If you’ve ever felt like the recruiting process suddenly speeds up and everything happens at once, this episode will help you understand why. In Part 1 of this conversation, Susan sits down with Keegan Cook, head coach at the University of Minnesota, to talk through how the current recruiting timeline actually works and what’s changed over the years. They break down the June 15th rule, why communication is so limited before that date, and why everything can feel so overwhelming once it opens ...
Apr 2
29 min
What does it actually mean when you see an “evaluation” on your University Athlete profile? In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with Corie Murphy from University Athlete, they break down one of the most misunderstood parts of the platform: coach evaluations. Athletes often assume an evaluation means strong recruiting interest, but the reality is more nuanced. Corie explains how college coaches use tags, ratings, notes, and internal evaluations to organize their recruiting process. Susan and C...
Mar 26
30 min
If you’ve ever wondered why college coaches spend so much time on their phones at volleyball tournaments, this episode will help you understand what they’re doing. In Part 1, Susan sits down with Corie Murphy from University Athlete (UA) to talk about how the platform works and why it has become an essential tool in college volleyball recruiting. Corie shares the origin of UA and explains how it evolved from a simple roster tool into the system many coaches rely on year-round. You’ll learn h...
Mar 19
31 min
Join Susan for a valuable taste of a lesson you get inside the Volleyball Recruiting School membership. College volleyball camps can play a role in the recruiting process, but many families sign up for them without fully understanding how coaches actually use them. In this episode, Susan shares a sneak peek from one of the lessons inside Volleyball Recruiting School, where she breaks down how to think strategically about camps. Rather than treating camps as something you simply “have to do,” ...
Mar 12
12 min
What does it actually mean to “make it easy for a college coach” during the recruiting process? In this episode, Susan breaks down one of the most important principles families often overlook: college coaches are extremely busy, and athletes who make their lives easier stand out immediately. From how you share film to the way you structure your emails and profiles, small details can make a big difference in how coaches evaluate and remember you. Susan explains why organization, clarity, and f...
Mar 5
17 min
You say you want to play volleyball in college. But what if the real thing stressing you out isn’t the goal… it’s the timeline you attached to it? In this episode, Susan unpacks one of the biggest hidden pressures in recruiting: the belief that it should have happened by now. For the Class of 2026 and 2027 especially, watching other athletes commit can create a quiet panic — even when you’re doing everything “right.” Susan breaks down the two biggest sources of recruiting frustration: timelin...
Feb 26
30 min
If you’ve heard the phrase “general interest” from a college coach and walked away confused or unsure what it actually means, this episode is for you. In this bonus episode, Susan breaks down what “general interest” really means in Division I volleyball recruiting, why coaches use this language, and how families should interpret it without jumping to conclusions. Susan explains the realities of recruiting timelines, NCAA communication rules, and the difference between top-prospect recruiting ...
Feb 19
12 min
If it feels like every club suddenly announced a college camp at the same time, you’re not imagining it. In this episode of the NXTVB Podcast, Susan breaks down the growing trend of college camps hosted at clubs and explains how they fit into the volleyball recruiting process. She shares why these camps can be a valuable use of time and resources when approached strategically. Susan walks through why college coaches like these camps, how NCAA rules influence them, and what families should con...
Feb 12
29 min
What happens when talent is no longer the differentiator? In Part 2 of this deep-dive conversation, Susan and Sonja shift from big-picture mindset to the specific mental tools elite athletes use to perform under pressure and sustain success at the highest levels. Sonja shares firsthand experiences from professional volleyball and Team USA, where every athlete in the gym is talented — and mental skills become the deciding factor. From visualization and internal dialogue to handling pressure an...
Feb 3
33 min
Talent might open the door, but mindset determines who stays. In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Susan sits down with Sonja Anderson to unpack what actually separates athletes who rise to the top from those who stall out, even when talent levels are similar. Sonja’s journey spans every level of the game — from small-town high school volleyball to Division I All-American, 12 years playing professionally overseas, and competing with Team USA on the international stage. What kept her evolv...
Jan 29
29 min
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