Episodes

Oct 27, 2023

Today's episode is an opportunity to speak Nicole Drewnick, who is the current setter for Notre Dame. Nicole's journey is one unlike many others. Her volleyball journey began growing up in a club volleyball gym owned by her parents, who were both successful professional athletes. Nicole takes us through what the recruiting process was like as a top setter in her recruiting class, how she made her decision, and what she might do differently. Nicole shines the light on her time on campus, which includes graduating a year early and enrolling in college during what should have been her senior year of high school, her struggles as well as her victories, throughout her time playing for three Power 5 programs. Having gone through the recruiting process in HS, and now twice through the transfer portal, Nicole offers some interesting feedback for not only young players just starting out the recruiting process, but also for other collegiate players as well about how to make the most of your time on campus. Nicole and I discuss some of the struggles with the college recruiting process and it’s current rules, and start the conversation on how we can help guide players to make the most informed decisions that they can!

Aug 26, 2023

GRIT is something that is such a hot button topic in today's world, especially among athletes. It is a vital piece to the growth mindset, and is a characteristic that is highly sought after by the Navy Seals, Fortune 500 Companies, College Coaches and more. But the question I wanted to answer, was simple: Is it possible for someone to grow and develop GRIT? And if yes, how? Giving us her take on things in today's episode is Susan Forbes, onInstagram @HeySusanK . She is a former D1 volleyball player, a former college volleyball coach, she also has a background in psychology, and is currently a certified Life Coach, among other things. She shares with us some tools that she helps her clients use, as well as the framework that she has developed to help us grow and strengthen our GRIT, in all areas of our life. Go to Susan’s website to learn more about how she can help you, take charge of your recruiting process, develop your GRIT, and much more. Want to make sure that you've got your academic side of the recruiting process as dialed in, as we do the volleyball portion? Go visit our partner, Your College Contact, and use the code TRIBE20 at checkout, to receive 20% off any of your services. To sign up for their free consultation and learn more about their other services, go to their website at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/⁠⁠⁠ If you find today's show entertaining, or valuable, please take the time to share the episode with a teammate, friend, or other person who you feel could benefit from the information. And if you could take a minute to go into your listening app, scroll down to the bottom of the show page, if you could leave a rating and a review, that helps our ability to continue to improve the quality of the show, and even reach more impactful guests. Thank you for being a part of our tribe!

Jun 20, 2023

In today's episode, we are joined by Kirsten Jones. Among other things, Kirsten is a parent to a collegiate athlete, podcast host, former collegiate volleyball player, volleyball coach, author, and she is also a certified Peak Performance and Sports Parenting Coach. The topic of today's conversation is all about how we, as parents, coaches, and teachers, can better prepare our young athletes for their journey ahead. If you are a parent, teacher, coach, or mentor to young people, this episode is for you. But athletes, don't skip this episode. There is plenty of actionable advice for you too, on how to take ownership of your athletic career, and how to develop important life skills such as resilience, grit, and the ability to pivot when things don't go your way! Topics covered in today's conversation: - Fixed vs Growth Mindset. - Envisioning long-term goals. - Growth mindset and effort. - Building grit through competencies. - Supporting young athletes emotionally. - Finding the right fit. - Parent and Coach Relationships. - Empowering young athletes. - Youth sports and societal pressure. - Athletic recruiting and transfers. - Lessons from when things don't go our way. - Finding your passion. - Worst advice given. - Valuing individual levels in coaching. - Fostering independence in children. More information about today's guest: Kirsten Jones, Peak Performance & Sports Parenting Coach. Her new Book -Raising Empowered Athletes: A Youth Sports Parenting Guide for Raising Happy, Brave, and Resilient Kids Get your copy on Amazon, or anywhere that you buy books: https ://a.co/d/aS7h4ZS Kirsten's Podcast - #RaisingAthletes can be found on the website: ww.KirstenJonesinc.com Thank you for tuning in! Want to make sure that you've got your academic side of the recruiting process as dialed in, as we do the volleyball portion? Go visit our partner, Your College Contact, and use the code TRIBE20 at checkout, to receive 20% off any of your services. To sign up for their free consultation and learn more about their other services, go to their website at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/⁠⁠⁠ If you are listening on Apple or Spotify, please leave a rating or a review to help us have conversations with impactful guests like this!

Apr 4, 2023

Have you ever wondered what it's like to play at the highest level possible? Today we talk with Tribe Alumni, and former Indiana University libero Paula Cerame, and we explore that concept. Paula started her college volleyball career at the University of Florida, where, as a member of the 2018 class, she was part of the top 2 recruiting class in the nation, where she was recognized by Prepvolleyball.com for being "a diamond in the rough of the recruiting class, for her athleticism and playmaking ability". Fast forward three years later after the COVID season, and Paula transferred from Florida to Indiana University, where she proceeded to start every match as a libero over the next two seasons. Her career at IU included being named captain during her senior year, has played in the toughest arenas in college volleyball, even beating the #5 team in the country on their own floor, as well as breaking the IU record for Big Ten digs in a single season. Paula also has experience at the international level, as she has been invited to play with the Puerto Rican national program, and has spent time in their gym, and even playing in international competitions. Now, Paula is getting the opportunity to play professionally, with the Real Pro Volleyball team in Orlando!Paula joins us today for a candid conversation, as she takes us through both of her recruiting journeys, and what she did differently the second time around. She gives us actionable advice on steps that she thinks recruits should be paying attention to, and also shares some feedback about what she would do differently, if she had to start all over and do it again. She shares about some mistakes she made about not asking enough tough questions, to discover the information that will truly affect your college playing experience. Paula gives us insight into how to handle the mental side of college sports, talks about the advantages of a sports psychologist,and how relationships with those around you, can play an instrumental role in shaping your self-confidence. Want to make sure you aren't restricting your academic options when it comes to getting accepted into your dream school? Go visit our partner, Your College Contact, and use the code TRIBE20 at checkout, to receive 20% off any of your services. To sign up for their free consultation and learn more about their other services, go to their website at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/⁠⁠ If you find today's show entertaining, or valuable, please take the time to share the episode with a teammate, friend, or other person who you feel could benefit from the information. And if you could take a minute to go into your listening app, scroll down to the bottom of the show page, if you could leave a rating and a review, that helps our ability to continue to improve the quality of the show, and even reach more impactful guests. Thank you for being a part of our tribe!

Apr 1, 2023

If you are an athlete , there is a good chance that you are using your social media account wrong. Your goal is to use it to help you in recruiting, but you aren't taking the steps necessary to have the type of reach and interactions that will actually help put your videos and your content in front of the college recruiters. And you could be even doing some simple things that are actually hurting your recruiting! Today we are going to take you through the steps to best optimize your Instagram account so you are properly using this recruiting tool in a way to help you have a bigger reach, more meaningful interactions, and help set you up for potential NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) opportunities in the not so distant future. **Disclaimer** - No matter how optimized and perfect your social media profile and content may be, using Instagram as your entire recruiting strategy is a TERRIBLE idea. Instagram should be a tool in the process, not your entire process. Social media is a passive recruiting tool, and to guarantee that you get notice by coaches at schools from which you have interest in attending, you need to be proactive. Ok, now on with the show. - Step 1) Optimizing your profile, with important information, and a link to highlight videos. - Step 2) Posting videos that will capture and engage interest. - Step 3) Be consistent, and post different types of content. Reels, photos, stories, etc. Don't try to go viral, be more concerned with the quality of content, and the value you provide-Step 4) Follow the coaches and programs that you are interested in, follow players from the programs.- Step 5) Be an active participant in the content that the coaches and programs are posting. Read: Name recognition.- Step 6) Build a community on your Instagram. Have conversations, support others, and engage with relevant content. -Step 7) Respond to others, and post your original content in a way that increases engagement. - Step 8) Use relevant #hashtags and @tags. - Step 9) Borrow other peoples viewers, add value and insight to other peoples posts- Step 10) Do NOT tag college coaches in videos, highlight videos, and posts. There is one "yeah, but.."Now, remember this whole recruiting process, isn't just about you. It's about the value that you bring to your future college team. And coaches are going to evaluate you to see how your skills, your strengths, personality and your opportunities best fits the need of their team. And it's all about how you fit in their puzzle. You are not a standalone unicorn puzzle piece. Even the best players that we have in our program, even the best players in the country, they have to fit the puzzle based on what the coach values and what the team needs. Keep in mind, you getting recruited comes down to an opportunity to be evaluated, to see if you would be a good fit for your team. And once you understand this, that really goes a long way. If you found this content valuable, please consider leaving a 5 star rating, and a review with your favorite parts of the show. And go into your listening app, and press share to send to a teammate, friend, or another parent who you think could benefit from the content!

Feb 3, 2023

If you are just starting out on the recruiting process, it is normal for you to have a lot of questions about a lot of different aspects of a college campus, a program, and a coach. This is especially the case once you are finally permitted to have meaningful conversations with college recruiters through texts, emails, or even phone calls. And then once you get to the final steps of your recruiting journey, where you get to go on a college visit, this gives you the opportunity to have your questions answered by the college coaching staff, or even players that are currently a part of their program. Each stage of the recruiting process lends an opportunity for different questions to be answered. And I know that you are all experiencing some degree of this burning issue - what questions should I ask? If this sounds like you, know that you are not alone, because I often get asked to help you come up with better questions. And this is why we are consulting with a recruiting expert for today’s episode. In today’s interview, we are joined by Jason Bibler. Jason coached college volleyball for 10 years at both the Division 1 and the Division 2 levels, including a D1 Head coaching opportunity. Jason was also the recruiting director for several clubs in the state before creating his recruiting company, Parallel Recruiting Initiative, or PRI, through which he does the recruiting education for 5 clubs in the Dallas Metroplex. Today we are sharing a list of great questions to ask during the process, and then taking on the task of how to make the questions better. By listening to this episode, you will learn some specific information that can help you stand out in the recruiting process, help show your mindfulness and creativity, help you have better, more in-depth conversations with college coaches, and most importantly, help you find the answers to the questions that you really need to know, in the process of discovering your best fit. Some of the questions that we cover in today's episode are: -Can you describe what your practice is like? -Are you recruiting for my position? -What are you looking for in a player in my position? -Where do I fit on your list of recruits? -What is your coaching philosophy? -What is your game day atmosphere like? -What is the culture like on and off the court? -What is the typical day like for a student athlete? To get some of the "how and why" behind the process of asking better questions, or to view his college needs list, please visit Jason's website https://www.privolleyball.com/ You can also listen to Jason's Podcast, PRI Talk where he answers recruiting questions, in generally 5 minutes or less: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pri-talk/id1502261081 Want to make sure you aren't restricting your academic options when it comes to getting accepted into your dream school? Go visit our partner, Your College Contact, and use the code TRIBE20 at checkout, to receive 20% off any of your services. To sign up for their free consultation and learn more about their other services, go to their website at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/⁠⁠ If you found value from today's show, please rate us and leave a written review, so we can continue to improve the listener experience for you, and also allows us the opportunity to continue to talk to higher profile guests. IF you think that you have a teammate or friend that might also benefit from this information, click the share button to send this episode to them. Thank you for being a part of our Tribe

Jan 24, 2023

There are a lot of questions that people have throughout the recruiting process. If you are like most players and parents, some of those questions are about how college volleyball players spend their time. You might also have questions about what other types of activities make up the 20 hours per week (plus more) that the players spend in volleyball related activities while they are in season. Some of you with goals and aspirations of playing volleyball at the highest levels possible, might even wonder what it’s like playing in the NCAA tournament, and the amount of preparation and dedication that goes into being one of the top teams in the nation. You might also have some misconceptions surrounding the term “red-shirting”, and what that experience is like in the sport of volleyball. In today’s episode, Alexis Finnvold who is a redshirt freshman at the University of Louisville, answers those questions and more.Want to purchase some Louisville volleyball gear, and help provide support to Alexis, while rocking the sweet gear? Then visit Louisville's NIL store, to browse some sweet apparel - Alexis Finnvold Want to make sure you aren't restricting your academic options when it comes to getting accepted into your dream school? Go visit our partner, Your College Contact, and use the code TRIBE20 at checkout, to receive 20% off any of your services. To sign up for their free consultation and learn more about their other services, go to their website at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/⁠Was there something that you found useful, or is there a question that you have that you would like further explanation on? Please rate us and leave a written review, and then share with a friend! This helps us continue to provide a better listener experience for you, and also allows us to bring on higher profile guests onto the show!

Aug 8, 2022

Making a campus visit is one of your biggest tools in finding a school that feels like home. This is the part of the recruiting process that you have the most control over, but also the piece that you can start evaluating earliest in your recruiting journey. Each of the 4 visit types can provide valuable information during your search for a college home, and make sure you know when each option is available to you. 1:29 - How visiting college campus helps shape your recruiting process. 3:11 - The traditional campus visit 5:17 - Attending college camps 9:17 - The Unofficial Visit 15:43 - The Official Visit Want to make sure you aren't restricting your academic options when it comes to getting accepted into your dream school? Go visit our partner, Your College Contact, and use the code TRIBE20 at checkout, to receive 20% off any of your services. To sign up for their free consultation and learn more about their other services, go to their website at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/⁠ Was there something that you found useful, or is there a question that you have that you would like further explanation on? Please rate us and leave a written review, and then share with a friend! This helps us continue to provide a better listener experience for you, and also allows us to bring on higher profile guests onto the show!

Jun 7, 2022

When you first set out on your recruiting journey as a freshman or sophomore, the recruiting effort can feel very one-sided: "NCAA Rules don't allow us to communicate with you prior to June 15th following your sophomore year of high school". Things are about to change dramatically, and you are about to get some remarkably honest feedback about the accuracy of schools you have been sending emails to up until this point. June 15 is a date that carries heavy significance in your recruiting process, and is that date that your dreams receive some clarity, and your recruiting efforts begin to change. Throughout this episode, I give you some understanding into what to expect, and how to navigate the correspondence and a secret to help keep track of it all. I also throw in some ideas on how to take the responses you are (or are not) receiving, and use that information to find more schools that might have interest in you. Remember, you are not alone in this sometimes overwhelming process, we're here to help you. Was there something that you found useful, or is there a question that you have that you would like further explanation on? Please rate us and leave a written review, and then share with a friend! This helps us continue to provide a better listener experience for you, and also allows us to bring on higher profile guests onto the show!

May 3, 2022

Tribe Alumni Rebecca Martinez shares her recruiting journey as a libero. Her journey has some details that may sound a little different than the process that some of you are going through right now, and there will be some situations that she went through that hits really close to home. During her playing career, Rebecca earned some amazing individual accolades and experienced a championship level, as a three-time All-American, and playing in the NCAA Tournament. She also had to fight through what could have been a career ending injury, and she shares the humbling experience that she had to endure, as she had to relearn the basics. Rebecca reflects on how her injury helped shape her future job choice after her playing days were done, and offers some advice to young players going through the recruiting process. Was there something that you found useful, or is there a question that you have that you would like further explanation on? Please rate us and leave a written review, and then share with a friend! This helps us continue to provide a better listener experience for you, and also allows us to bring on higher profile guests onto the show!

Apr 12, 2022

This episode of Down the Line takes a look at the recruiting process through the lense of a collegiate coach with experience at the Division 1, 2, and Junior College levels. My long-time friend and former college teammate, Tim Balice, shares his insights on different aspects of the recruiting process. Tim is currently an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Dayton, a Division 1 program in Dayton, Ohio. We examine the core of what makes up a good email, how long you actually have to impress a coach, and what you must-have in your highlight videos. He even provides us a little behind the scenes feedback about what college coaches look for while they are at a live recruiting event. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did in creating it. Thank you for listening! Was there something that you found useful, or is there a question that you have that you would like further explanation on? Please rate us and leave a written review, and then share with a friend! This helps us continue to provide a better listener experience for you, and also allows us to bring on higher profile guests onto the show!

Mar 29, 2022

One of the goals in our Down the Line experience, is to help connect you with some of our Alumni who had the opportunity to manage their recruiting process with a result of playing volleyball in College. We use their stories to help guide our current athletes down their recruiting journey. I was honored to have the opportunity to catch up with one of our Tribe Alumni, and part of our 2018 graduating class, Shari Stenglein. Shari graduated from a small school in Fort Lauderdale and then had the chance to play college volleyball in the Ivy League, in one of the biggest cities in the United States. During our conversation Shari reflects on her recruiting process, and some of the factors that led her to choosing Columbia University. Then she discussed some of the adversity she had to face which led to embracing some different roles early in her college career, that ultimately led her to to a very successful senior season. She also offered some insight as to what athletics looks like inside one of the top academic schools in the country, and gives her advice to future athletes from lessons that she learned along the way. I hope that you enjoy the time with Shari as much as I did, please look for future episodes where we reconnect with former Tribe Athletes, who share their unique recruiting journeys and playing experiences! Was there something that you found useful, or is there a question that you have that you would like further explanation on? Please rate us and leave a written review, and then share with a friend! This helps us continue to provide a better listener experience for you, and also allows us to bring on higher profile guests onto the show!

Mar 25, 2022

One of the most important questions that can be asked in the recruiting process, is "What college athletic level is right for you?" Whether you are just starting your recruiting process or making your final decision on where to commit, there are important differences within the various collegiate levels you should consider. In this episode, long time volleyball coach and your host, Brett Sikora shares differences between the NCAA Division 1, 2, 3, NAIA, and Junior College volleyball experiences. The 3 comparison areas explored are amount of athletic scholarships, recruiting rules, and time commitment during the college experience. The recruiting process can seem overwhelming, but understanding the different levels offer allows you target the right level of schools to find your best fit. Was there something that you found useful, or is there a question that you have that you would like further explanation on? Please rate us and leave a written review, and then share with a friend! This helps us continue to provide a better listener experience for you, and also allows us to bring on higher profile guests onto the show!

Mar 19, 2022

Volleyball is the #1 most popular team sport for female high school athletes with almost 453,000 athletes. 6% of these athletes have the opportunity to go on and play at the college level, and only 1.2% of high school athletes will get the chance to play at the Division 1 Level. Thankfully, between all the levels, there are over 27,000 collegiate volleyball positions available. These tips will help you avoid the mistakes that can limit your chances, and allow you to take control of your recruiting process. Sometimes, athletes and parents make these mistakes because they don't know what they don't know, and other times these mistakes are made due to misconceptions or misinformation. All of these mistakes can have a massive impact on your ability to successfully pursue your opportunity to play in college. Listen to the end, to find out ways to more efficiently navigate your recruiting journey!Need help with the academic side of the recruiting process? Go visit our partner Your College Contact, and use the code TRIBE20 at checkout, to receive 20% off any of your services (the first consultation is Free!) To learn more, go to their website at: ⁠https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/⁠ Was there something that you found useful, or is there a question that you have that you would like further explanation on? Please rate us and leave a written review, and then share with a friend! This helps us continue to provide a better listener experience for you, and also allows us to bring on higher profile guests onto the show!

Mar 16, 2022

Welcome to Down The Line, I’m your host, Brett Sikora. I am the College Recruiting Director for Tribe Volleyball Club, located in South Florida. Join me as I share recruiting insights I have gathered in 2 decades coaching at the college, club, and high school levels. We will host alumni players to share their experiences with you while connecting our past with our future. Also hear from college coaches from time to time, giving their take on some important aspects of the recruiting process. Thank you for joining us on our journey, This is Down the Line.