Doesn't sound like soccer takes much of a break throughout the year. No, not at all. It's almost all year round.

[00:17:20] So tell me about the summer club that you play in in May and in June I mean are you traveling a lot is it mostly in the mid state how does that work?

[00:17:27] It's pretty flexible so I actually didn't play in a lot of games this summer but in the past when I have the travel can be pretty heavy. If you if you wanted to be.

[00:17:39] But we spend a lot of time I think maybe North Carolina, a lot of time in Georgia stuff like that but I had a pretty life summer I stuck to just training with them. And sticking close to home for my last summer.

[00:17:53] Tell me a little bit about the conditioning aspect of that I would assume that's probably the largest benefit is that you're always in game shape playing in the summer.

[00:18:01] Yeah, so we obviously always have a summer packet workouts from our strength and conditioning coach and playing it really just supplements that it goes hand in hand.

[00:18:12] So yeah, we're doing our training packets lifting running conditioning all that stuff and then supplementing it with training and playing with a team really like enhances that and it's definitely worked for me.

[00:18:26] Absolutely and you talked you answered it in your last question about your your fifth season as a graduate student just going to be your last summer here.

[00:18:32] What went into the decision for you to come back for that fifth year because you took a part of the the senior festivities and I think some people knew you'd come back but what went into that decision. Really, I think I wasn't ready to step away from it.

[00:18:45] It's kind of all I know that's I mean as athletes that's how it goes you know you you don't want to end your life as an athlete. On top of that, I think we had a bit of a rough past two seasons.

[00:18:57] Truthfully and I think that I see a lot of potential coming to this year with our new players and I'm really confident and hopeful that I can.

[00:19:05] And my career on a high and I really want to help contribute to that and I just felt like it wasn't done yet so. Yeah, and I'll fast forward to that conversation you lose a lot.

[00:19:17] And I know you're going to lose your captain who's a captain for four years there. You're bringing in three new transfers on the defensive him along with two freshmen signings.

[00:19:25] Your role, I mean you're already kind of a big role on the team as a defender but you know you're really stepping into that leadership role now that that manly's gone.

[00:19:33] So tell me about what that growth for you is a player off the field for some of these new additions.

[00:19:38] Yeah, losing Caroline is is a big deal for us and I've been lucky enough to have her as one of my really good friends and my mentors and I've learned the.

[00:19:46] And I've learned a lot from her along with a lot of other girls who are fifth years that are that are leaving us now. And I think I've just had to haven't been thrown into the role.

[00:19:58] I've been I've been there a little bit kind of maybe in the background, but kind of having to take a more vocal role this year. I'm learning as I go, but I'm enjoying it.

[00:20:08] And yeah, just it's for me it's about helping everybody to be on the same page helping us to all buy into the process and as long as we're doing that and we're having a good time. That's you know, that's that's my job.

[00:20:24] So and you're going to have a new goalkeeper this year too. Does that change anything for you as a defender? You know, in my four years here I've known suitor for the most part and she's leaving so I was not hurt.

[00:20:37] It's my heart a little bit because I love her but. The girls we have lined up are great. Cal Emily and even our new freshman demi. I mean, I've only been with her for a week and half but she's doing great.

[00:20:50] She's messing, messing really well with the group. But the two returners, Caroline and William super confident and then I have a super good relationship with them. And so I have no doubts that they're not going to be able to fill that role just just fine.

[00:21:02] Does anything about the game plan necessarily change for you guys because you're having so much turnover this upcoming season. Oh gosh. I don't think so.

[00:21:12] I think that we are a really versatile team and we're able to play a lot of different styles to kind of fit our opponent. And I think that the new girls that we're bringing in and the girls that are staying I think it stays the same.

[00:21:27] We stick to our things that we're good at and I don't think that necessarily going anywhere. I think our characteristics and our traits as a team are pretty similar so. And then I want to backtrack just a little bit.

[00:21:40] We talk about you your growth as a player as you've been at MTSU your first two seasons. You kind of take the backup role there and then your junior season you take off your fixture on the defense of already.

[00:21:50] It's spoken about what you're capable of doing this last year with the second team C USA honors it's hard for kids nowadays especially with the transfer portal and all that to be able to sit back and learn those first couple years so your story.

[00:22:03] Now I'm isn't treating for that aspect that you're willing to sit back in that backup role and when your time came you capitalize on that so as far as you speaking on that experience how are you able to share that experience with some of the new younger players that are joining the team this season.

[00:22:19] Yeah I think my experience is obviously unique for some but also very you know relatable for others coming in as a freshman you know it's hard to find your role in the team.

[00:22:32] And I think for me it just took you know finding my focus finding my drive and motivation and surrounding myself by people who I wanted to be like and I looked up to.

[00:22:42] I kind of once I figured that out I was a golden you know I figured out how to train and prepare. And and that truly I surrounded myself with the right people and.

[00:22:53] Was able to kind of step into that role in junior year and I've tried to never look back you know I don't want to I want to keep it going obviously but.

[00:23:01] I guess to the younger players my my message would be that you know you just because you're not playing you're not seeing minutes that you want you're not. Getting what you expect what you're expecting or what you maybe think you deserve.

[00:23:14] To not give up right you see a lot of kids freshman sophomore year they hit the portal because they're not they don't get what they work expecting and I think that if you work hard and you know what you want and you're in a place that you love that you just have to work for it and you have to wait for your time sometimes.

[00:23:29] And I'm super grateful that I did I wouldn't change it for anything so. Absolutely that's great stuff well let's talk about your last season you're yet five assists you love the team as a defender which is not necessarily very common.

[00:23:42] But I want to hear from you how do you grade out your last season what are areas that you think you could improve upon going into to 2024. Yeah I think. Offensively obviously contributing to. A couple goals that I think that that that was a strong suit for me.

[00:24:00] But I also think that going into this next year being a defender I would like to you know see a little bit more in that area for myself.

[00:24:09] Obviously still contributing on the the attack but just just being a bigger presence on the defense I think when we don't have the ball. That's definitely a goal for me.

[00:24:20] Also to me a more vocal leader I'm I'm loud I like to talk but I think sometimes you know I'm the field it gets lost and so that's also something I'd like to focus on is being a little bit more vocal kind of bringing the team together getting everybody.

[00:24:35] You know why all that motivated I know. But yeah.

[00:24:40] Tell me to you talked about you see things that are trending in the right way I'm I'm paraphrasing but you say that things are trending in the right way for the lady Raider soccer team tell me what are those things that you're seeing obviously.

[00:24:50] You're like you say you've been a practice for a week and a half now you've got to feel the vibe of. Talk about the players meshing and how practices are going and athletes have a have a neck for kind of understanding things are moving in the right directions.

[00:25:00] What are things that you've seen so far about this team that. Feel promising to you that you're going to be able to end this year on a good note. Yeah I think in the past something we've been lacking is maybe the ability to score goals.

[00:25:11] And I think that immediately off the bat I've seen some of the new girls who are just hungry to score goals and that's only been a week and a half and it's really good to see.

[00:25:23] In addition to that I think the chemistry has been great I mean to feel super close to everybody and super comfortable and confident around everybody and just so we can have is really great.

[00:25:34] And for the younger girls to for me to see confidence from the younger girls is a really big thing too because that's something that. Freshmen and newcomers tend to lack sometimes.

[00:25:44] Now the defender isn't necessarily always the sexiest position to talk about but I want to know from you and practice some of these new forwards midfielders that you're going up against are there any names that we should be looking forward to hearing as far as the goal scores go this upcoming fall.

[00:25:57] Yeah absolutely they're all great but two of them definitely come to mind from at least within the past week. We're going to have so definitely Ariana she comes from Murphy'sboro I think she went to Oakland she is so crafty so quick so aggressive.

[00:26:16] She plays me in practice the other day honestly quite embarrassing college and let that happen again but she is just she is hungry for the ball she's hungry to score she distributes really really well. And then Lexi she is.

[00:26:34] Incredible I she's fast she's fit she's scoring goals left and right. I'm super excited to see her going into August so I think those two are definitely some to keep your eye out for for sure.

[00:26:50] Well that's exciting and to you know find a finish up on a note about you and your personal life I doing a little digging. I was able to find your cousin Alexa who signed with in the in the WSL this last year.

[00:27:02] You have a relationship with her I'm not sending as she didn't grow up in middle Tennessee so do you have a relationship with her and if so what was that like.

[00:27:09] Yeah I do we grew up together a little bit I guess I was born in Michigan which is where she grew up and was born as well. It's a little hard now to kind of.

[00:27:23] We don't see each other as much anymore obviously she's been in soccer for and the past 20 years and so have I really.

[00:27:32] So we used to see each other a lot of holidays it doesn't it doesn't happen as much anymore but we do have a good relationship I talked to her.

[00:27:39] I'm just going to do some about you know I see if she scores a goal like you know I might send her a text or DM or something but it's definitely hard to get to see that side of the family because there's a lot of athletes over there so.

[00:27:51] Yeah it's interesting what I was able to find because like every sibling of that family seems to be somewhere in their athletic career pretty far along but.

[00:28:00] I thought it was interesting if there was ever a story you had about you to growing up because she's afford and you're a defender was there ever anything like cross over there between you two ever playing in the backyard or anything like that.

[00:28:12] No I've lived in Tennessee for most of my life so the only time we really thought got to see each other was Christmas or you know big family events and.

[00:28:23] I mean our family is big and sports and we talk about it but I honestly don't remember ever like playing with her or really even talking soccer with her which maybe looking back maybe we should have. I mean but no not very much in that in that area.

[00:28:39] Well the piggyback off that the opportunity to go professional whether it's here in America or go overseas is that something that you kind of aspire or or what you know what's your plan after this last season and that's tough to talk about but is there anything you thought about.

[00:28:53] No I haven't necessarily ever thought or considered going pro I think that for me this this feels like where where it ends. And I and I'm fine with that I just graduated in May with my bachelor's in accounting.

[00:29:12] My undergrad and then August I'll start my masters in accounting so post grad I guess hopefully in a year and a half to two years I plan to start working hopefully in Nashville. Maybe with the public accounting firm doing audit so yeah.

[00:29:29] Big big math stuff going on for you no coaching or anything like that. I definitely have interest in doing that kind of on the side. I've always loved you know being involved in in the club that I grew up in and working camps here at school.

[00:29:45] I love working with younger girls I train a couple girls on the side and it's really rewarding for me so I definitely plan to at least coach you know younger girls team a club team a wreck team.

[00:29:57] I don't care for some camps but I do really think it's important to give back to you know at least the area and the people that got me here really so. I definitely plan to do that in my future.

[00:30:09] Well excellent stuff from Lauren Spancher here we look forward to you and you're upcoming season and the lady Raiders I appreciate your time for coming on today. Yeah thank you so much for having me.

[00:30:20] Our final guest in today's summer series episode is a returning junior outside hitter that has an impressive resume in a young career.

[00:30:26] After leading the team in kills, he clipsing the 100 career service aces she earned all C USA first team honors in 2023 coming to empty issue by way of Hutchinson Minnesota it's Adrian Crona. Adrian how you doing good are you. I'm excellent I'm a.

[00:30:42] I'm a professional that there about your big resume and as you already talked with Laura who was on earlier in the episode you both are pretty impressive for hitters you both have a part of your game that is a little unique obviously both have high kill numbers.

[00:30:56] She has a lot of digs and you have a lot of services so I'm just interested just to get right from the get go tell me a little bit about your game.

[00:31:03] I think it's interesting obviously your six foot three but the service ace is a part of your game that makes you really unique and stand out and get you that first team honor.

[00:31:11] Yeah what's actually kind of funny because when I was in high school all throughout high school and my club career I actually always had a sub play for me so I never served high school or club so I kind of think that is what sparked the whole like serving thing.

[00:31:31] I just had never really been overthinking it or like you know like overdoing the process of serving so I kind of came in and was just having fun with it I guess and just being aggressive and then it just kind of took off from there.

[00:31:46] Yeah like I said there was never any pressure to be like to fix this or fix that it was kind of just go out and do it and then I ended up being pretty successful within and then yeah we just continued on from there.

[00:31:58] I think that makes it an even more interesting story because you were taught for in the country last year in service aces that mean that's not how do you even how do you prepare yourself and also as a college coach coach Crawford how does he decide to throw you into that position is something you found out in practice how does that work.

[00:32:14] Yeah, I guess it was just something that we had figured out in practice. It was kind of just a go for it thing like I said there was never any.

[00:32:24] I came in I wasn't like and sometimes when you have been working on a skill for so long you kind of like have ups and downs with it but it was like really just right off the bat it was like.

[00:32:35] I just have fun with it and I think also being six to three like you mentioned my contact point is usually a lot higher than most people's on my service especially because I also jumps serve so that like trajectory over the net.

[00:32:48] It kind of comes down further from like when it leaves my hand it's coming down more like a hit instead of a serve directly across so I think that also kind of plays to my advantage in the serve a little bit over.

[00:33:02] Say like a smaller pen or outside.

[00:33:05] Is it something that you do practice pretty like I know you say that you're good at it and something that you went into with little practice is something that you still kind of put on the side and you just happen to be good at or do you know kind of work.

[00:33:15] I definitely I definitely work on it a little bit because now it's something that I am making adjustments to and.

[00:33:23] Now that I know how I do serve I am able to make corrections and take corrections on that and I actually switch so my freshman year I toss with one hand. And now.

[00:33:36] So I'm sorry I think I was tossing with two hands we started with a two hand toss just because it kind of helps. Lower the error on your toss when you have it with two hands so I have switched from one hand toss with two hand toss.

[00:33:48] So we are working on that but yeah I'm always trying to be more consistent I guess and better the serve. And I'm sure you've appreciated too because it keeps you on the court longer. Yeah yeah that's another thing we're working on.

[00:34:02] Low plays six rotations she's like an incredible all around outside and I'm usually just been a front row outside of three rotation pin so that's another thing we're working on and trying to like develop me.

[00:34:14] As far as like the defensive side so seeing and after the serve too and not serving and then coming off the court.

[00:34:20] Absolutely let's great inside into regards to your game play I want to know how you how you found your way to Murphy's for like I said you're from Hutchison I might not be saying it's just outside just less and many.

[00:34:28] I just wasted many inapolis so how do you come from Indianapolis all the way down here to Murphy's for.

[00:34:33] Well I played club at Minnesota Select which is in I'm like an hour and a half outside of where I played club so I kind of went pretty far just for the exposure and experience and stuff with like bigger clubs and playing.

[00:34:49] Playing bigger tournaments like all around the country where coaches can see you so we traveled a lot with select for volleyball and then. I don't know what tournament usually like coaches see you at a specific tournament.

[00:35:02] I'm not sure which which one they saw me at but June 15th my sophomore year that's like the date where coaches can contact you and I remember actually seeing the email from MTSU and I kind of ignored it because I was like oh I'm.

[00:35:15] You know I'm a sophomore and I've been in Minnesota my whole life I don't really feel like going far away you know.

[00:35:22] But then I think a few days later I looked back through all my emails and text messages that's like June 15th is a very overwhelming day for volleyball players so I kind of was just like letting it all sink in and then I went and looked back.

[00:35:35] And I was like you know maybe I do want to go further away I've always been pretty independent on my own like as a person so I was like maybe this could be nice to like start my own thing like far away.

[00:35:46] So I started talking to John R assistant coach and she's amazing I don't know if you've ever talked to her but she's so amazing and just right from our first phone call I was like I love her and the ball just started rolling from there.

[00:36:00] Tell me about Murphy's bro you've been here for two years now I mean have you really adapted to the city I know whether why is it significantly different than many in apples.

[00:36:07] Yeah I have I think it's a little similar to Minnesota just in the fact that it's very. Green and nature like the summers are very similar it's a little bit hotter down here but I think the summers.

[00:36:21] And obviously much or is not the same Minnesota is a lot colder but sometimes when I like I'm driving I've made the drive to chat new go a few times and like the scenery and like all the trees in the mountains kind of remind me of some drives.

[00:36:35] That's really nice to see that but it's definitely a bigger city than I'm from from a very small town so having things like like a mall in town having or I guess do I don't know if you call Murphy's bro town I'm so you just saying a town.

[00:36:50] But having a mall here that is like my favorite thing ever because I love to shop but having everything so close to me. I had to really adapt to that because we would drive like an hour at least to go shopping when I was back at home.

[00:37:02] That's crazy well I mean tell me too. Do you ever get the opportunity to go back during the off season or are you stay do you stay put here what's what's that like.

[00:37:10] Yeah so my mom and little brother actually just moved to Phoenix so I still have some family in Minnesota that I go back and see but when we get breaks I do I have gone back to Phoenix I was just in Minnesota for the summer.

[00:37:25] But when we get breaks I do I do go back home but I'm pretty like I said I've been pretty independent for a long time so going back is kind of just weird to me since I have my whole life instead of here I really like it.

[00:37:40] You kind of touched on that was interested to know what you do in your off time sounds like you enjoy shopping or being a girl from a small town or whatever anything's like that the you enjoy it appears for being for Minnesota you'd probably enjoy going to the lake that kind of thing that seems to be very common summer activity up in Minnesota.

[00:37:56] Yeah I've actually I'm not found a lake around here that I like to go to but that is very very common thing we do at home.

[00:38:05] I do love to shop I have a very very bad shopping addiction actually I need to stop but I do like to shop so the avenue is really nice.

[00:38:15] My off time I love okay I have a few I have a split family of blended family so I have a few younger siblings I have two of them back at home in Minnesota three of them actually.

[00:38:28] And then my younger brother who's in Phoenix with my mom I'm so close with like I in my any free time I call him face I'm him.

[00:38:37] Text him you just don't have a text he just turned eight so he like I just I love him so much so whenever whenever I'm home I'm like always doing something with him I hang out with him all the time like that's.

[00:38:49] That's my favorite thing to do when I'm home it's just hang out. I want to know about your sophomore campaign you led the team and points per set and kills.

[00:38:58] You know how do you great out your last year tell me tell me what your thoughts on are on your your year. Yeah I think it went pretty well like you said.

[00:39:07] I know sometimes people go through like a sophomore slump I think they call it and I feel like from my personal standpoint I felt like it was kind of.

[00:39:19] I don't think it was a slump but I do feel like it was very consistent which I'm really happy with. I think I developed more.

[00:39:27] Since I've gotten here honestly in general I've developed more being a vocal leader I think I've always been kind of a quiet more like to myself player like didn't celebrate a lot like was just kind of.

[00:39:39] I think especially my sophomore year I kind of broke out of my shallow being to myself and I think I have gotten a lot better at giving energy and just being. A more excited and kind of explosive player on all aspects of things.

[00:39:57] Yeah you touched on the the sophomore slump that some people experience in and you kind of blew right through that what are you doing this year to improve and you may have already said it a little bit about the leadership role because.

[00:40:07] You know a long run under classmen so what are you doing not only on the court to improve your game to continue to get better but what are you doing off the court to kind of embrace that leadership role you you're taking on.

[00:40:18] Yeah so we have we lost I think eight seniors so we have a lot of rebuilding to do and our coaches always really emphasize on the fact that it's not just on the court like you said we really try to build those relationships off the court.

[00:40:34] And we have a lot of people who are really trying to get to know that we go to the pool a lot as a team so when we're at the pool with friends and stuff teammates.

[00:40:43] We really try to like hang out with people we don't usually hang out with. And just yeah just get to know those younger players so that we have that bond off the court which makes it a lot easier to.

[00:40:55] Be a teammate and hold people accountable on the court and in play. This year is Kayla Henley and she's graduating. Do you feel any more pressure this upcoming season to perform at a high level with her with her production leaving the team.

[00:41:10] I don't think I feel any more pressure no. It is a big loss as far as leadership she was really good at holding people accountable and people really played extremely tough.

[00:41:23] I'm not sure if she's been around her because she just brought that energy and that grittiness to the court so losing that is really hard and we're trying to. It's really hard to like mimic someone's energy so we're trying to find new ways in our own personal.

[00:41:41] Like our own personal examples of how to do what she did but in our own way to kind of bring up people around us the way that she did. I believe that's a great way to elevate the game of your fellow teammates and stuff like that.

[00:41:54] And you talk about your first team on or last year that's kind of a big deal even at a sophomore level.

[00:42:00] I always ask that because now it's like where do you take your game from this point on is that something that you even think about at this point.

[00:42:07] Yeah, I've actually talked with my coaches this past spring about goals for this upcoming year and obviously first scene that's that's I'm very happy with that but.

[00:42:19] Just trying to develop my game like I said earlier and to becoming more of an all around player and focusing on the defensive. And the passing side of things so I can be a six rotation player because.

[00:42:31] Right now the goal is player the year and that's going to take a lot of work. On the court and off the court, especially mentally.

[00:42:41] I've never been like I said before I've always been a three rotation outside because it's kind of where I've been more comfortable at and physically that's where I'm.

[00:42:51] That's where I've been put just because I'm six three and usually there's smaller deases to come in and play my background for me, but with a goal like player the year.

[00:43:01] I only have to be a six rotation player play defense and pass and do everything so that's right now the goal. Let's go take a lot of work but that's hopefully what we're headed. Well, it'll certainly heighten the level of the team.

[00:43:15] I want to know your input from this upcoming season. The team is is trending in the right direction over the last couple of seasons. Where do you see the team falling this coming season?

[00:43:23] You've had a feel for a few practices now where how do you feel about this this squad moving into this year. Yeah, I feel honestly really good about it.

[00:43:30] We have literally everything that we need physically volleyball is on the court to win the conference and go to the tournament but we just have to develop. Like I said, we have a bunch of young players coming in. We have two transfers who will both be medals.

[00:43:46] We're refilling the middle position completely so our medals will be brand new to the program. So just kind of getting everyone in the same page right away. Open gym has been going really well. Honestly, we've been really competing and getting after it.

[00:43:59] So that makes everyone kind of feel like a little bit better. Just because when preseason starts with all kind of be ahead of the game as far as the energy and the gym like what we expect.

[00:44:09] So I think that we definitely have the capability to win the conference as long as we're aggressive and we're all on the same page. Well good. That's absolutely exciting step for me. Adrian, I appreciate you taking the time out of your off season.

[00:44:22] It's a join us here on the podcast and we wish you the best of luck this upcoming season. Yes, thank you.