Latest / Set 6: The Official MLV Podcast / Episode 015 | Nowhere Near the Ceiling with Lauren Bertolacci

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Episode 015 | Nowhere Near the Ceiling with Lauren Bertolacci · Set 6: The Official MLV Podcast

• speaker-0: What are we doing? Happy week, happy weekend. Wherever you're listening to us, whenever you're listening to us, we appreciate it. This is, of course, the Set Six Podcast, the official podcast of Major League Volleyball, and you're listening to episode 15. And if you clicked on it, you know we're talking to the Indie Ignite head coach Lauren Bertolacci, the one and only, with an awesome conversation coming up in just a bit. I'm your host, Severin Lavenstein, and please like, comment, subscribe. Apple Spotify YouTube is where you can find us. You know that already. And I mean, before you listen to this one, we have an awesome episode fourteen to go listen to, which ⁓ we affectionately called Pit Maxing, as we were fully instructed by Kayla and Lane of what that meant and everything about it. So of course we're talking about Kayla Lund and Lane Van Buskirk and the great time that we had over at Pit with them in episode fourteen. More content from that, of course, is also coming up. ⁓ Pretty shortly. I believe producer Mike is working on an a really cool video ⁓ of really a a day in the life there that should be on YouTube ⁓ in a little bit. But yeah, that's a great one. So go listen to that. And then today, like I said, we're chatting with Lauren. We referenced that we referenced that a few times in the the pit episode as well. So you'll kind of get a little inside info in ⁓ the reverse sequential order there from that one. Next week is gonna be our episode with Ren, ⁓ and we were just ⁓ We we had a blast out with with Wren. I came back late last night from that one and ⁓ it was it was a adventure getting back from Dallas. But Ren was awesome. A huge thank you to Lexi and Liz and Missy and the rest of the Ren staff. They were so gracious with us, especially ⁓ I I'm only gonna speak for myself, but I you know, I come in there and I'm like, you know, where can we set up for this? Where can we set up for that? And and ⁓ you know, apologizing profusely while the while at the same time sort of ⁓ you know, finding our spots to t where to be where we need to be and ⁓ i they were just so gracious with their space. The warehouse is great. I mean, I know it doesn't sound like ⁓ a warehouse is gonna be something that's a really neat space to go see, but I truly mean it. Like you walk in and you get to see all of the different ⁓ setups that they have to make the different apparel. ⁓ it's got a really cool open office space for the working area. ⁓ it was genuinely a really great spot to be in McKinney and it was awesome. So ⁓ that again is gonna have some more behind the scenes stuff that you'll be able to see. in a little bit. And again, I'm not going to reveal who the athletes that we talked to at Ren will be. You're going to have to figure that one out. But ⁓ was a lot of fun. So once again a huge thank you to the Renn team. Like I said, it was an adventure getting back. I mean I had to change my flight, move it up, and then took an hour to get back to the airport, which, you know, all fine, all good. Waited for the flight, and then we were we got on ⁓ the flight from Dallas to ⁓ Vegas, no problem. Vegas was my connection back to California. And we get off the plane or or the plane lands and the flight attendant goes, I have eleven passengers going to Orange County. You all are going to need to run to your flight. And let me tell you, I've been on a lot of planes. I have never had a flight attendant strike the fear of God in me quite like this one where, you know, nice person, but they've never quite been like, You need to run and I was looking at it and I was like, There's twenty minutes till we board. We can make it, but okay, I you know, I trust you. Like we're we're gonna go. So we get off as, you know, leading the way, ⁓ straight through all the way to another terminal. And then when we got there there was still time to go, but me and the guy next to me were just talking about like, wow, I can't believe they were just, you know, so into us just r sprinting all the way to the other side of the airport. ⁓ but it was crazy. They even held up the plane because ⁓ one passenger in particular was not ⁓ w he was a little intoxicated and they weren't ⁓ gonna let him on the plane as well. So they we all had to wait in line for a little bit and we're the last flight out and we're all like, well, if the if this one doesn't go, then ⁓ we might be SOL there. So Anyway, glad I made it here to talk to you all today. not a lot of news to get to, so what we're gonna do is we're gonna preview ⁓ Lauren. The news I do know there is a lot of stuff coming. I I've already promised you that I'm not going to give you the exact ⁓ details of when I think things are gonna come now because I've just been bit too much by some rescheduling. But ⁓ I do know ⁓ some things are coming relatively soon, maybe next week soon. So ⁓ that's really holding up any news that I would be able to give you. So instead what we are gonna do is jump to previewing this conversation with Lauren. And I just there's so much that I think is just so cool about Lauren. First, I j I love how she is a champion for this league, for LGBTQ representation in general, but also in the sport is huge. ⁓ the female coach representation, look, if you're gonna look up to anybody as a role model and that's something that we talked about, I think Lauren Bertolacci is a fantastic ⁓ role model. And that can be for, you know, whatever your gender may be. It does not have to be just for young women. I think she's just fantastic. ⁓ and and she said in this interview, we can't be what we can't see, which is so valid and and I think she's just amazing at that and fully understands the scope of her position and what she can do. She's so valuable in this league for many reasons, but I think also too, if we're gonna then hone into what she brings on the court, that high level international coach that coaches internationally, like she'll talk about, but also brings that experience to this league and genuinely wants to coach. at the highest level and believes this league is the way to do that, I think is also incredibly valuable valuable and and brings value to what we have here at MLV. ⁓ and so that's great. I mean that's beyond the the amazing play that we get to see on the court from Indy in this case. And and then for anybody who's going against Indy, she says last year was not their ceiling, which we n I think we knew, but then just think about that. Think about the the only five loss season and think, well that's not even the ceiling of this Indy Ignite team. And then just Completely surface level. Her voice is the best. Come on. I mean, she even said it too. We were we were texting after the after the the show, and I was like, Hey, you know, we it would be great to get you in in more on camera stuff, and she's Yeah, it's just because of the voice isn't it I'm like, No, no, I promise, but it's pretty darn cool. So I'd like to think that that's a good enough preamble to get us into this conversation on episode fifteen with the head coach of the Indie Ignite, the one and only Lauren Bertolacci. Lauren, welcome to the Set Six podcast. We are stoked to have you and so excited to ⁓ to yeah, to talk to you today and hope that you're doing well. Thanks for joining us. speaker-1: Pumped to be here. Thanks for having me. speaker-0: Lauren, so many things to talk about, but first let's start with just the the record breaking season for the Ignite last year. You take home MLV coach of the year honors, Mia was MVP, and then we've got Mia, Lydia, Ajani, Elena selected to the all all MLV first teams. I mean basically cleaning house on the awards in just what was so well deserved in such a great year. And as you look back at at last year and building towards the new year, just sort of what what are your overall takeaways? speaker-1: I mean, I don't think I'd be in my position if I didn't say we would have rather have made it to the final and had had a had a crack at that, but nevertheless, there is a lot of things to be proud of and ⁓ with some time and reflection that has been easier to to look back at those. So I thought we did an excellent job. ⁓ the athletes really came in with a lot of buy-in to the systems, the culture that we wanted to build, and that is always gonna be ⁓ the base of what we're doing. Our organization is fantastic. ⁓ they really support us a lot. So I'm not surprised that we were able to have the success we were. ⁓ yeah, when you have great support, ⁓ that's that's kind of what happens. So yeah, I I am let's say happy with how the season went. Like I said, it's it's hard that one one game can can define a season at the end of the day, but that's the reality of sport. I think we have something really great that. we can build off. ⁓ and yeah, I'm really excited, looking forward to the next season, ⁓ knowing that we're gonna have even a little added hunger in the belly. speaker-0: Absolutely. I think that's that's a dangerous thing for all the other teams in this league. A Hungry Ignite team is that would be scary. It's already scary no matter what on the other side of the net. But we're gonna talk about the the roster in just a second. But before I do that, just how much do you look at it as keeping that train rolling for twenty twenty seven versus really making some stylistic, ⁓ you know, coaching changes or or really just kind of small tweaks. I'm just curious how you approach going into twenty twenty seven, obviously with such a great regular season from last year. speaker-1: Yeah, I mean, looking back, you know, coin flip, Omaha played a great game and we lost fifteen, thirteen in the fifth set. It's it's simple to sit here as a coach and and react heavily to that. But what's more important is to understand that it could have been fifteen, thirteen either way. ⁓ and we know that. So what we've built is good. We want to go in with that foundation. But like every single year that I'm coaching or working, I expect myself to get better, my staff to get better, my organization and my athletes to get better. So we definitely have some things that we want to improve both individually and as a team. To kind of ensure that if we're in that position again, because it's really difficult to get in those positions in professional volleyball, that we we have a chance to get over the line. ⁓ so whether that be technically improving some skills, mentally, improving how we manage big moments, ⁓ and just improving the high performance environment of the of the club, like we're definitely going to be doing that. But the base, the foundation, the character that we play with, the the the identity that I think we did a really good job building at Ignite. ⁓ you walk in the gym, you kind of know we're playing, whether you see our uniforms or not. ⁓ I I wanna keep that and I wanna keep developing it. speaker-0: No, you won't say it, but it's a credit to you and what you've built there as well and just the identity that you set and being that the real ⁓ the the linchpin of the whole thing, I think. But we we you were I've been so excited to talk with you because you were ⁓ the the Ignite were the talk of of us, you know, all about the off season when we saw returning nearly the entire team, twelve athletes, I believe, to the roster for twenty twenty seven. And it was like I mean, for me I'm not I'm not a big poker player, but it was like going all in, you know? Like we're we're immediately like right back into this whole thing. And I think it's awesome. And, you know, we were talking about You don't really see that a whole lot just in professional volleyball. At least, you some of the people that I talked to, that was their opinion. And, you know, to me it makes perfect sense like we just talked about up top. But just give me some of the inside if you can of like what those conversations were like when you're talking with your players. Well, hey, we're running this thing back and and we want to get back to where we were and go further. speaker-1: Yeah, I mean, I think the first point wasn't your question, but I'm gonna answer it anyway, is that the the high retention rate was always really important for us. It's it's a big goal. I think regardless of if we had a finish first and had all these great things happen, ⁓ it's not super common in pro volleyball. ⁓ but at least in my prior teams that I have worked on, it's been a huge key in in success and being able to build up with a group is is so so important. ⁓ so we do wanna bet on the growth that we're gonna have from our athletes and from our coaching staff. Not at the cost of performance. I think we have to be smart there. It is professional volleyball, but generally people really improve year to year with consistent work and same thing like we talked about, it's only going to get stronger our identity and kind of that culture and those pieces that we're working together, the respect we have for each other. So For us, it was a goal. ⁓ we we achieved it. ⁓ we really like the roster ⁓ that we have built. ⁓ even the addition of ⁓ Tia Scambri. I mean, I worked with her for seven seasons in in Switzerland. So it's I believe she will slot right in. She maybe knows me even better than these athletes know me. So I would say it's a continuity ⁓ addition that we've added and and we're really excited about that. And those conversations were exactly that. It's just we we really like the athletes that we had. ⁓ at the end of the day, a lot of them Minus T are now like are very young. ⁓ and they they're not whether they're rookies or a year, you know, Mia's had one year out of college and had a nice season in Atlanta, but didn't have the main role. ⁓ and so for a lot of these athletes, that was kind of their their first season under that spotlight in professional volleyball or their first one or two seasons. So of course we're gonna bet on them. That's nowhere near their ceiling. And so that's something that we we wanted them to understand is that we We don't think that's their ceiling. We're happy with their progression, but we we want them to be bigger, we want them to be better, we want them to make Ignite better, we want them to get in national team gyms and and we have big ambitions both on a individual and group level. So that's just the truth. And and we just told them the truth and and got that buy-in and and we're really pumped that they they felt that support from us and and trusted us. And I think it's a big compliment for the organization that they were able to do that. speaker-0: There's no question here, just a statement, but I'm so excited to see how that juxtaposition is on the court between you all and then like some of these new teams that are coming in for the first time and then teams even, you know, like Dallas that kind of are going with a completely new look roster. And and it's it's I'm so excited to see how the continuity looks compared to some of these other teams that have had to kind of either redo the whole roster or start from the ground up. I I'm fascinated to see it. I'm I'm looking forward to that as well. speaker-1: Me too. And and make no mistake, some of the talent that's been added is world class and I'm so excited to have that in the league. And I know it's there will not be another twenty three and five season. We understand that and we understand that we need to grow as a group to be able to combat the talent that's come into the league. But it's just a great thing for all of us. speaker-0: Well, speaking of world class, you just completed, I believe, your fifth season as head coach of the Swiss Swiss national team. Just just first. W talk about overall your your experience w ⁓ in that that program and just what that was like this year. speaker-1: Yeah. I love coaching international volleyball. It was a huge goal of mine. I was ⁓ working with the Australian national teams and then with Shannon in in Canada when she was the head coach before I got the the head coach of the Swiss national team. It's my second home. I've I was working there for a long time. I am extremely proud to be their head coach and to represent ⁓ Switzerland as a nation. it's a project. ⁓ this year was hard. I went ⁓ maybe two days after the semifinal. straight over to Switzerland, walked in the gym, jet lag, looking around. I was trying to process the semifinal, but once I got into it, I just saw it again for what it was. It's a it's great extra repetitions for me as a coach, to be honest. Like it's just more games that I get to coach in a completely different environment. We have such a short time frame to get ready, ⁓ whether that be just for a game back to back, ⁓ we have two weeks of training. ⁓ it really pushes me to to get my systems and everything in play as quick as possible. super high pressure because we're playing for ranking points. The world ranking point system is wild. And for ⁓ small nations like us, ⁓ it means so much every single game. We I think we only played six games this year. So it was so important that we won five of them and were able to to push up in the world rankings a little bit more to be able to keep qualifying for major tournaments. So I I love that work. It's it's work I want to stay in and I think it it only makes me a better coach. And ⁓ I'm proud of the progression we've had over the five years, but we we definitely just continue to want more and continue to want to To make pressure in these major tournaments. speaker-0: It's like different and and the same at the same time where you like tw twenty plus games in the ⁓ L V and each one counts, but it's you know, okay, we can get ready for the next one. Five, six games, you're like d every one is is crazy intense. I mean, just absolutely I yeah, you you just breeze right through that like it was nothing. I'm still blown away that you could just turn on a dime and be able to go put yourself in that high pressure situation right after the end of the MLB season. Have you always been someone that's, you know, able to flip that switch? It's like, all right, I'm I'm on to the next thing and I can compartmentalize. speaker-1: Absolutely. speaker-0: Or or you know, how have you evolved into that and being able to do that? 'Cause clearly it works for you at a very high level. speaker-1: I mean, I'm human, so it took me a couple of days I got there and and I thankfully I've worked with these ⁓ these athletes for five years, so I I sort of looked them in the eye and I said, Hey, I need a couple of days just to get back to myself. So my assistants had been running the two weeks, ⁓ 'cause we started a little early with some of our athletes and and I made sure I use those two days to to really get the layer of the land and step in. And so I think that's part of the experience is understanding when I'm at my best, making sure I'm surrounding myself with good people, good assistants that can do that job and and then fall in and go. ⁓ but it's again, it's just such a privilege to to head coach a national team. It's it's not something I take for granted. So I want to be able to give my hundred percent. ⁓ I just need to get better and better at that every year. speaker-0: Lauren, can you d describe the differences in play between MLV and and the international game and sort of how you approach each situation and where the the differences or the similarities may be? Mm-hmm. speaker-1: think one thing I noticed coming into MLV was the crazy high level of physicality of the athletes here. ⁓ it it wild. ⁓ we have so many great athletes, probably because of the pool of athletes, you have such a high participation rate in at mid America and NCA college volleyball is so big. So there's such a large amount of athletes and it's really pick of the litter, if I want to say it brutally. So that physicality ⁓ was was really, really impressive to see and and it really adapted well to the system that I wanted to play. And I think that was, let's say, the biggest change for me, who came from not the top top league in Europe, from definitely a a second tier league that's still very important and good. But ⁓ yeah, I think that was the biggest change for was the physicality of the league. speaker-0: It's funny. That's a very similar answer to when I was talking to Francois Salvani and and that he mentioned knowing you as well and just it it that physicality seems like a very ⁓ I would guess a a trait that's across a lot of American play, which I think is is interesting. I'm learning more as I go too and and I'm glad to hear that that's kind of a a constant there as well. But you know, for for you coming over to the US and and the MLV and and the Ignite, and you've, you know, obviously done super well last year and we know how great of a coach you are, but but what went into your process to really, you know, decide this is gonna be your home, this is gonna be where I where I wanna make my next step, ⁓ coming over from, you know, I believe it was twelve years in Switzerland before that. speaker-1: It was, yeah, twelve years. I so I coached a men's team to begin my career ⁓ for five seasons and we we went up into the top league and we became a very good middle tier ⁓ team with quite a low budget. Then I was lucky enough to get recruited to ⁓ Vitios Nuke where yeah, if they had not won a championship and we won all three. You can have three titles in a year in in Europe, depends what league you're in. But there's a cup, a super cup, like a preseason cup and then a a a league title. We we turn that around and We got the the first titles for the league and to be honest, I think we won sixteen of nineteen available titles over the time I was there. And we made a CB Cup final, which not to brag, but it was the biggest thing anyone has ever done. And it was so crazy that we could think we could we that we could that we could arrive to get that thanks to retention of athletes, to be honest, that stayed around and hung around with us, including Tier Scambrae. But so I just I was looking for a next step. ⁓ I I honestly did not envision that being America, only because it's so it was so unknown. Two years ago, ⁓ a Australian coach in the European leagues for a long time, the US League started popping up and a lot of our athletes started going over there and we're kind of keeping an eye on it. But my agent said, Listen, like Indie Ignite, it's a very strong franchise. I love their their president. I really like their owners. Please talk to them. So I did and I just I'm looking for a place to build. I I definitely want to coach at the highest level possible, but more important for me is somewhere where I can build what I would see as one of the best franchises in the world. And I like to be in the the at least the ground level. Okay, I came in in year ⁓ three, so it's not the ground, ground level, but it's still a new league and and that stuff is very interesting for me. Jim, Don, our owners and MK, they presented me with such a great vision. ⁓ and vision isn't everything, but when you have vision backed by The resources that we have and the work ethic that they have, ⁓ I mean, I I was just super excited by the opportunity. And I think that a lot of people feel the same way about ⁓ a lot of the MLB teams and a lot of coaches are now taking notice and and wanting to come and be in what we kind of think can be the next best league in the world, you know, as as things grow. It takes time, but but the the base is there and yeah, it was honestly It went from me not really considering it to being a total no brainer after I had those conversations and the F best thing I've ever done in my career. So speaker-0: Based on that, where do you see it going? I mean on on my side we we have a lot of conversations about like the future of the league and and you know, we're kind of down on the weeds, like head head head to the nose to the grindstone as it were. From from your perspective too, like where do you see the league going? What are some of the the things that we need to keep doing? ⁓ and just from your kind of overall impressions from from your season with the Ignite last year? speaker-1: It's just it's hard to explain as someone who's not American when we come to America and we see how important sports is to you guys. ⁓ and we have a very big sports culture in Australia. ⁓ and in Europe, sports is important. ⁓ it's a little bit more important on our participation level ⁓ than it is necessarily. And there's a couple of really big leagues and really big teams and that. But you guys take your sport just so deeply seriously. It is a business, it is marketed well, it is bigger and better than anywhere, and that I love it. I turn on the TV anytime and I can watch any sport I want. And that is amazing. So ⁓ I think I might have forgotten your question already, but I'm gonna keep going with where I'm going. So NCAA volleyball now has just has just been so big in the last few years that it there had to be a professional league here. There there just had to be and and it has to become one of the better leagues in the world given how much people are investing. And I I money is one thing, but time, commitment, like marketing resources, like like you said, we're all sort of on the on the grindstone now. And that kind of stuff, it's it's just so, so important. So I endless possibilities. And I I really believe I have as a like foreigner, as someone who is new to America, never seen anything like it. And I can see that I can only speak for what Ignite is doing because that's what I see, you know, right in front of me. But that community engagement is really important. We, you know, Indiana is such a big volleyball community. ⁓ and I think we're doing a really great job of engaging with that community and making sure that they know who we are because w you know, we are and will be and want to continue to be a leader ⁓ in Indiana volleyball ⁓ and and kind of be that that apex. So yeah, ⁓ that's what we need to keep doing. Engage with the communities, continue like pushing the popularity and I can see Ignite doing a great job of getting ⁓ people in the seats every every day. And but not just that, is that extending that that engagement outside of that? ⁓ it's it's really important. speaker-0: So what what I'm hearing is that the for the Swiss team and for the Australian teams, there's no chat boards and no no angry Twitter threads after a loss. No you should've set the middlemore and that you know, that was the wrong way to end the set. Nothing like that over overseas. speaker-1: Yeah, no, I definitely deleted my Instagram for a week after the semifinal loss just to survive that mentally, which you know is great. Like I it's a like I said, it's a privileged position to be in. I I didn't need to see it, but I'm super happy there's so many conversations around that kind of stuff. And no, there's definitely not that that that there. speaker-0: Well, I mean when you reactivate it, we'll fight the trolls for you 'cause that's that's ridiculous. And and we're we're glad that you got to step step away for a little bit. But ⁓ Lauren, it it's it was a real privil privilege to watch you last year and and coach and and if I may, I I think you're you're such a intri you're so interesting because like you're s you look so intense on the sidelines than anybody who's been able to talk to you, you're funny, you can joke around a lot and then like you know, I if if I had to, you know, go and and talk to you in the huddle in the mid middle of a bad first set, I'd be like, ⁓ man. I don't want to do that. But you you have such a great you have such a great unique presence to you. Yes, exactly. and such a unique coaching style, I feel like, if I can inject my own ⁓ you know, opinion in there. But I'm curious, how would you describe your style and how has it evolved maybe from when you started coaching to where you are now? speaker-1: Yeah, great question. ⁓ when I started coaching, I yeah, I would look back and laugh at a lot of things I did in my year one of coaching. But ⁓ I think that maybe style isn't the the best way I can describe myself with more the values that I I really find important. And I think then my style is kind of derived from that. I think ⁓ one of those is ⁓ just transparency. So yes, I'm funny. I like to joke around a lot. but I think the most important thing about me is. People understand me and they know what their role is and they have clarity around me. And I think it's the biggest driver of buy-in and and growth. ⁓ so I want to be a really big example of transparency and I want my communication to be extremely clear and yeah, it's just an easier way to live and work, is is what I sort of believe in and know. I think the the second thing would be ⁓ growth and and self accountability. ⁓ and self-reflection, kind of whatever however nice way we want to say that. I think my I think my superpower is knowing that I don't have all the answers. ⁓ but I'm gonna learn from every scenario that's presented to me. And as long as I'm able to stay accountable and realize my part in things, ⁓ I think that's important to my growth and a really big skill of coaching. And as we just talked about, coaching is such a pressure field job. ⁓ and, you know, you lose, like we said, you Nobody ever, that would be my best advice. Don't open any message boards ever in your life for that. But but people have opinions and and some of those opinions are right, some of them are wrong. And they they don't matter. But the the reality is everything is on your shoulders as a coach. ⁓ but that's a super privileged position to have that burden. So it's not a burden that I take super lightly and it's something that I I wanna make sure I can always look back and say, you know, what what can I do better? How was that decision? Like they're they're just a reality. I'm gonna be that. I've coached I don't know how many games now. So I'm always gonna be in another situation where I'm presented with the same thing and I wanna make sure that I I learn and and grow from those ⁓ situations. ⁓ I think another one would be, yeah, work ethic, just leave no stone unturned. I think that's probably what if players were asked to describe me, they would probably talk about my preparation and and that no s no stone unturned kind of thing. And I mean that's that's easy to self explanatory, but have a high worth echo high work ethic and and give the best you can and Like you said, be be authentically yourself. I I just am going to be myself. So if people are gonna like it or they're not gonna like it, but d typically they like it a lot more. And so I I want every day to be fun. I I like to joke around. We're a very sarcastic bunch in Australia. So that that that took a little minute for for that to land when they got to know what I was joking and and not joking in my team, which I am mostly joking, but you know, with high standards on the side. So I I just wanna be the best version of myself and if I can just relax and be myself, I'm always gonna be better. So I think those are I don't know if that's my coaching style, but those are values that I really try to push myself to to stay ⁓ true to. speaker-0: Lauren, who are some of the most influential role models that you've had for you in your career that could be, you know, on the playing side or the coaching side? speaker-1: So ⁓ yeah, I'm gonna go on a tangent. I'm sorry, but like I I never actually ever wanted to be a coach. I when I was playing, when I I had studied to be a strength ignition coach, I guess that is a coach, but I never wanted to be a voluble coach. And I think upon my reflection, that was probably a little bit because like I'm I'm forty one, give away my age. So I'm I'm my in my in my era there there were just not a lot of females coaching in any sport ever. ⁓ and so I don't I I really believe in ⁓ we can't be. What we can't see, so I didn't want to be a coach probably because I didn't really subconsciously know that was a possibility and that reputa representation for me is is super important. I'm also a member of the LGBTQ community, a female coach. I I don't take that lightly. I talk about the privilege of the position that we're in and and that's it is something really important to me. I I can't change the world, but you know, someone's gonna see me, be me, and I think it's gonna be really important at some point. So I I definitely didn't have role models like that, but I am such an eager learner. So I I'm constantly watching volleyball. I I have so many players that I think have have changed the game, the way it's played, ⁓ the way it was played with the new rules, the way it's gonna be played. so many coaches that I I look up to. I I spend my time. I mean, me and Shannon are on the phone every second day. Shannon from Dallas, she's one of my closest friends and and she's definitely, you know, someone I bounce ideas off and have in the past many times. And yeah, I just try to make sure I I stay engaged and stay stay learning and stay working. And I I would say that's probably even more important than role models, even though there are so many fantastic, ⁓ fantastic coaches and female coaches in all sports around me. I'm pumped to look down the road and see the fever with Stephanie White coaching and and try to learn and catch off her and yeah, that kind of stuff. speaker-0: You mentioned working with Shannon ⁓ earlier as well. Like w were there things that you picked up from her or or things that you maybe learned or or kind of bounced off her when you all were working together as well? speaker-1: So Shannon, ⁓ Shannon and I were friends way before we coached. We we met when we were like and she's older than me. So sh we met when I was 20. ⁓ and she was a little bit older. And and she is just a fierce, fierce woman, like very ⁓ very strong leader, ⁓ one of the best structural thinkers. I told her that the other day. Like she thinks about long-term development and and structure of organizations are better than anyone I've ever met. So ⁓ when I'm thinking about ⁓ yeah things to do with my staff or how to structure personal development for them. Or God, I can't even imagine. I I talk a lot to her about the Swiss team ⁓ because you know she's she developed not only did she head coach Canada, she is a high performance manager and and I think that that's where she really, really thrives. And so I definitely I think we're in contact daily and we we definitely bounce ideas off each other. And I I'm I am super glad that she won the championship and I'm I'm really proud of her. So speaker-0: Lauren, I want to go back to something that we were talk talking about briefly a couple questions ago, but we have we have several new teams joining the league this year. And then what would your advice be to some of these new teams, these new organizations coming in to build that genuine connection the same way that the Ignite have with their fan base? speaker-1: Yeah, I mean, gosh, our front office does so much work that I probably can't I'm probably not gonna do it justice whatsoever to to how much work they do to to to get that going. But I can see that their investment in the community across whether that be local clubs, ⁓ colleges, ⁓ fans, Valsport of other sports and making sure they're extremely invested and visible and engaged in the community. ⁓ is is big. Like we we as athletes ⁓ weekly we're sending people to different clubs to go and do certain nights with them, different events in the community. And I think that step by step that that builds that visibility and that that connection. And like I said, I I'm worried that I'm not doing justice to how much work they do there, but they really invest in that that community engagement because they they just know that we we're nothing like Sport is built for entertainment. It's built to create community. ⁓ and so that is what we have to do. And so they'd also do a really great job of investing in the people. So I think as a as a coach and as a staff and as athletes, we feel very supported in a high performance environment. And that investment behind the scenes is important. But us having a reasonable amount of success is always going to help that visibility as well. So investing in the community, investing in people. ⁓ speaker-0: Yeah. I mean, and and if I can just again inject my own opinion, I think just the way that the Ignite go about it too. I mean, that new training facility that we heard about cu you know, coming next year, I I I think is or in a couple of years is gonna be awesome. And then just even last year, I think, you know, my staff that I work with on a daily basis would say too, like when we walk into Fishers and it's a it's a packed crowd and it's like, Man, this is this is what it's supposed to be and this is so cool and and you know, we had several opportunities to see that last year. And yeah, I I I want that for for all of our our franchises in this league and I think it's so awesome to see. So Yeah, truly, truly leading the way there in in in Indy as well. ⁓ and it it also see that Yeah, of course, of course. And you can also see that passion ⁓ w on on the court. And I I've heard you s you say you you want indie to be the the team that every player wants to play for. What does that mean on the daily in practice, ⁓ when you would put when you put that into practice? Just what does that really mean for you? speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah, I I have said that a lot. ⁓ and I've said that a lot because the funny story is Jim Schumacher, our our our owner, that was like the first thing he said to me. He was like, Lauren, you know, scary for being scary. Like, I want Indy to be the best franchise in the world. I want it to be the destination franchise. I want this this to where people want to play. And I was like, All right, great. That's exactly what I want too, because it it it kind of encompasses the values that I you know, I look for in that high retention rate and all that kind of stuff that we're trying to get. ⁓ so in the end, it is extremely organic, but very funny that he definitely put that on me as one of the first things he told me. ⁓ I think number one is just treating athletes well, like providing what they need to perform at the highest level is super important. That athlete first mentality. ⁓ it's simple to sort of, you know, when you think about they are the product, they are what is on the court. ⁓ they are what wins and loses. So I'm happy, healthy, mentally safe athletes, like they're just gonna perform at the highest level. That doesn't mean that we don't have high standards or we don't push them and and happiness is maybe not the right word, but just cared for and and empowered is super important. So I guess that that magic word of culture, but it's it's easy to say culture, but at the end of the day, it's just very individual actions that build up to some really important characteristics of a great environment. So that trust, the communication. development opportunities for athletes, not everyone can play, but everyone can improve, you know, ⁓ professionalism, high standards just day in, day out. Just holding yourself to that and making sure that you don't let up and and I think that I think my staff does a good job of it. I do a good job of it. And we are backed by an organization who really embodies that as well, which honestly is probably the most important thing. So speaker-0: I asked you a little bit about the Ignite roster for twenty twenty seven. And I'm just curious if you had any reactions to a lot of the the great high profile signings that we've had and just the signings in general around the league. ⁓ you know, it what was a free agency frenzy ⁓ you know, a couple of weeks there of just everybody going right, left and and everywhere in between. But a lot of great signings, a lot of teams that are gonna look different. Just you if you had any overall reactions to ⁓ f MLV free agency in general to this. speaker-1: I mean, very exciting. So I think year by year, when we look back at how the the league has grown, ⁓ it's it's just the levels increased every single year and I have zero questions that it's gonna increase next year. I think there were a lot of high profile signings. ⁓ I think which I don't even need to say the names a lot of international players both in the US and beyond that are are super, super important players that I'm very excited to have in the league. and yeah, I think maybe even more importantly, the depth of the league is going to be stronger and better. So all the way down to team number twelve where we're going to be really great competition. And that great competition ⁓ provides a lot of entertainment. And like I said, that's what we're here for. ⁓ sport sport is entertainment and and we want to put on a good show. So the level's going to increase, the depth is going to increase. ⁓ and I, you know, I'm pumped to see it on one side. I'm like, okay. We're gonna have to get better next year. I'm not I'm not gonna lie. Like I I totally I totally see, ⁓ but I believe in my my athletes that they they have, like I said, high ceiling, like I said before. But at the end of the day, it's just it's great for the league and and the competition. So super pumped. speaker-0: Lauren, to go back to your your international experience. I mean, you've you've coached i in Europe internationally and professionally now in the United States. I'm as I'm imagining you you've ⁓ learned a lot about leadership and it's kind of this broad, nebulous term, which, you know, I I will jump in and say you're a a fantastic leader and we know that. But what have you learned maybe about leadership kind of in that vein of things that you've picked up along the way ⁓ throughout your career? speaker-1: We're leading humans and we work with humans. So ⁓ I think if they don't trust you, nothing is gonna work in any case. So ⁓ those relationships are super important. ⁓ I spend a lot of time I talked a lot about athlete buy in. I spend a lot of time making sure that ⁓ you know, the athletes buy in. It's not it's not in a way that they have to, it's that they want to. ⁓ and that's that's really important both through the recruitment phase and once we have athletes in the gym as well, is making sure they they understand. Their role, they're what we need from them systems-wise. ⁓ you know, we wanna we wanna win the championship. We just wanna do that. And and here are the steps to to do that, ⁓ making sure that they're super bought in. ⁓ but that's not gonna work, you know, without without that trust. and same thing. I I'm in a leadership position, but I also have a lot of leaders above me and and they're in those positions because they're a lot smarter than me at a lot of things. ⁓ and At the same time, I I need, you know, a certain amount of like autonomy or as as a staff to to be able to to do the work we need to do. So cultivating those relationships and and kind of leveraging what they do really well and and and keeping them informed and making sure that we're we're all working together. Like like I said, we're leadership, it's just we're working with humans and and and it's so important to to be able to take the time and have the skill, I guess, ⁓ to to build that trust with the people that you're working with, whether that be staff athletes or or your organization. So I'd say that's the biggest biggest thing. speaker-0: I loved listening to your speech at awards when you won MLV coach of the year and just it was and as you said a little bit here in when we're just chatting, you know, just how much it it meant to you to really be recognized by your peers like that. But I'm curious if if I can, you know, just kind of ask you again about what it meant to win that award and to kind of be recognized as the best that we have and and for all of the great work that you personally did last year, just ⁓ what did it mean to win that award? speaker-1: Yeah. oof. So I think any of us, like I said, would always say we would give up all our individual awards to be be holding that trophy at the end. That's not really a question. But at the same time, it's it's it's that's a simple thing to say and then it's I'm I'm proud to win the award. I I'm proud to be recognized, especially by, like you said, by my peers. ⁓ to win that. I am proud of my staff who worked really, really hard to create what we wanted to create. Like it's it's not just me. ⁓ I'm I'm at the front, I get the accolades, but they they get to do a lot of the work as well. ⁓ and yeah, ⁓ like I said, another opportunity to to represent mm who I am and what I'm about and the things that are important to me. And so anything like that creates that little bit of of recognition is is always something I'm I'm gonna be proud of. ⁓ and yeah, I I don't think I have any other words in that, just just proud to be standing there. speaker-0: Well I I I asked that question to to set up this next one, which is when your time with Indy is is has run its course and is at the end, what do you want people to look back on and say about you and your time with Indy when it's all said and done? speaker-1: Ugh. That we that we changed what what professional volleyball looked like and should be, maybe. We we we dictated the direction and we we had a had a good influence on that. Like it's it's nice to say I'd love to see a lot of banners in the stadium and you know, it's sports, so that's gonna happen when it happens. ⁓ but that that impact I think is kind of what we all look back on and and remember. So athletes I hesitate to say enjoy their time there, but also enjoy like enjoy their time there and and staff enjoying to work there and fans feeling connected to us, ⁓ seeing our identity and hopefully getting a bunch of new new kids in in volleyball jerseys, you know. I like I said, this representation is just so important and I I talk to the athletes a lot about they're in such a privileged position, ⁓ to to represent whatever whoever they are, like as female athletes, as like Mira as a Polynesian athlete, like super important to her to show her culture. Like ⁓ my community, like anything and and we have an opportunity and and we want to use it. So that's that would be I don't know if that's the one answer, but that's lots of answers. But it's it's it's I find it really important that that everyone around me realizes that it's such a privileged position, like be role models, you just are, you don't get a choice. speaker-0: Of course it's a great answer. Are you kidding? Absolutely. Go going into you know, just I mean, w we ⁓ I can't can't wait to to see Indy back on the court and and and you know, can't wait to get this next season started. But just in in the immediate future, you know, what's what's next? When does everybody get back together? When is that new new practice facility coming? You know, what what's kind of the immediate next ⁓ for you and the squad? speaker-1: Yeah, so currently, right now, we're mostly letting the athletes be. ⁓ it's their time off, they have enough of us in the season. So they they definitely have workout programs for our from our strength and conditioning coach. We're totally available when they when they want to to talk through things. We'll definitely have some meetings with them as we get a little closer to November to that optional period that we're gonna be training. and we're meeting a lot with the staff because I just finished my other season, so I was unable to really do anything for two months in that regard. So meeting with my staff and and kind of reviewing the year and meeting with my leaders and reviewing the year is really important right now. so, so excited about the new facility. I I when I first heard that it was a possibility, I was trying not to get too excited because I've been in Europe where these have been, you know, projects have come through before, but it it didn't come through. And when I when I was told, which was only a couple of days before everybody was told that it was final and and that it's, I mean, it's such a huge step forward for women's volleyball in our state, ⁓ and honestly in the league and country and all that kind of stuff. So that will be ready end of twenty seven, very start of twenty eight. So we'll be we'll be in that in the twenty eight season. I'm not twenty seven season I'm not very good at seasons. Twenty eight season. We'll be we'll be there training in the twenty eight season, which is yeah, that's whatever whatever my bosses did to get that done, Kudos figures that is going to be one of the biggest upgrades we can possibly have. speaker-0: It looked so cool. I mean my my mind started racing to like sort of like the the the walk ins, you know, and then like the kind of the the cinematic walk in stuff, maybe the walk and talk interviews. I was like, ⁓ man, that'd be so cool. So I can't wait. speaker-1: A d a dedicated training space is just one of the biggest high performance factors that can can be given to athletes. So ⁓ we'll we'll be making sure they're all very, very excited to be there. speaker-0: I love it. Lauren, you know, you mentioned the downtime for the athletes. Are you getting any downtime? I mean, please tell us what you do when you're not coaching volleyball. When when nothing volleyball is remotely around you, what are you doing? speaker-1: Yeah. So I ⁓ yeah, nothing volleyball. There's always something volleyball around me. So I I ⁓ speaker-0: That's why it's a tough question. That's why I gotta ask it. speaker-1: You'll always want to be watching volleyball or learning something about like teaching better or psychology. But if not, I definitely am very happy to spend time with my wife and my dog, who I did not see for two months. So we're walking every day. We just bought a new house that I'm sitting in right now. So I'm starting to learn how to manage a yard. We bought a a non motorized lawnmower, which everyone's laughing at. But I think it's so cool. And so like getting some workouts with my lawnmower and just yeah, enjoying enjoying the house and some peace for the moment. speaker-0: Congratulations. First off, the non motorized is wild. I can't even b I can't even imagine what that looks like. That's that's a crazy speaker-1: So it's it's honest it's honestly tough to push around, yeah. speaker-0: We're gonna see you with just massive triceps next season. You gotta wear all short sleeves on the bench. speaker-1: I will I will ⁓ I'm gonna roll ⁓ up, yeah. speaker-0: So you so you're doing all the yard work and what is your wife doing? Is she doing more of the the cooking and the cleaning or like and while you're outside doing the yard work on the Sundays? ⁓ That's awesome. No, I I know that it's always all volleyball all the time and still probably watching a lot of film. But yeah, I mean and and walking the dog too is great. I I can't imagine even having it. We I was just talking with my producer before I was like, Man, I really want a dog, but I travel too darn much. I I'm gonna be away all of next week and it's just like I don't know how that even works here in my tiny I have a tiny apartment. There's no front yard for me, but speaker-1: ⁓ that depends. Depends on the diet, okay. Community of people that look after her, to be honest. She has more friends than we do here in Fishes, yeah. speaker-0: Well, that's so great. Well, Lauren, we hope that you get to enjoy a lot more downtime before the season gets going, but we are just unbelievably excited to see the twenty twenty seven Indie Ignite squad and we're so excited to see you back on the bench. And it's been just an absolute pleasure to to chat with you here on set six. We appreciate it. speaker-1: Thank you so much for having me and yeah, for all you guys are doing to to grow our league. speaker-0: A big thank you to Lauren and also of course a huge thank you to Kathy over at the Ignite for setting this up. Kathy's the best. She helps us with everything and to the amazing ownership and staff and everybody over at A D, ⁓ Truly Minute. It's just ⁓ it's a a cornerstone franchise who does everything just an amazing way for us on the on the kind of backside of things, but also for ⁓ the fans and and all of the the systems that they have in place to bring you an amazing experience on game days as well, which we cannot wait for. ⁓ talking to Lauren was so awesome and I again I hope that you all feel the same way. It's so clear how much she cares about her athletes, which I'm sure all coaches do, but it really shines through in getting to talk with her. ⁓ it's so cool that she is able to really hone in on on who she is in an identity standpoint from her her coaching. I love where she took that answer when I kinda asked about her coaching style. I thought that was great. ⁓ I I think I think it was interesting to learn that high retention was always the goal, no matter how they did, from last season, I think even you know, w yeah, you'd you'd retain a team that wins that much. That's just obvious. But we talk about how that's just not always seen within the sport, no matter what league we're looking at, and then to know going in, they wanted to do that regardless, I think is great. ⁓ and like she said, bet on the growth that we're gonna have on our at that we're gonna see with with the athletes, ⁓ makes a lot of sense. And I I think that's a another really interesting thing to think about from a fans perspective. Everything that you watched from last year getting to see how your favorite athletes from that indie squad would grow and kind of grow into different roles, maybe potentially. ⁓ that to me is fascinating. So and then just ⁓ even if we go back to the the ownership and the the front office way that it's been constructed and what they're doing, like let's just look at that facility for example. Like I'll give you a little facility story time. With my time with the US national team and covering them, y you think from the outside like, ⁓ man, you glamorous probably Playing in the best gyms, getting the best facilities. And I don't know if everybody's aware of this. That's not always the case. I mean, being on the road with some of those teams, you're in tiny gyms or tiny spare rooms that have to serve as gyms, never mind, you know, where where are the where's the actual net gonna be, you know, where w how where are what is the condition of the balls you're gonna be able to be serving with? You know, ⁓ it's I I can't even begin to describe I I'm trying to stop myself from bringing up the exact stops and where they were, because that's not fair to anybody. But look, they're not even at the highest level of this sport and what we all have defined as that it's not all sunshines and rainbows for where and when and how you can practice and where where you can have the access to things. So I say all that to to bring up then to to see this new high performance facility that's coming and is going to be you know, a new place for the home of Indy and to have that kind of investment and care in our league for these players is is great and I'm looking forward to that expanding to all of the rest of our teams, but also I just think it's it's what these athletes deserve. And that again goes into what we got to see at Pitt, what we'll see with more trips that we have planned to go to some ⁓ NCAA institutions that, you know, yeah, it's it's it's great for everybody to have state of the art everything. But when you look at these athletes and all of the that they contribute to this league They deserve to have the best and I think it's so great that Indy is is helping doing that. So ⁓ I can also not wait to see ⁓ Tia Scambrae come in and with the prior knowledge of Lauren. I'm I'm so ⁓ fascinated to see like how that ⁓ melds with with what the the team are there already knows about her. But ⁓ clearly with with how many how much Laura Lauren brought her up, that's ⁓ someone that that she knows well and that knows her well and and her style. And I I'm assuming she'll fit right in. But just just see her go right into the fold with the the system in Indy, I think is gonna be great. So looking forward to that, looking forward to the season. I needed to get here. These hot summer dog days in July are brutal. Missing volleyball, ⁓ as you can probably tell, and as I know you are as well. All right, let's wrap up the show. I'll just tell you what I'm up to. ⁓ speaking of hot and brutal days, but man, something that was so worth it. Got to go to warp tour, ⁓ bring out the inner emo kid in me, which if you you've been listening, you know that's never grew out of that phase. But it was so much fun. I I went to the Long Beach tour with a couple friends and ⁓ that was right before I had to get on a plane the next day to head off to Ren. But I love that work hard play hard lifestyle and th that was certainly worth it and it was so much fun to s get to see some of my favorite bands. ⁓ got to see all time low, Story So Far, Hot Mulligan, ⁓ Sleepin' the sirens, those are all some of my favorite bands and ⁓ so it was so cool and and ⁓ yeah, it's so worth it. I I'm getting too old for festivals to be honest with you. Like my back is hurting afterwards. I gotta put Doctor Shoals in my van. So, you know, it's it's it was funny. Some of the shirts ⁓ around have like the the simple plan kind of sh shift Of the the lyrics from I'm just a kid to it's crossed out and then it's I'm just an adult, which is just too great, too great. So that was a lot of fun. Did was doing that recently. I'm gonna go see the new Spider-Man movie tomorrow, so I'm sticking very true to my my nerd roots. ⁓ but I've been excited for that movie for a while. I I was saying to a friend, I like, This is the first movie where I feel like Tom Holland actually looks like he's a full grown adult. And he's not that much older than me too, so I just still think it's funny. He's trying to get away from that kid perspective, and it's like No, we we all still see you as as a kid, but I've been rewatching some of the movies in my spare time and on the planes too to ⁓ get hype for that. ⁓ so I'm I'm going, yeah, right bright and early to the opening showing. ⁓ the earliest one that I could get to at least. ⁓ a couple buddies of of and mine are we're gonna go play ⁓ Monarch, ⁓ Monarch Bay, which is one of the golf courses out golf courses out here, ⁓ that we've been looking to play for a while and I keep having to shift the date with all the travel that we're doing for MLV, but excited to play some golf. I'm playing some terrible golf right now and I'm breaking a rule that ⁓ when my my mom asked me, she's like, Don't don't ever talk about golf. Like, no one wants to hear that. And I'm like, I know, I won't ever. But just as as a as an aside, I'm very excited to play that course soon. And then lastly, producer Jenna gave me an awesome book that we we both are ⁓ very big fans of Top Gear and we're the Grand Tour and ⁓ we actually were discussing some of it in you know in terms of ⁓ content planning and content ideas and things we'd seen and ⁓ she had a book from Andy Willman, the producer that she's letting me borrow. So I'm I'm starting to dive into that and getting to learn some of the stories and behind the scenes. I would like to think that any any personality here in at MLV is not gonna be as volatile as the end of the Top Gear days, but man, I miss it. And I saw too that ⁓ there's gonna be a new Top Gear ⁓ team from actually some of the guys ⁓ that I got to that I watch all the time over at Throttle House on their their YouTube and ⁓ I think it's also Francis who who reviews trains as well. So if it's very wholesome stuff if you're looking for things on social. Which is lot of fun. yeah, I'm diving into and and getting in getting my reading going. I I said before I need to read more, and ⁓ Jenna's holding me to that, so I appreciate it. So there you go. That's what I'm up to, and that is the show. Thank you to producers Mike, Amy, and Jenna. Does not happen without them, and it doesn't happen without you. We appreciate you so much for tuning in, for liking, commenting, and subscribing. Please continue to submit your comments and questions for the mailbag. ⁓ you can reach me and the show at severin at mlvb.com. As I said before, stay tuned to our socials for more content from Ren, and our live podcast from Ren, or our semi-live podcast from Ren, is gonna be next week. So stay tuned for that on episode 16. But for now, that is all. I'm your host, Severin Lavenstein, and you've been listening to Set 6, the official podcast of Major League Fall.