The Grit Behind Volleyball Glory with Toni Rodriguez - Episode #228

Join us as Toni Rodriguez, from a freshman starting out in the sport to LSU volleyball star to and now, professional beach volleyball player. Toni shares her journey through the competitive sports world. Dive into the lessons she's learned about discipline, resilience, and mastering life's agreements both on and off the court.

In this episode, Toni discusses her transition to pro sport, and now mentoring the next generation. She explores the nuances of forming partnerships in beach volleyball, likening it to the intricacies of dating, and the crucial support systems that helped her recover from a career-threatening injury.

Gain insights into the demanding lifestyle of a professional athlete—from the importance of nutrition and adapting a farm-to-table lifestyle, to balancing intense training with enjoying global cuisines. Whether you're an aspiring athlete or a seasoned sports enthusiast, this episode offers a unique look at enduring success through the ups and downs of a sports career.

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Other episodes you might enjoy:
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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

How much did that cost? Do you mind if I ask how much that cost?

Speaker 2: 0:05

I did not. I do not have the exact number off the top of my head, but I'm going to assume close to 40k, 50k Easy.

Speaker 1: 0:17

Hey folks, welcome back to the 228th episode of the Athletes Podcast. I'm your host, david Stark, and today we have the pleasure of talking with Tony Rodriguez, born and raised in Southern Louisiana. She, like me, played a bunch of sports growing up and she was introduced to volleyball as a freshman in high school and loved it so much that she started playing in college, at LSU no big deal. She also started playing beach volleyball at LSU as well. She's obtained three degrees, and those come from hard work, dedication, following through on agreements, consuming your protein like diesel sports protein, using the code AP20 at checkout to save yourself money, because why wouldn't? You and I talked about agreements. We also have agreements here on the Athletes Podcast. If you're not familiar, it's one of those few YouTube channels that aren't free. We ask, actually, in return for watching this content, you hit the subscribe button Super simple process right over here or wherever it is. Hit that subscribe, follow along wherever you're listening to this show. We really appreciate it and in exchange for watching, all we ask is that you subscribe. It allows us to keep creating this content on a weekly basis, bringing on these incredible individuals and educating, entertaining and inspiring the next generation of athletes. We're also wrapping up month three of the AP Book Club hosted by Katie Simonson. This is the third book. It's called 4,000 Weeks, a New York Times bestseller that will allow you to embrace your limits, change your life. This is essentially time management for mortals, something I certainly will be benefiting from and I'm sure others who are listening will as well. And since you're listening to the Athletes Podcast, you're already prioritizing your health, fitness and wellness, so why not manage your time better as well? I just want to say thank you for tuning into the show. There's thousands of you who continue to watch, listen on a weekly basis and as we pass over the 4.5 year mark here at the athletes podcast, I have to recognize 2058 of you for subscribing to our YouTube channel and for the hundreds of others that are listening every single week. I can't thank you enough. Let me know if you are listening. Thank you to our sponsor.

Speaker 1: 2:18

Perfect sports supplements. They make the best protein on the market and these protein bars are absolutely incredible. Can't recommend you get them enough. Here's a little ASMR. Let's get into the 228th episode of the show. Here we go. You're the most decorated racquetball player in US history, world's strongest man, from childhood passion to professional athlete, eight time Ironman champion. So what was it like making your debut in the NHL? What is your biggest piece of advice for the next generation of athletes, from underdogs to national champions? This is the Athletes Podcast, where high-performance individuals share their triumphs, defeats and life lessons to educate, entertain and inspire the next generation of athletes. Here we go. Tony Rodriguez, welcome to the Athletes Podcast. Thank you so much for coming on.

Speaker 2: 3:07

Hi, thanks so much for having me.

Speaker 1: 3:10

Hey, when you and Parker Harrell continue to reach out persistently, it's inevitable that we're going to get you on at some point. I appreciate your persistence. It's the sign of a good athlete, and clearly LSU Athletics has been breeding them for what seems like decades. Now I got to ask, Tony, are you a little jealous of those LSU gals that are raking in the NIL money?

Speaker 2: 3:32

Oh gosh, I miss that. I miss that by one year One year Right. Yeah, it's kind of crazy. It's kind of crazy Now that I'm a pro athlete trying to get all of these deals and all of these college athletes are getting them. It's like okay.

Speaker 1: 3:50

I'm pretty sure I saw on a graph that LSU was at the top of NIL earnings and I think that has a lot to do with people like Libby Dunn and Angel Reese acquiring a substantial amount of that. But nonetheless I was curious as someone who was freshly graduated and, kind of like you said, missed that opportunity by a year. And now pros are like, hey, why are all these college kids getting all the cash? How do you feel? Is there some type of maybe emotions from the pros? We just talked with xana muno I guess it was almost half a year ago now down in hermosa beach and we asked her a similar question, but I guess maybe, as things have gone on, where, where's your head at now?

Speaker 2: 4:35

I mean it is very hard to get sponsors. It's no um, it's no joke and uh, you know, with the college game, getting NIL, it's just even harder. But I think it's just about being persistent and then having people in your corner like Parker Harrell or other agents or people that can just help you get connections. So obviously it would be nice to be a part of the collegiate time in which NIL is going on, but obviously as a pro beach volleyball player we don't make a salary, so sponsorship is kind of what we rely on and our earnings so why is that?

Speaker 1: 5:17

that we have these tremendous athletes who have incredible opportunities to represent their country on a national stage, international stage, yet we can't find brands to fund their dreams and desires to perform at the best, and it is such a shame. With Cookstark Management, what Lander Cook and I are doing is advocating for female athletes as well. We have 30 clients under our roster and it is like pulling teeth. Despite the fact that everyone sees women's sports on the rise, it's still only been 4, 6, 8% over the past couple of years, now gaining towards 15% media rates, but like still a lot of room to grow. Story the injuries you've had to overcome, because I think when brands start to realize the story that you have to tell, that might be the flip of the switch that they need to jump on the Tony bandwagon and make sure that you're taken care of heading into 2028.

Speaker 2: 6:15

Right, absolutely so. I'm Tony. I'm from Santa Ma, louisiana, and I am born and raised there. I'm from Santa Ma, louisiana, and I am born and raised there. I played a bunch of sports growing up and fell in love with volleyball.

Speaker 2: 6:34

My my freshman year of high school knew I wanted to play collegiately, going into my sophomore year. By the time I was a senior, I was verbally committed to the university of Tennessee on a full ride and I was super excited. And three games into my senior year I tore my ACL and about a week later the Tennessee coach pulled my scholarship. So, yeah, 17-year-old, not really knowing what all that meant at that time. But now, looking back, I was super blessed and fortunate to walk on at LSU, which was a dream school of mine, and they just weren't recruiting me. But I've always bled purple and gold. You know my parents were LSU fans basically their whole lives and my whole life. So, yeah, went to LSU, registered my first year, my second year, I ended up starting for the indoor team um was killing it and then unfortunately tore my other ACL. Um, yeah, after going through it once I was kind of like, okay, I can do this, like it's no problem, I've already done it one time. A second time is not going to not going to kill me here, but then, unfortunately, I had some crazy infection post surgery and ended up going to the hospital for about a week and, yeah, they had to go into my knee a couple times and it was just crazy and finally got through all that and made it back out on the other side and finished my indoor career at LSU and then, when I was done, in 2018, I decided to play my last Well, I guess my last official season that I could play of beach.

Speaker 2: 8:21

In 2019, I had my first season season that I could play of Beach in 2019. I had my first season, so I started Beach in 2019. And I loved it so much that I filed for a medical red shirt. The second year I was at LSU and the NCAA granted me the red shirt, so, which is kind of crazy and like unheard of I'm like one of the first seventh years before all of the, the covid people, but um. So I got another year, came back um, and in 2020, unfortunately, covid hit. We were ranked number one in the country looking to win a national championship. That year, um for lsu beach volleyball and season got cut short. But I came back for a seventh year and, yeah, we went for the national championship again. We fell short, but I'm sitting here with three degrees and just feeling super blessed to have such an amazing college career.

Speaker 1: 9:20

I think adversity fuels that drive for future endeavors, whatever that is, and I think the where people will go through a first ACL, run through it a second time. Brad Thorpe talks about the fact that women in general now actually are seeing a crazy increase in ACL injuries because of some of the training methods and modalities that we're doing. Have you heard that? Is that consistent with you as well?

Speaker 2: 10:00

Yes, I recently heard that and I also have a really good friend. She played with me at LSU and she is doing a lot of research on women hormones and they found like a lot of research in, like, when we're about to go into our this is kind of gross, but whatever, it's like good stuff when you're about to go into your menstrual phase, your estrogen or progesterone one of those two goes up and it actually um makes your tendons and ligaments laxed, which is like higher risk of, uh, damaging one of those things. Um. So I thought that that was really interesting and it would be. It would be be interesting to know like it would be hard to do like a study on that, because obviously you don't know when you're going to be tearing your ACL, like you know, but it would just be interesting to know if that does play a big part in in in why you know females are are tearing ACLs more.

Speaker 2: 10:59

It's kind of crazy.

Speaker 1: 11:02

Yeah, I hadn't heard that one, but it would make sense. I mean, your bodies are built to reproduce at the end of the day, right? So it's probably not prioritizing you jumping as high as possible when it's trying to make sure that you can build a new life if it's needed. So anyway, I'm not a biology major doctor, nor do I have any?

Speaker 1: 11:25

knowledge around all of that. So it is good to know. I do know that Brad Thorpe will mention. He'll send me some of that research and I'll make sure to include it in the show notes and at the beginning of the intro. Right now, obviously are still seeing additional exposure, but that comes with additional pressures, additional brands, requests et cetera.

Speaker 2: 11:52

Can you talk about that transition post-school to pro-life and how you've been able to navigate it. Yeah, it can be really hard. I feel like a lot of sports are set up for success when it comes to that transitional period, but for beach volleyball players, you know, it's kind of like all who you know and, um, just like having people in your corner. I actually decided to move to California to pursue this dream. Um after um, uh. So one of the USC coaches after the national championship in 2021, she came up to me. Her name was Laura Weaver and said hey, I really liked the way that you play. I would love to play with you. Um, I'm a pro beach volleyball player Like you should look to come to California and like that kind of sparked like me moving to California.

Speaker 2: 12:36

And I also had another friend, claire Coppola. She played at our ones um at LSU for four years and she and her family were like you need to move to California. And I was like, okay, like I don't know how or what or where, but I'm going to try. Um. And so the connection with Laurel. I ended up living with her for a couple of months and then there's other girls out here that I knew of that play professionally and so you just started making connections and then, once you make one connection, you make a connection with someone else and then you start getting invited to training groups and that's just kind of how I got into it. And then, as far as work you know cause I don't get paid a salary Um, I ended up coaching um for a beach club out here called elite beach volleyball and I also started my own business called level up volleyball, which is just a virtual recruiting platform. So I help athletes make recruiting videos, help them write emails, get them contacts for coaches, things like that.

Speaker 2: 13:33

So the transitional period was, honestly, easier than I thought it was going to be. It could have been a lot harder or more challenging, but I feel like I had the right people in my corner helping me figure it out and um, and I think that that's what it's all about. I recently um reached out to an LSU player that's graduating now and she's expressed that she wants to play professionally and I feel like not that it's my duty, but like that it's like I want to help her, like I want to help guide her. I want to help her find a place to live, like I want to help her, like I want to help guide her. I want to help her find a place to live, I want to help her get into the usa program. I want like I just want to provide guidance, because I feel like if you don't have that, it's a really you can be on an island out here and not know where to go or what to do.

Speaker 1: 14:18

So it's part of why I started the athletes podcast over four and a half years ago. Honestly, uh, tony, what you're saying here is it resonates. Uh, christy Jenkins traveled over to California similar story to you, I mean. She came from Australia but like it seems like California just attracts all the volleyball players and, to your point, there is something about your community that is inviting and allows for people to come in crash on couches. I know that was one of her stories and, like you, just got to make stuff happen and people are willing to play with you, whether it's sixes, whether it's doubles.

Speaker 1: 14:55

Um, I'm a huge fan of the california kind of vibes and just the fact that there's what 20 plus courts out there on hermosa beach where we recorded with zanna and like people are just showing up playing all day and then crashing and it's like it's. There's just a different mentality on the west coast, a little less, a little bit more relaxed. Um, but it requires having a partner and, like you, got to find that partner that fits you, is willing to train with you. I myself would struggle with that because I'm, you know, got a bit of a drive and you know, sometimes I'm willing to do things most others aren't? Have you had that? Is that something that the volleyball community shares, like, how do you guys manage that?

Speaker 2: 15:36

Everyone always asks how do you get a partner? What's the process like? And, to be honest, I mean AVP's talked about it a lot but like it's basically dating. It's like you're getting, you're like, hey, you want to get in the sand with me, and then it's like you get out there and you kind of test the waters. It's basically the same as dating. But yeah, I think it's really important to um have have similar values and similar goals. I think that that's the two biggest things values and goals. If those two things don't align, I just don't. It usually just doesn't work out and that's just that. Or maybe those two things do align, but maybe your chemistry on the court it's not there, or maybe, um, yeah, maybe you just don't get along with this person, or maybe there's just someone better. You know so?

Speaker 1: 16:25

dating advice on the athletes podcast. You didn't know you were coming for it today, but this is what you're getting. Uh, what, what else like? Because I'm also trying to wrap my head around the fact that in grade 12, you tear your ACL and then Tennessee is just like well, see you later, tennessee, texas.

Speaker 1: 16:41

Tennessee, that's right, oh, first time, and like that's got to be. You're like oh man, I was just committing to you guys for the next half decade of my life and now you basically are tearing up the contract we had written on a napkin, similar to like NFL contracts, still to this day. But how do you, how? What was the process like for you during that time? Parents support network.

Speaker 2: 17:04

Yeah, it was honestly really sad. I just yeah, it was just really sad. I just remember my parents coming in my room and telling me like hey, like they pulled your scholarship, like you're not going, and I think that was maybe the worst part, Like seeing my parents so upset for me, like they were crying for me, and I just like it's just so hard when you see the people that have supported you and pushed you in, got you to where you are, be so upset for you. You know, and as a 17 year old, like you don't really know what's going on, like you're so young still. And yeah, it was just a really sad time, but I feel like kind of what got me through it.

Speaker 2: 17:55

I had an incredible high school coach and to this day, she's, um, still a mentor, kind of like an older sister, friend, whatever you want to call it.

Speaker 2: 18:04

She's still a big part of my life and, um, she still pushes me to to keep going after this dream that I have for for the Olympics and, um, I feel like she is the reason why, um, it was like I got through it, um, and she like allowed me to um basically not coach, but like be a part of like coaching stuff and like start to understand the game more and just like expand my knowledge. And I got to kind of be like an assistant coach and so, although it was like a really like tough time, it was still eye opening and allowed me to find my passion in coaching and, like I know, that's what I want to do after I'm done playing. So I feel like, although you know I didn't go to the school that school and you know I didn't get to have a senior season, and you know we were predicted to win the state championship and you know all these things Um, I still feel like I gained um good things out of out of it, you know.

Speaker 1: 19:11

So yeah, that parent factor is so wild during the whole process too, because they're like an extension of you, they're advocating for you, they're involved in writing all the applications for those scholarships. I'm sure to some degree or another like and it made me think skylar groat uh, one of the wrestlers on our csm team, her quote that she shared it was like a parent not being proud of you is far more frightening than the scariest opponent.

Speaker 1: 19:41

It's a Kale Sanderson quote and it was like, oh, not the same example, obviously because they're still proud of you, you just lost it. But like you do stuff for your parents that you're willing to go through walls, you're willing to do whatever it takes, you'd probably apply the same to your educational institution. So for them to just do that for you with no remorse is like, oh man, this is crazy. Anyway, I digress because I also think that educational institutions have a right, and when they sign a contract like that and commit to you, it should be their support on the back end, similar to what you're doing. So, anyways, that's my personal opinion. Maybe we can change these things down the road. Right, this is what we try and do is aspirational things inspire people to do incredible feats. You've been able to accomplish some incredible feats, one of which is following up with me like 42 times to make sure we got on this show. Why were you so persistent in making sure you got on? I gotta ask on this show.

Speaker 2: 20:36

Why were you so persistent in making sure you got on? I gotta ask I just I mean, parker just spoke so highly of you and you know, I I had been checking the podcast out on Instagram and just felt like this would be a really cool opportunity to connect and, um, yeah, just get my story out there. And um, obviously one of the reasons why I play is to continue to inspire people, even if they do go through, you know, tough times and, like I only told you like a couple of things I went through. Like I still like I had a shoulder surgery, I tore my meniscus in 2022, like I've gone through so much and it's so interesting, like when I'm talking about it, because I'm like, golly, like I've gone through so much, like how am I even still going? And so I just feel like, um, if one person can hear my story and it can help them, um, that's like what I want to do. So I felt like this was the perfect podcast for that.

Speaker 1: 21:26

I love that I'm snapping it's like the the nice way of clapping, I guess, or whatever they do at like a speakeasies. But yeah, I like I'm glad you said it that way, because that's what we're doing, even if it's just one athlete, every episode the fact that we can make a difference. Put this out there, share your story. You should tell us more about your shoulder surgery, everything else that you've gone through, because this is the kind of stuff that people need to realize. Whether they're going through this personally right now. Whether they're going through this personally right now, whether they're in a dark place, whether they're facing addiction, whether their parents are getting a divorce. Like insert any variable. Those are stories that people can take and be like hey, I'm trying for the Olympics also in 2028, or I'm 90 days away from the Paris Olympics and like I still need those little bit of tidbits of information and knowledge and wisdom and like.

Speaker 1: 22:14

So I guess you said you glossed over stuff. Where are? What are some impactful stories that you think you should share or want to share? Or I'm going to make you share.

Speaker 2: 22:25

I just, yeah, I mean, I've literally been under the knife so much and like I'm not going to sit here and say it's been easy by any means, and even to this day, like I still have really hard days. Um, you know, I don't. I I've recently, like, as you get older, I feel like, um, you become smarter, right and and you kind of recognize right.

Speaker 2: 22:52

Right, you like start to recognize, like and like, remember the things that you've gone through. And you know you're digging into that kind of stuff with your sports psych and you know, recently I have had some, some PTSD, injury, PTSD. So I won't say like I'm here to save everyone, but I will say, you know, with the right help, you know working through those things and understanding why and how to get through it is really important. And you know, for me I feel like I've never really been scared to get back on the court. It's just kind of like when I'm released I'm going to go, and so I feel like that's one of the positive things you know about after, after injury. You know cause sometimes you can be scared to get back out there and I feel like it's just kind of is what it is and you just go, you just go, you don't think about it, you just go.

Speaker 1: 23:44

So if only everyone had that mentality. Hey, I, uh, I feel like you've got a little bit extra up your sleeve as far as drive is concerned. Um and like, tell me, what were your training modalities, recovery modalities that you were using, like I've heard of people supplementing with additional omega threes, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, sauna, ice bath, like what was that protocol like for you recovering from both ACLs, your shoulder? Anything in particular you did differently?

Speaker 2: 24:16

With the ACLs I used a lot of ice, like compression ice I think it was called game ready like post-surgery, because you have so much swelling. And then, as far as like rehab goes, I remember my college experience a little bit more. But with that infection that I got, I had so much scar tissue buildup because they put me in like a mobilizer. After they they like got it out of there and I some of my like craziest memories is like sitting on the athletic table with my trainer. Her name was Alicia and she's amazing, like bless her heart.

Speaker 2: 24:54

I was not a good patient at the time but I had so much scar tissue that my knee could only flex a certain amount.

Speaker 2: 25:02

But we were like trying to push the limits and I just remember like she's like pushing and I'm like bawling, crying, like it wasn't because she was doing anything wrong, it was just like this is not going anywhere and it's super painful. So after that surgery I feel like I had to take like extra precautions as far as like strength building. I had to get a clean out to get the scar tissue out of there and it just took me a lot. It was like a lot longer process. So I feel like, uh, we used this, uh, we use this really cool machine, though when I started running I don't know if you've ever seen it, but you get in it and you put like this little, like I don't know, like this little pants on and then you zipper into it and it blows up and it takes the gravity. Basically you're like barely you barely have weight and you're like running, okay it's like a balloon and you're like running in this.

Speaker 2: 25:52

It's like a balloon and you're like running in it. It's super cool, but I use that a lot hyperbaric chamber kind of thing uh, similar, god, I wish I knew what it's called.

Speaker 1: 26:00

I can't remember, just for your legs I've seen that in water, like where they're.

Speaker 2: 26:04

They're running in water, but it's not interesting you can like increase the gravity to get like to your full body weight, but then you can take some off so you can run with like less weight. It's super interesting, but, um, as far as, as far as, like anything crazy. I feel like the biggest thing for me has always been strength building, like rehab, getting in the gym. Um, because I'm built like a noodle, I'm built like a stick talk to me about that.

Speaker 1: 26:31

I'm just like a stick I'm just built like a stick hey, there's a lot of women that like would pay millions for that and I. I only ask this because I know you're someone who is physically active, trying to add size, like whether it's a bit of muscle whatever. Can you confirm to all of the female athletes listeners out there that if they consistently weight train and fuel their body proper, they will not get bulky?

Speaker 2: 27:06

yes, if that's true, that is true. I mean, everything's everybody's different too. Like you can't, like I don't know, I just like everyone's different. You can't train the same as everyone. Like I feel like for me personally, like I have to eat a lot more, I have to train up, like really hard in the gym, like it's just different, like the protocol is always different, and and just because you are strength training does not mean you're going to get bulky at all At all, like you don't know until you do it either. So I hardcore believe in strength training. I think it's like one of the biggest benefits that I've had, and also just like eating as much as I possibly can in a day.

Speaker 1: 27:48

Right, It'd be amazing. I'm in the process right now of trying to add some size, which was like the opposite of what I was trying to do for the first 25 years of my life. But it happens when you realize what you're putting into your body, when you're not putting crap into your body, how much you burn'm sourcing it from whole natural foods and then throwing in a little extra diesel perfect sports protein, because you know it's the best stuff on the market. I find it's like right now I'm just having to battle against people who constantly are consuming processed foods on a daily basis and they expect to lose weight when they're eating these foods that are literally modified to make you want to eat more of them and they taste amazing and they don't have any in the nutritional fiber or dietary fiber that you need and they're like I don't know I feel like you know this because you live in california and all the volleyball players are healthy, but for a lot of folks out there that's not the case.

Speaker 1: 28:54

Can you share maybe what you saw? Maybe even at LSU, other students seeing that?

Speaker 2: 29:00

I mean, let's be honest here, louisiana has the best food in the country. So I will say it is a lot different here and I don't know. I just feel like growing up there like we just ate so many like carbs and just like really good, like fat rich stuff, but like as an athlete, you know, when I was young I could eat legit anything I wanted and like I was like easy, I I'm good, like I'm still like playing very, very well, but now I definitely do. I do take care of my body a lot better and, yeah, I definitely know what I'm putting in my body.

Speaker 2: 29:43

In college, I feel like we had a really good nutrition center for the athletes, which was a super big, big blessing, and like we basically got all of our meals there. But even that, like you still don't know exactly what they're putting in the food, but for the most part, I feel like that was pretty healthy, um, and like definitely trusted that, but I definitely prefer to cook my own meals now. Um, and I also have a. I have a garden now, which is like kind of fun and like it's so rewarding to grow your own vegetables and cook them. It's so rewarding. It's like why am I so excited about this. Is this what 27 is? Maybe?

Speaker 1: 30:26

I feel the exact same way. I can't wait to have a space where I can actually have my own garden. I did it a couple of years ago in St Catharines. We had a. We had a legit garden for a year, but the maintenance part is tough too, you know there's a lot of work involved.

Speaker 1: 30:37

But uh, zanna had a. She was like she's all farm to table too. I remember her telling me she has. She's like her goal was to basically build a chicken coops that people could like buy like on the go, ready to go. I was like like that's brilliant, I'd be a customer um, I do have to.

Speaker 2: 30:53

She just sorry to cut you off, but she just did this awesome like. I don't know if it was like a cooking class or I don't know the exact term, but she went to school in sicily and did this amazing like farm to table. It looked awesome. Whatever she did looked awesome right, I was like I was so jealous yeah, I was like man I.

Speaker 1: 31:14

You know, one day I just get to add these checks to the list. I get to talk with cool people like yourself on a weekly basis. Hopefully I get the invitation to go out to some of these things when cool people are doing those things and get to tag along, uh. But it does bring up a good point because, you know, you get to travel the world for your sport, you get to try amazing, amazing food. I remember when I had the McNamara twins on back four plus years ago now, they talked about being able to travel over to Asia and get sushi, handmade, obviously, from the lower mainland. We're pretty spoiled here with sushi, but any particular area you've been able to travel in this world where there's just been phenomenal, phenomenal food other than lsu and louisiana, I guess, if that's the fave yeah, I uh.

Speaker 2: 31:59

So last year I went to thailand and nice. It was awesome, especially like like the pad thai, just delicious so good and so cheap. So cheap like two dollars, $2.50. Pad Thai and like the best Pad Thai you ever had. The ramen, just all of it. It was so good and I would highly recommend Thailand for any vacation, honeymoon, whatever. Just amazing food, amazing place, super cheap. It was awesome. It was awesome.

Speaker 1: 32:37

I'd go back there just adding it to my list right now, casually. I uh. I have to ask, though, if you're in thailand, what's that training look like? Are you taking time off when you do your travels? Do you stay in shape by using, like a trx uh bands like how do you stay a professional athlete year round and want to also live a bit of life?

Speaker 2: 33:00

Right. So Thailand. So we went to Thailand for a tournament, but we also spent a week in Thailand post tournament because we had a connecting tournament in Philippines. But during that week that we were just training, we went to this awesome resort. It was called Sport Thaya Pura, something like that, and it was this. Like it seemed like an Olympic center or like just a place where all these teams can come and train. Like, between things, it had like every sport there, like the swimming pool that's the first thing I can think of but like tennis and beach volleyball, and like it was just crazy. And so like a bunch of teams like coordinated and we all went to this one spot and so they had a gym.

Speaker 2: 33:48

Like we got with our trainer before leaving and told him exactly like what our schedule looked like, and he basically helped us plug in Okay, you should work out here, you should take a rest day, you should recover here, you should work out here. And so I feel like for me, like being a an athlete year round, having a resource like that, because I play for USA and I'm in the USA gym. Um, I have that resource where my my trainer helps me design exactly what my workouts look like, and so that keeps me um very regimented in knowing exactly. You know when I should take breaks, when I should be off, you know when I should push it, when I should deload like this week I'm deloading in the gym because next week's my tournament so um yeah, it's just really nice to have that resource and I'm super blessed because I am in the usa gym and not everyone has that resource.

Speaker 2: 34:38

So, um, yeah, just another, another blessing.

Speaker 1: 34:44

We talked about it before we started recording. You obviously have your tournament coming up this week. Uh, tell me about, as you're preparing for this season, goals for this summer and then, as you head into, you know, that ultimate goal of 2028 Olympics.

Speaker 2: 34:59

Yeah, so this season I'm playing with um. Her name is Gina Urango. She's been on tour for 12 years Um, she is a real, true veteran. And um, oddly enough, I met her a long time ago when she played with this girl who went to LSU and they came and said hello at one of our indoor practices so weird, so crazy. But I remembered her ever since then and when I came out here to California I, like, immediately wanted, I immediately connected with her and she's always been somebody that I've looked up to and somebody that I think is just a great player. And so when she was interested in playing with me this year, um, you know, I felt like maybe this is the year I should be playing with a veteran. You know, my last two seasons I played with Savvy Simmo and we've had a lot of success and, um, we did a lot of great things, um, but we decided to go our separate ways and there's nothing wrong with that.

Speaker 2: 35:58

But, you know, now I get to play with Gina and I'm just really excited and I feel like this season's, you know, so different, with the AVP changing to this new system and the league and everything, and so I will say my eyes are a little bit more set on this AVP season, you know, with it being an olympic year. I've already played um, two international events this year, um, I played, I played with savvy in um, brazil um and two brazil tournaments and we did okay. We didn't qualify and you know, sometimes when you don't qualify, it's just kind of like, oh like, like it's like it hurts your heart so much that you're like do I want to go and do this again? Do I want to spend all this money to go and travel and not qualify, especially knowing like we can't get to the Olympics this year, like this? This this year would just be for experience. And I actually played nine events last year internationally, which was more more events internationally than domestically.

Speaker 2: 37:02

So, I'm feeling like.

Speaker 1: 37:03

How much did that cost? Do you mind if I ask how much that cost?

Speaker 2: 37:10

I do not have the exact number off the top of my head, but I'm going to assume close to $40K, $50k, easy you have to think about it this way Like one international flight, some of your one ways can be over $1,000. And then you have your stay and then you have all this stuff. But also grateful again, that USA Volleyball does provide a stipend as long as you're the top four USA teams. So if there's five USA teams, you just have to beat one of those teams, right, you just have to be a top four to get this travel stipend. So it's actually really nice because we did that a lot in our events and so we did. I wouldn't say we made money necessarily, but we broke even in some of those trips. But it is very expensive but it's just so cool. We get to travel all over and see the world.

Speaker 2: 38:07

If you ask me my sophomore year of college if I'd be doing this, I'd say no, like what, I have to leave Louisiana, like no. But now I'm like, oh my gosh, I want to go travel to all these places and I want to see the world and I want to do this and I want to do that and I want to go and not play volleyball, you know. So, yeah, I just feel like, at least for this season, I'm going to be focused mostly on AVP, but depending, at least for this season, I'm going to be focused mostly on AVP, but, um, depending on how my season goes, if I make the league, um, which that's, that's the goal right now Um, there's a couple of international events at the end of the year that I'm I'm looking to play.

Speaker 1: 38:50

So Okay, okay, yeah, and I think that was a test me asking you that question because, uh, you know you shouldn't be looking four years ahead. You should be looking at what's happening right now, right, so good on you, good answer, no, uh. I mean like it is tough though.

Speaker 2: 39:03

Yeah With with 2028, like I think for me, just to kind of be straight up, honest, I'm a blocker and I think I'm a pretty good blocker. No-transcript. Sometimes I round up six, two if I'm wearing tennis shoes, but six, two in a suit.

Speaker 2: 39:48

Yeah, there you go. So I think for me it's like after this season, really deciding, like am I going to stick as a blocker for 2028 run or if I'm gonna switch over and play defense, because if I'm gonna switch over, I want to do it sooner than later so I can get the experience and the training and just everything I need leading up to that. So, um, not every blocker can play defense, I will say that.

Speaker 2: 40:16

But but, I do think I'm athletic enough to do it, so I definitely want to probably give it a go and see after this season if that's you know the way I'm going to go or not.

Speaker 1: 40:30

Keep listening to the Athletes Podcast, you know. Continue developing that athletic ability. It's going to be inevitable, right, right, right, hey, uh, this is uh. This has been a lot of fun. Tony, I appreciate your time and you following up to make sure we got you on here to share your story. I'm sure we're only scratching the surface of all of the ups and downs that you've had along the way and, uh, maybe at some point we'll get something in person, we'll film with a bunch of the other volleyball players we've had on. You guys will kick my butt, you know, throw it in the sand there and I'll have to dive around. It's pretty crazy, Some of the training that you guys have to do from a sand perspective. I played that in high school once, after playing indoor volleyball, and I was like man, this is a totally different sport and people underestimate the heck out of it.

Speaker 2: 41:15

Oh yeah, different sport and people underestimate the heck out of it. Oh yeah, it's it's way harder than it looks, but it's so fun and I do feel like it's one of those sports that anyone can play. You can pick it up, anybody can pick it up.

Speaker 1: 41:23

So yes, it is really agreed. Yeah, the barrier, the barriers to entry are low. You need a net and a ball and like three other people, right?

Speaker 1: 41:30

right right let's be real, we can. We can manage that. Hopefully we can put something together. If not, you call up we'll. We'll join you for whatever game you guys want to put together. We'll have some fun. Um, the way we, the way we wrap up every episode, Tony, as you know, is we ask our guests their biggest piece of advice for the next generation of athletes. You've shared 40 plus minutes of it already, but if there's one nugget of wisdom you want to leave our listeners with today, what would it be?

Speaker 2: 41:58

Um, if I could leave you guys with one thing, it would be that if, um, if you have a dream and things get in the way, don't stop pushing. Just keep your eyes set on where you want to go and don't let anybody tell you, um, what you can accomplish, because, um, you could do anything you put your mind to.

Speaker 1: 42:19

Boom. It's a classic, but a goodie. There's a reason why it still sticks around. There's a reason why people are still committed to their dreams because eventually they'll happen. And, like this conversation, I appreciate your time so much. Tony, I can't thank you enough for coming on. We'll look forward to staying in touch, highlighting some of the stuff that you're doing over the course of this summer for USA Volleyball and 2028,. We'll be down in LA watching you perform on the stage.

Speaker 2: 42:46

Let's go.

Speaker 1: 42:48

Let's go, we'll make it happen. Appreciate your time, tony.

Speaker 2: 42:50

Thank you so much.

Speaker 1: 42:52

Hey, folks, just want to say thank you for tuning in to the 228th episode of the show. A big thank you to Tony for coming on being persistent with me following up, and it's that kind of energy drive and competitive nature that's going to allow Tony to see success in the 2028 Olympic Games when she is representing the United States of America hopefully not competing against Canada, because the Canadians will win, but either way. All that aside, thank you, folks for tuning in. This is the 228th episode of the show. My name is David Stark, your host. We'll see you next week. Bye.