#B1GFirstServe – Rutgers Volleyball At Big Ten Media Day

 

Opening Statement:

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER : Year 4, wow! I am unable to imagine it. It’s gone quick. It’s my sixth season, headed into my sixth season at Rutgers, and it is exceptional how a lot this program has actually shifted over the previous six seasons, and I’m actually excited to be right here to clearly let Lexi and Kenzie discuss their expertise this previous spring in addition to what the staff is — what you are going to be experiencing as a Rutgers staff within the fall. Thank you all for being right here and being a part of this media day expertise.

Q. Coach, I wish to ask as you head into 2025 and persevering with to construct what you are most trying ahead to and wished to showcase with this explicit squad this 12 months.

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: Yeah, this staff final 12 months was extremely younger. We began 4 freshmen, a few sophomores. We solely graduated one key participant. Obviously, she was a significant contributor, however we really feel like we have been capable of undoubtedly exchange that place by means of the switch portal. So I’m simply excited that we’re in a position to make use of the expertise that we had in sadly being defeated in some actually tight matches final 12 months, however really having had the chance to play in these matches up to now, we have by no means actually had that have to go to 5 units in so many matches that we did. Unfortunately, dropping them on the finish, I believe got here all the way down to somewhat little bit of inexperience and simply staff management as a complete, however clearly I gained the chance to be taught, and the remainder of my teaching employees to learn to transfer ahead and actually recover from the end line in these matches. I believe you are going to see a little bit of a unique Rutgers staff but additionally the identical — it is type of arduous to elucidate. We clearly have some new individuals in some key positions, however a whole lot of returners as effectively.

Q. I’ll ask the gamers what you are trying ahead to and what you need individuals to know as you undergo summer time exercises about what this 2025 Rutgers staff goes to be like. KENZIE DYRSTAD: I simply really need individuals to know that we’re a really close-knit staff and we’re engaged on fixing the little issues and we’re actually engaged on coming collectively and with the ability to play effectively with each other.

LEXI VISINTINE: I’d say we have been working extraordinarily arduous in summer time exercises and elevate and apply and that we’re able to compete and play in opposition to the perfect.

Q. Talk about Lauren Wilcock, a switch, additionally a Master’s biomedical sciences main. How does that match with the volleyball coaching schedule?

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: I’ll speak concerning the academic piece first. We have among the best diploma applications in biomedical sciences. I’ve discovered loads about that graduate program. But the dean of that program has had a number of athletes come by means of, so that they know learn how to work with the schedules. Rutgers, being such a big establishment, we provide a whole lot of lessons at completely different occasions. One of the issues we’re doing this 12 months is shifting our apply block somewhat bit later within the day. We practiced earlier within the day up to now, however transferring to somewhat bit later within the day. It’s all the time my purpose to have native expertise on the staff. Lauren was within the ones pair at Washington. She was additionally within the ones pair earlier than that at South Carolina and one thing that actually stood out to me about her was she sometimes had a accomplice that was youthful than her. So from a management standpoint, I believed she can be an exquisite add, assist assist our passing unit. And there’s been a transition for her clearly taking the sport from outdoors to inside, simply the pace, however I acquired to observe her do some coaching throughout camp final week, and I believed she actually has meshed properly. Q. Can I ask the gamers what that transition is like? Do you discover when somebody has that main seashore background?

KENZIE DYRSTAD: Yeah, we fiddle with Lauren, particularly after we’re sitting youngsters on the camp was like, oh, is not {that a} carry although when she was setting, and he or she’s like, I’m engaged on it. So she’s undoubtedly engaged on that. Obviously, setting in seashore is somewhat bit completely different, however she’s engaged on that after which just a few footwork issues. And she stated diving was loads completely different. She acquired fairly bruised up the primary couple weeks of open gymnasium. But she’s meshed actually properly with us, and I’m tremendous excited to have the ability to hold taking part in along with her.

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: I used to be joking along with her as a result of clearly Lexi has a very robust soar high spin serve and Lauren was like, effectively, I did it on the seashore. I used to be like, that is a free ball. We’ve acquired to be higher at that. She was like, I simply have to determine learn how to hit the indoor ball somewhat bit tougher.

Q. What is your mindset coming into the upcoming season?

KENZIE DYRSTAD: For me personally, my mindset is we get to play in opposition to the perfect of the perfect day in, day trip. There’s not a whole lot of conferences the place you get to say that you just play top-25 groups back-to-back nights. Really simply having fun with the second and making an attempt to do not forget that it is so cool to have the ability to play a number of the finest athletes within the nation and actually specializing in that.

LEXI VISINTINE: I’d say one thing comparable. Going into my senior 12 months, I actually wish to make this my finest season and revel in each second.

Q. Coach, how do you identify taking part in time, and what are some elements thought-about for freshmen coming in?

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: Well, taking part in time. We prepare for about 25 days earlier than our first sport. Obviously, now we have the chance to see these gamers on extra of a year-round foundation. Summer entry can be fantastic, however we get to see them play loads. We additionally had been capable of go on a international journey this 12 months, so I acquired somewhat little bit of an early perception. We had been capable of deliver certainly one of our freshmen, Imani Howell on that journey with us, so acquired to see how she meshed with the staff. I believe taking part in time comes from just a few issues. You can carry out effectively in apply however are you able to replicate that in a sport, and there is sure gamers who can and there is sure gamers who cannot. We be taught that over time of simply attending to know them and experiencing. It doesn’t suggest that is each night time, however that undoubtedly is one thing that goes into it. I believe aggressive persona, the way you maintain your self beneath the strain, beneath the massive lights, the followers, how do you get well, are you taking good care of your physique appropriately. So we play back-to-back nights generally, and are the gamers which might be capable of repeat their Friday night time ability degree on Saturday night time. Then final however not least, clearly, expertise. As you become older, you get extra snug, in order that goes into it as effectively. We have not actually had that a lot alternative to essentially have a whole lot of skilled gamers on the market, so this would be the first 12 months the place I believe now we have a junior and senior class that is ready to actually maintain their very own and it is not simply all freshmen on the market, freshmen and sophomores on the market.

Q. For the gamers and coaches, how do you guys course of sport movie? Do you watch the Big Ten Network? Do you hear with out the sound? How do you absorb a sport?

KENZIE DYRSTAD: Usually, earlier than video games, we’ll break down movie by means of volley metrics, so we’ll have a look at hitting tendencies, serving tendencies, all that kind of stuff. We actually break it all the way down to what are individuals’s very particular tendencies so we will attempt to like assist stop what they’re actually, actually good at or issues like that.

LEXI VISINTINE: Yeah, we normally take it in offense. We give attention to that and scout their offense, after which their protection, which makes it simpler to digest. Then we type a sport plan about what we should always do.

Q. How do you guys know once you watch the sport? Do you watch broadcast? How do you watch the sport?

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: So I’ve this saying the place I’m like, are we watching it as a participant, are we scouting this, or are we watching this as a fan. It’s completely okay to observe video games as a fan. They’re each from states which might be large volleyball states and so they may simply wish to activate the tv and watch the sport as a fan. But it is a very completely different mindset once you’re watching it to arrange for a staff. I would not advocate that they only activate BTN and simply watch the sport and say, hey, we’re prepped. No, it is not like that. We’re on the highway generally and we’ll flip it on at night time simply within the resort after we’re consuming dinner or no matter if it is a sport after hours. But in relation to movie breakdown, our technical director does an unbelievable job of making small movies for the gamers. We break down apply movie to allow them to see themselves taking part in. We break particular person reps. This 12 months — I believe up to now having a younger staff we actually drive fed a whole lot of the scouting report back to them, and so they did a fantastic job of memorizing set 1. We did loads higher job — received a ton of set 1s. We did not do a fantastic job of with the ability to transition into when the opposite staff made an adjustment in set 2, 3, 4. We virtually wanted to have a complete ‘nother apply to find out about that. So we’re spending extra time much less staff particular issues and extra about participant tendencies, and in order that’s an space they wish to give attention to this 12 months. They do small group classes. Loads of movie.

Q. Coach, you alluded to the international travels that you just guys had. I believe this was the primary time ever and for all three of you, inform us what that does in your program, chemistry, competitors, et cetera.

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: Yeah, our important two donors who actually helped fund that journey aren’t going to wish to have their names introduced, however we had been very supported when it got here from a donor relationship to essentially drive that journey. It was a purpose of mine after I first was employed that I wished to do this journey and look forward to the precise timing of it. We’ve had a chance really to do that in all probability for the final three years however I wasn’t certain the staff dynamic, every little thing was precisely the place I wished it to be that may actually soar begin the following season. I felt after this spring — really after final fall of realizing we had been retaining nearly all of our staff, having the chance to coach for the additional 10 days earlier than that journey after which go on that journey, the relationships, after which the expansion from a participant growth that we had been capable of create. So once more, sure, it was the primary journey Rutgers has ever executed. I used to be capable of do a international journey with a few of my earlier establishments and I simply noticed how profitable these seasons are. Actually one of many methods we acquired the journey pushed by means of is we had to perform a little research concerning the success of different applications on years after international journeys. There actually is a pattern that is associated to that, in order that was a driving issue for these donors to essentially push by means of that journey. But I had an exquisite time. I acquired to know my gamers much more on a private degree. My daughter was capable of go, my mom was capable of go, so that they acquired to see that facet of my life extra. It was a whole lot of collectively time, however I used to be really actually — possibly you guys can clarify how we acquired by means of that journey, however I used to be shocked how there actually was no preventing. Everyone appeared to essentially nonetheless get pleasure from being round one another on the finish of that journey, and that was fairly cool.

KENZIE DYRSTAD: Yeah, it was so cool to have the ability to expertise new cultures, particularly now we have a woman on our staff, Ema, she’s from Serbia, so to have the ability to expertise her tradition, her house, it was so cool. Just all the brand new experiences and with the ability to create new recollections, particularly with the brand new individuals, that simply makes your staff a lot nearer. It’s going to essentially translate to the courtroom hopefully.

LEXI VISINTINE: I’d simply add that it was additionally fascinating to see the completely different types of play. I really feel like each nation had their distinctive manner of taking part in. I believe it was a fantastic expertise for us to develop.

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: For a participant like Lexi who’s going into her senior 12 months and doubtlessly what’s subsequent, do I keep taking part in volleyball, do I am going into the workforce, what do I do. I believe opening her eyes and type of placing phrases in your mouth, however she had an exquisite international journey, and the doorways that opened from simply different groups attending to see her play and completely different nations which may not have been their first considered a 5’10” outdoors hitter, they acquired to see how profitable she was in opposition to actually high quality gamers. We performed the U-21 Italian staff and he or she had an unbelievable hitting share in opposition to them, so it was simply actually fascinating. Q. What retains you guys motivated when issues get robust in volleyball?

LEXI VISINTINE: I’d say there’s a whole lot of youthful women who appeared as much as us, and I believe that is the primary factor that retains me motivated, is taking part in for my youthful self and taking part in for youthful women that may like to be in my footwear.

KENZIE DYRSTAD: For me, similar factor as Lexi. Playing for youthful me who cherished the sport. I nonetheless love the sport. Really, simply specializing in my pleasure for the sport simply actually retains me going.

Q. Caitlin, how has the House settlement impacted your staff administration? And for the gamers, is {that a} matter of dialog or are you discussing that? Is that in your thoughts of how the game is rising and evolving?

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: Yeah, the House settlement is fascinating. Obviously, I adopted alongside the entire course of for the previous a number of years. I do not understand how a lot they’ve adopted alongside the ins and outs of it. But I believe a whole lot of coaches will say that is not the rationale they acquired into teaching initially was due to the place we’re at now, however I do assume after actually making an attempt to course of and ask the questions as to why we acquired up to now, I perceive. I see how a lot is on their plate and the way a lot is on all of the gamers’ plates in all completely different sports activities and the way a lot they actually do symbolize these establishments in such a high-quality manner that it is just truthful that they are capable of be compensated for his or her time and what they create to the desk. However, what they in all probability will understand is it is a robust ask for each establishment, not solely Rutgers, however each establishment. I used to be simply speaking to the top of our booster membership, and he or she’s concerned with the Women in Finance group at Rutgers, and so they did a complete overview of how all of the Big Ten groups would fare in relation to paying out this amount of cash 12 months after 12 months after 12 months. The actuality is it is going to be robust for just about 98 % of establishments. How that interprets, I believe Rutgers is doing an exquisite job of making an attempt to maintain the expertise the identical for all of out athletes no matter what sport they play, and we have been capable of be at a degree the place I’ve fought for the previous a number of years after I took over this program so ensure that we had been operationally funded the identical manner different groups within the Big Ten had been, as a result of up to now the volleyball program was not. And so as a way to achieve success we have to stay at that degree. Obviously doing issues like promoting tickets for the primary time ever in program historical past was an enormous deal, and that is one thing that I pushed for for a number of years, and now I wish to present that now we have this fan base that is capable of generate some earnings again into the college, and it simply exhibits how invested the area is within the sport of volleyball. Again, in relation to player-to-player, these are particular person conversations, and Rutgers is a part of that blend for volleyball. Obviously, we’re going by means of some administrative adjustments, and we need not get into that, however we’ll work out who’s main the cost, and that’s whoever that could be. Obviously, we have had fantastic interim athletic administrators within the meantime, however whoever full-time leads the cost, they know that volleyball must be a precedence sport as a result of it’s on this convention.

Q. Have you had conversations on the participant degree in any respect?

KENZIE DYRSTAD: I wish to ask Caitlin questions on it. I see a whole lot of it, particularly on Twitter I’ll see individuals publish about it. Most of my conversations have simply been asking Caitlin, what does this imply, what is that this, stuff like that.

LEXI VISINTINE: Pretty a lot the identical.

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: It’s actually vital to me that I deal with my gamers as if they’re skilled athletes as a result of they principally are skilled athletes. So I wish to ensure that they’re a part of their very own course of and that I’m as clear as doable with the choices I’ve to make and the way it impacts them. I do not wish to disguise something from them. Obviously there’s issues they do not must be aware of that do not have an effect on them instantly, however I believe it is vital that they are conscious of choices that not solely the NCAA is making, not solely the ABCA is making, but additionally that Rutgers is making and I’m making that may have an effect on them within the close to future.

Q. Can you speak somewhat bit about what went into your resolution to deliver Kenzie and Lexi to media days this 12 months?

CAITLIN SCHWEIHOFER: Sure. Well, Kenzie has been a captain for us. She was captain as a sophomore, which I believe is de facto — possibly a uncommon factor. I do not know what number of groups have a sophomore captain. But she was our libero full-time final season. She has a ton of expertise. But now we have a household tree rising within the Dyrstad household, so it is one thing she has actually invested on this Rutgers course of and development course of. She was one of many first true commits that I had for the category of 2023, and he or she opened the door for us within the Nebraska market, and now that is rising exponentially 12 months after 12 months, the curiosity. I thought it was actually vital she symbolize this staff and this program. Lexi is a very distinctive story the place she got here in as a walk-on, as a freshman, and I did not know precisely what position she would fill. She performed extra of a utility participant, however she has taken each single little bit of suggestions that I’ve given her, that the remainder of the employees has given her in nice stride and now she is a participant we will not take off the courtroom. So I felt like she actually earned that honor to symbolize this staff, and it simply exhibits that identical to this program that we’re making an attempt to create as a complete, that generally it takes time to fulfill your objectives. It does not all the time occur in a single day, however the actuality is in case you keep on with one thing frequently, good issues can occur.

 

 

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