What was it actually like to be inside Wrigley Field for one of the most talked-about volleyball events of the year?

In this bonus episode, Susan takes you behind the scenes of her experience at the Wrigley Field volleyball matches in Chicago. From attending Mizzou’s practice and getting media access to watching the matches from field level, Susan shares what she saw firsthand and what the experience was really like inside the stadium.

She talks about the unique challenges of playing volleyball outdoors, the elevated court, the atmosphere inside Wrigley, and what was happening from a fan’s perspective when court conditions eventually stopped play. Susan also shares what stood out to her about the athletes and their willingness to adapt, help find solutions, and make the most of an incredibly unusual situation.

But this episode is about more than what went wrong. Susan reflects on what it meant to see more than 40,000 volleyball fans show up for an event like this and how far the sport has come from the days when she had to record Olympic volleyball on VHS in the middle of the night just to watch it.

Was everything perfect? No. But Susan believes there’s a lot the volleyball world can learn from Wrigley and even more to be excited about when it comes to where the sport is headed.

Chapters

00:00 – Why Susan went to Wrigley Field
01:45 – Susan’s lifelong connection to volleyball
05:00 – From recording volleyball on VHS to filling stadiums
07:15 – Behind-the-scenes access at Wrigley
09:10 – Seeing the outdoor court and practice firsthand
11:00 – The challenges of playing volleyball outdoors
12:00 – Why Susan was so impressed by the athletes
15:00 – What happened with the court conditions
17:00 – What the experience felt like inside the stadium
18:00 – How the athletes responded
20:00 – Was the Wrigley Field event still a success?
24:00 – Susan’s favorite part of the entire experience
27:00 – What Wrigley says about the future of volleyball

Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

www.rallysend.com

Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time.

Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What does the volleyball recruiting process actually look like from the parent side?

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Susan sits down with three volleyball dads whose daughters recently committed to Division I programs in the class of 2028. Each came into volleyball with experience in other sports, and each quickly discovered that college volleyball recruiting operates very differently.

They share what surprised them most about the process, what happened when June 15th arrived, and just how quickly calls, emails, offers, and decisions started moving. They also talk about college camps, visiting campuses early, building and narrowing a target school list, and trying to understand where their daughters realistically fit within the national recruiting landscape.

Susan also breaks down why recruiting can feel so subjective in volleyball, why measurable stats only tell part of the story, and why gaining clarity early can help families spend their time, energy, and resources more strategically.

If you’re a parent trying to understand what may be coming next in your daughter’s recruiting process, this episode gives you an honest look at what these families learned while going through it in real time.

Chapters

00:00 – Susan’s recruiting support and Volleyball Recruiting School
06:00 – Why these three dads wanted to share their experience
07:25 – Meet the volleyball dads and their daughters
11:25 – How volleyball recruiting differs from other sports
13:30 – What happened when June 15th arrived
18:50 – When families realized recruiting was moving fast
19:10 – Visiting campuses early to gain clarity
22:55 – Why camps matter more than families may realize
24:20 – Narrowing the school list and targeting strategically
27:20 – A late-blooming athlete and a very fast recruiting journey
29:20 – Why evaluating volleyball recruits is so subjective
31:35 – The importance of jump touch and measurable traits
32:20 – What’s coming in Part 2

About the Guests:

Jason Wender
Father of Liv Wender, 2028 S, West Virginia Commit

Matthew Delaney
Father of Carolina Delaney, 2028 OH, Pepperdine Commit

Brett Baatrup
Father of Amaya Simon, 2028 MB, Colorado State Commit

Connect with the Players:

• Amaya Simon: @amayaclassof2028
• Carolina Delaney: @carolinadelaneyvb
• Liv Wender: @livwendervolleyball

Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

www.rallysend.com

Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time.

Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.

What does an SEC head coach really look for when evaluating recruits?

In this episode, Susan sits down with University of Missouri head coach Dawn Sullivan to talk about recruiting, culture, and what she’s building at Mizzou. Dawn shares why talent is only one piece of the evaluation process and what she notices about an athlete’s competitiveness, resilience, communication, coachability, and how they respond when things don’t go their way.

They also dive into how Dawn rebuilt Mizzou’s roster, the role the transfer portal has played in the program, and why finding the right people and creating genuine relationships are at the center of her recruiting philosophy. Dawn gives athletes and parents a behind-the-scenes look at the things college coaches may be evaluating that recruits don’t always realize.

Then the conversation heads to Wrigley Field. Dawn shares how Mizzou was selected for the SEC-Big Ten Challenge, how the team has prepared to play outdoors, and what she hopes fans see when Mizzou takes the court on one of volleyball’s biggest stages.

Whether you’re navigating recruiting or simply excited about where college volleyball is headed, this episode offers an inside look at what it takes to build a program where talent, culture, and the right fit all matter.

Chapters

00:00 – Why this Mizzou conversation is special
02:25 – Meet Mizzou head coach Dawn Sullivan
05:35 – Dawn’s coaching journey and philosophy
07:15 – Building a program around people and culture
09:10 – Recruiting athletes who fit the program
11:20 – How Dawn evaluates character
12:20 – Building confidence, trust, and connection
16:25 – Rebuilding Mizzou volleyball
19:00 – Recruiting Missouri athletes
20:05 – How the transfer portal fits into Mizzou’s strategy
23:25 – What Dawn really looks for in recruits
27:05 – Grit, ownership, and the role of parents
30:00 – How the Wrigley Field match came together
32:20 – Preparing to play volleyball outdoors
36:20 – Mentally preparing for the Wrigley stage
37:35 – The personality behind this Mizzou team
40:05 – What Dawn hopes fans see at Wrigley

About the Guest:

Dawn Sullivan is the head coach of Mizzou Volleyball, where she has quickly helped reestablish the Tigers as a contender in the SEC. Sullivan took over the program in December 2022 and led Mizzou to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in her first two seasons, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2024. She was named SEC Coach of the Year in her first season and AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year in 2024. Now entering her fourth season at Mizzou, Sullivan has compiled a 57–33 record with the Tigers and recently signed a contract extension through the 2029 season.

Before Mizzou, Sullivan spent five seasons as the head coach at UNLV, where she built the Rebels into one of the Mountain West's top programs. She went 109–38, led UNLV to five straight postseason appearances, two Mountain West championships and the 2021 NIVC Championship, while earning Mountain West Coach of the Year honors twice. Prior to UNLV, Sullivan spent 13 seasons on staff at Iowa State. A former All-American at Kansas State, she helped lead the Wildcats to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances as a player and was inducted into the Kansas State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

Connect with Dawn:

• Website: https://mutigers.com/sports/womens-volleyball
• Instagram: @dawn3sullivan

Link to the book:
Sidelined No Longer: The Untold Story of Women's College Sports by Karen S. Rudolph (Susan's Mom)

Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

www.rallysend.com

Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time.

Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.