BONUS EP Pitt v Louisville 
[00:00:00] 
Claire: Hello team and welcome to the best of five podcast. I'm one of your hosts Claire Crytzer. Today we have a bonus episode for you. Join me and my brother Grant as we get into the Pit v Louisville game that we watched live at the Peterson Event Center. During the game we reveal our predictions, obsess over Echo Jones setting, praise Pit's determination, discuss the impact on the upcoming tournament.
and tell funny childhood stories about our crazy competitive spirits. Let's dive in.
 
Claire: Today we're doing a little bit of a bonus episode I'm one of your hosts, Claire. And I'm joined with Grant, my brother. 
Hi. 
And we're gonna talk about the Pit Louisville game, because we were, [00:01:00] Fortunate enough to experience it live. And we want to give you some of our takes, hot or cold.
Grant: Or warm, just lukewarm. 
Claire: Exactly. Um,
Grant: oh yeah. Let's say what our predictions were. I, I predicted that Pitt was gonna win in four. 
Claire: Yes. And I think I predicted Louisville in four. Yeah. . And neither of us were Right. No . And then going into the fifth set. I said Louisville 1512.
Yeah. And you said Pitt 1513. Yeah. So you were more right. 
Grant: No, I think I actually said 1614. Oh wait, no you did. Cause it wasn't in the fifteens. It wasn't, it wasn't. And then it was 1715. Yeah. Which is really close, but. Yeah. Whatever. 
Claire: Exactly. To start off, let's just set the scene. Absolutely. Downtown Oakland. it Was a happening place. Lots of people and I thought we [00:02:00] did pack the 
Grant: peat. Absolutely. Pretty well. Shout out to the Raising Canes in Oakland. They really run that like the Navy.
It's a great experience. So that started off a wonderful experience. Yes. Full stomachs, heading into a very packed Peterson 
Claire: Events Center. Yes, so their plans were to move from the Fitzgerald Fieldhouse into the Pete so that they could fit more fans, and they did end up breaking the attendance record.
I think it was 8, 800 and some? There were a lot of people. We sat up on the second level, but even though we were kind of far away, we had a really great view 
and had a good angle 
Grant: of the game. Yeah, no, I, I think it was actually a great view. I liked being kind of removed slightly. Yes. Cause that little corner we were in, there were only two rows. Exactly. So our backs were against a wall, but we weren't super, super far away from the court.
 We had a nice, bird's eye view, away from the huge crowd of Pit fans. And [00:03:00] I, now that I think of it, I don't remember seeing, Oh yeah, they were just in that little corner, the Louisville fans, like there were not many. No, because when, when we went to the Penn State game, there were a surprising amount of Nebraska fans that came from very far away and I did not see very 
Claire: many Louisville fans.
No. And it looked like it was just their parents, you know, you could tell, The girls were turning 
Grant: around and dancing a little bit. Yes, I mean 
Claire: like, hey guys. So you could tell there were close relationships. And you didn't really see much red in the crowd. Except for our sister Quinn, who was wearing her Revolution Volleyball shirt.
 That sort of thing. 
I guess we can move on to the game more so. And Disclaimer I'm a huge Louisville Cardinals fan. Yeah, I went into the game for Louisville and really wanted them to win.
Not that I don't like Pitt. Respect the athletes and the work that they do and the success that [00:04:00] they have. They're not my favorite, and I like Louisville better, and I love the girls on their team, and DBK, and CeCe McGraw Dan Muskie, the whole coaching staff, I think they do a really great job of coaching the girls, while also, 
Grant: Looking hot.
Serving looks. Serving, serving. 
Claire: Definitely. That's, that's definitely a big part of it. First set. I feel like Louisville was pretty pretty dominant.
I think the score was like 25 20. we were following the stats because the big screen didn't have like individual stats. So we had the box scores up. What I did find interesting is Louisville started down, , every single set. Yeah, yeah. They would lose the first three, maybe even four to five points. Yes, 
Grant: and although you said that they normally have a rough time, like, not necessarily a rough time, but kind of a slow time getting started.
Yes. I think that [00:05:00] showed, and it also doesn't help when you have almost 9, 000 people in the gym all wearing blue but, I don't know, they're experienced with that kind of stuff. Like, some people really feed off of that kind of energy. Yes. You know? 
Claire: Yeah. Like, I'm a person who, , loves that.
Yeah. And can, Really use the energy from the crowd to propel myself to play better But I totally understand how that would be so overwhelming. Yes, and Could cause you to have a couple missteps at the beginning. Yes. 
Grant: Yeah. , and it kind of leaves the responsibility of bringing the energy to the girls on the court exactly if Iko Jones gets a big block, whoever gets a big block, then you can only hear the little muffled, , you Louisville fans in the corner.
So on the court, you really have to bring the energy, which I think they did for the most part. Yes, 
Claire: I think so too. And for both teams, I mean, playing in front of such a big crowd is such great preparation for the tournament. 
Grant: Yeah, because it's gonna be even more helpful for [00:06:00] Pit now that they're in the top three. Yes. After taking down Louisville. Yes. Now they're gonna have two home games for the NCAA tournament. Which, , this is actually setting them up very nicely. 
Claire: More like they could potentially have four.
Oh, oh my goodness. Because first round, second round, and then suite 16, elite 8. Okay, yeah. Could all be at pit. But the big thing is, they have to. Beat Miami tomorrow. Okay. Miami just swept Georgia Tech. Oh, 
Grant: Pitt also swept Georgia Tech. Right. Just 
Claire: recently. Yes. 
 
Grant: Okay. So first set Pitt Louisville, 25, 19. Okay. Yup. Oh, second set 
Claire: was crazy. Yeah, we have to talk specifically about the second set. Cause it 
Grant: ended up being 26 24 Louisville. Right. But Pitt had the opportunity. To finish.
Claire: Several opportunities. [00:07:00] Several 
Grant: opportunities. 
Claire: Was it like 21, 20? I think it was, 
Grant: 21? Yeah, I think, I think it was. That's in my brain so I'm gonna say that. 24 21. Right. And Louisville fought back to take that set and what I think happened was Pitt was like, Oh, okay, we did this.
Yes. Like, and that happens to a lot of people, a lot of teams, like once you can see the end your mind goes off the court. Yes. And you're just like, okay, 
Claire: , we're going to get this point. And , in order to get 25 points, you need such a hyper focus. And if you lose that focus for even. A half second.
Yeah. It gives room for Louisville to plow ahead. And I mean, they really did , they were clawing and fighting their way. , I think Elena Scott, the first two sets really struggled. I actually not like really struggled. She just wasn't making the moves and the digs that she. Is capable of making.
Yeah. Yeah. Which are very High level and she just wasn't wasn't 
Grant: there. I think[00:08:00] It wasn't that she was shanking ball after ball letting balls drop right in front of her , of course, that's not gonna happen With Elena Scott. Yeah, but she just wasn't necessarily there No, I think she's such an integral part of that team. Yes her defense Gets, you know, everyone like Right. Even when you're playing against 8,000 pit fans. Yes. A dig like that is remarkable. And like Right. Even pit fans, you're gonna hear in the crowd like, oh my, oh my goodness.
Oh my, what exactly, how does that happen? 
Claire: And they, and they require her to cover such a big Oh yeah. Big area of the court totally that I think pit was just really exploiting that yeah in the first two sets That was a way. I mean it didn't help it get the wins in the first two 
but yeah I think the third set was 
Grant: boring. Yeah, because , after Pitt lost the second set, you and I were , and it really felt like the vibe in the gym was [00:09:00] like, Okay, well, , this was fun.
Claire: Exactly, , it almost felt like, okay, , Louisville, , just finish it so we can all get out of here. Honestly, honestly. , that's what it felt like in the gym. Yeah. 
Grant: I think it was the fact that Pitt had the opportunity to take that second set, , somewhat easily.
Right, right. , it was right there for them, so I think. It's such a gross feeling to be up by several points and then lose the set. Yes, 
Claire: it's 
Grant: horrible. Because think about all that momentum that Louis Vuitton got, , looking back, , I don't even, know how Pitt won the third set. I mean, it was 26 24, so it was redemption. 
Claire: I think the third set we were, all hesitant, because we were like, are they gonna have the fight, you know?
Because they didn't show any fight in the first or the second set. So it was like, are they going to come out, or are we just gonna, 30 this gets swept and go home so I think that's why The third set was a tough one for louisville too because I think [00:10:00] they felt like They were Going to be able to take it.
Oh, definitely, they felt they felt good about what they were doing yeah and had confidence going into the third. Yeah. 
Grant: And I mean, I wanna know what their mentality was going into the game. Mm-Hmm. because they Louisville swept Pitt , earlier in the season.
Yes. Yeah. At Louisville. So who knows what's gonna happen, but I don't know I'm interested to see what they were thinking Yeah, do they feel confident like oh, yeah, we got this 
Claire: or right?
I mean, I think with Pitt So much of it has to do with Their momentum, yeah, They're a momentum team like we saw in the second set they had all the momentum, but then once Louisville took some of it they kind of sat back. Yeah, and then that's why the third set It was point for point and you didn't know who was gonna win because neither team really got the momentum.
Yeah, definitely so I think probably what Louisville was thinking is we need to Stay in control of the [00:11:00] momentum as much as we can for sure Because I think it's a product of Pitt's youth, you know, they have Olivia Babcock and Tori Stafford Playing all six rotations and I think younger players are just more susceptible to Feeding into the momentum or letting the momentum control their 
Grant: game. Especially playing at that level. 
Claire: Yes. Yes for sure I felt like the fourth set was definitely Pitt kind of had, what was the score of the fourth? I think it was 25 21.
Okay, yeah, because Pitt had a lot of momentum after that third set. I think they, Were feeding off the crowd the crowd was a little bit more optimistic And they just they had some belief, you know, they had belief in each other and they were rolling I think emma monk had some good swings totally yeah and she had some really monster blocks because Yeah, because at the beginning of the game she wasn't Like, I remember you saying, like, can she hit it harder?
[00:12:00] Yeah, 
Grant: yeah, that was kind of rude, but It was, but also 
Claire: their connection was just off. You know, the ball was a little bit behind her so she wasn't able to put as much 
Grant: power onto it. I'm just realizing, , if you do the math they scored the exact same amount of points. No way! Cause like, 
the second and third set are a wash. Louisville has two more, and then Pitt won by two. Wow. So that evens out. , they scored the exact same amount of points. 
 It just shows that , Yes! Sometimes, like, the better team doesn't win. Or, , I'm not saying Pitt isn't better than Louisville, but If I were Louisville, , that's what I would be saying right now.
Sometimes, It just literally doesn't work 
Claire: out. Exactly, and it sucks. And that's why we have to grind and try to work to control as many controllables as we can. Exactly. So yeah, wow, that that makes sense, because I don't feel like either team played to the best of their ability. I agree. [00:13:00] But they were playing to try to beat 
Grant: each other.
Yes, yeah, and they were playing Clearly at the same level, like they scored the same amount of 
Claire: points. Right, exactly. And neither team really showed that they were leaps and bounds ahead of one another. No. So it just came down to a couple points at the end. Yeah. But yeah, it was very exciting.
Those last two sets, especially sets four and five. Yeah I mean it was a very Momentous Game going into the last week of the regular season because it propelled pit to number three and that makes them able to host four games potentially, if everything works out and it pushed Louisville down to seven.
Yeah. 
Grant: Yeah. Which really. They were at 
Claire: five, right? Yes. Yeah. Or no. They may have been at four. Ugh. Yeah. And , they went down three points, and Pitt went up three points. 
Grant: I just didn't think, I don't know. That doesn't seem right to me. [00:14:00] No. Because, like we said, , they were playing at the same. level. , it's not like Pitt swept Louisville.
No. At all. Exactly. , it was a reverse sweep. Yeah. But I don't know. I think what we learned from this game, if you look at it, , set from set, is that, like, Louisville is able to finish. Yes. Because even the way they came back in that second set. Right. To take it, , that was, Very impressive.
Yeah. But if you look at it from the whole game, they could have finished. They got reverse slapped. Exactly. 
Claire: Yeah. It sucks. I do. we didn't mention our favorite part of the game though. Ico Jones 
Grant: setting. Oh, Ico Jones setting. It actually gave me so much life. Yes. I was so happy to see it. And butter. 
Claire: Her hands are butter.
Absolutely. Okay. Such a sleigh and The coaching staff and all the girls they're so comfortable. It's like oh, yep. [00:15:00] Ellie glock. You're out yeah, you know they put a right side player into block and It's like yep. I go do your thing And she was setting kara kressi in the middle on a one 
Grant: She jumped up and saved the ball from going over it was crazy because it wasn't a desperate thing where it's like, Oh, we need this big block on the outside.
We need it. Otherwise, like we're going to lose. It was just like, Let's do this. Right. Go. You got, 
Claire: right. Yeah. Let's try to get a big block in front of Tori Stafford and Valeria Vasquez Gomez. And it worked once or twice.
They tried it probably a handful of times just to try to shake things up. But we were obsessed honestly. And then I think Pitt tried to do it, but theirs was frantic because I think Dan Fisher saw what Louisville and DBK were doing. [00:16:00] And I don't remember what set it was. It was probably in the third or the fourth.
Dan Fisher puts in Blair Bayless takes Rachel Fairbanks out and then had Olivia Babcock and Emi Klika, the libero. I saw him talking to them and , Right up until the serve went over the net. He was still talking to Olivia about, and , it definitely was frantic.
And then I think, Blair Bayless the right side hitter from Pitt. She got used and it was right back out ? And I, so I think that just goes to show if you're going to make a change like that, you have to be confident and you have to believe in it and it can't be.
As you said, desperate, desperate. It has to be like, Oh, this is something that we have in our back pocket that we trust and that we can use if, yeah. Say we want to try a bigger block. 
Grant: Yeah. Cause , I believe so much in learning every aspect of volleyball. Yes. You [00:17:00] mentioned that Ico Jones is.
She is a setter on the She has set. She has set. On the Jamaican team? Yes, the Jamaican national team. Okay, yeah. And, , I just think it's so important to learn , all aspects of the game. Cause, , I personally credit , a lot of my volleyball knowledge to just the fact that, as a high school player, as a middle school player, as a college player, , I immerse myself with positions.
Yes. Because it helps you learn more about your own set position. 
Claire: Exactly. And it just helps you see the court so much better and can help you read , your opposing team so much better too. Cause you're like, okay, if I was hitting as an outside, what would I hit?
You know, like that sort of 
Grant: thing. For sure. Yeah. And that's why , With the switch that they made, taking Rachel Fairbanks out, , it was desperate and I mean, I'm sure that Olivia Babcock could fish up some sets, but in a situation like that, when, you know, it's a top 10 match [00:18:00] and,, you've taken a few sets off of each other, it just felt strange 
Claire: and it looked like they had never done it before. 
Grant: Oh, they definitely had not. No. Which is very strange. Yes. Work on those things 
Claire: in practice. Exactly 
 
Claire: another thing I wanted to talk about, the game is just how much space the liberos take up in serve receive. Oh, yeah. They're taking up at least 50 percent of the court. Oh, for sure. And , as a player, I guess I just never saw that. And , I would have loved to do that.
Because it makes your job 
Grant: easier. Yeah. And a big part of what they do too is What they show. they Show one way then when they're actually Yes. Actively going to serve the ball. 
Claire: Yes. They shift over. Exactly. Yeah. I can remember the server receive formation for Pit, they had Tory Stafford, literally with her foot on the sideline.
Yeah. And then Olivia Babcock [00:19:00] beside her Tory Stafford's probably taking up 10%. Olivia Babcock's taking up 25%. Yeah. And then Emi Klika is taking up the rest. For sure. Yeah. And I think that, , more court for the libero. But I also think it takes out some of the pressures of having to communicate.
Oh, yeah. Because if it's like, go get any ball you can take. That is so liberating. For sure. Because then it's not like I don't have to think about whose seam is who and who's beside me and whatever. It's just go get the ball. Yeah. And I 
Grant: love that. Yeah. And I mean it's obvious but like that is the libero's job.
Yes. With a lot of other positions there's A bit more of a complexity there's a little more responsibility if you're an outside hitter you have to pass, you have to play defense, you have to swing, you have to block, you have to... When you're a libero, you have to play hardcore defense.
Yes. And... Serve receive the crap out of the ball. Exactly. And then sometimes help set. [00:20:00] Yeah, but that's it. But that's it. Yeah But it's a lot easier said than done. Of course. And there's a lot more that goes into it Technically, but if you look at it on paper, that's what your job is.
Exactly. So, yeah, of course, , take up 50 percent of the court, girl. Right, 
Claire: no, exactly. Go get it. Yeah, and I mean, Elena Scott does the same thing. She takes up so much space in server C. Yeah. And her, more than Emi Klika, takes up so much space in defense. Oh, yeah. She's also playing 50 percent of the court on defense, whereas, I think, Pitside it's more balanced.
Yeah, 
Grant: on defense Yeah, I would have just loved to had seen Elena Scott have a better game. I know. Because, , she's just iconic in my 
Claire: head. Yes, and she's, , my number one libero right now in 
Grant: the NCAA. Yeah, and we saw a glimpse of it, I think it was in, , the third or fourth set.
Yes. I think it was . Babcock hit like two or three balls at her, , incredibly hard hit, , pit was in [00:21:00] system Elena Scott just had two crazy ups, and then on the third swing, there was maybe one block up, and she kind of got her hands on it, but that was the end of the rally in it.
It was a... Sad ending of that rally because Elena Scott was eating it up. Working, working. But, yeah. It was still fun to see. I 
Claire: have an image of my, in my head of her like, just diving. . Oh yeah. Fully Superman out, like. Yeah. Midair body 
Grant: parallel to the floor. And I was like, oh my god, she jumped.
She jumped. Oh my god. 
Claire: Yes. And some of her sex. Oh yeah. Because Pitt was really attacking the right back. Yeah. Trying to get, but Elena Scott was a setter in high school. Okay. Yeah. And she was recruited to Louisville as a setter dss. Mm-Hmm. . Okay. She can dish up. Yeah. On mother, A Setter 
Grant: Ball. And she's a yes.
Claire: Yeah. You remember that one set she had? It was a back set. But she had one leg up. Oh, 
Grant: oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Because , prior to setting the ball, she was actually in front of the 10 foot line. Yes! So she had to [00:22:00] get behind the 10 foot line, set on one foot. , it was crazy. And reverse 
Claire: flop.
It was incredible. 
Yeah, so, there were a lot of challenges. I think both teams, especially their coaches, are kind of notorious for Getting on the refs. Yeah, 
Grant: They just have a rivalry.
Yes, exactly And their coaches like you can feel that 
Claire: right and I wasn't obsessed with the up ref I didn't recognize him. I didn't think he really did much honestly and You know, I'm just on my like officials Grind, like, 
Grant: you're trying to like burn them at the stake, like. 
Claire: Well, I just want them to do their jobs and do their jobs at the level that these girls are playing at.
Grant: Yeah, and be open to criticism. Yes. Because these girls are being looked at under a microscope, [00:23:00] literally a microscope, the cameras that are constantly on them. , and the least you can do is maybe hear out these girls that are playing volleyball every day and like live, breathe, and eat volleyball.
Yeah. Because, although, yeah, , they're sometimes gonna be really annoying, and like, sees calls that no one else in the gym did, but, i, I understand like being a ref is not necessarily easy, but you have to understand you're actually not always right.
Claire: No. And you can't see everything. Yeah. You know, the girls on the court or the line judge or the down ref, they probably see things that you don't see. And I just get very frustrated with officials that are high and mighty and won't listen or it's just obvious that they, , can't keep up with the pace of play.
Oh, yeah. 
Grant: And they're, , dismissive. 
Claire: Yes. Yeah. And it's like, no if you would work as hard as these athletes do with your officiating, it would be better. [00:24:00] Yeah, yeah, for sure. And I respect officials, obviously, because We need them. Because we need them. I respect the rules of volleyball and want to follow them all the time.
Absolutely. But, I also want the quality play to be reflected in quality officiating. For sure. Yeah. 
 
Grant: I would have loved to have seen some more production from Louisville's Middles. Yes. And actually just the Middles in general, because looking back, it truly was just a battle of pin hitters.
You're so right. Because, what did the Middles do? Emma Monk blocked. Yeah, she blocked and had like a few kills. Yes, 
Claire: but Chiamaka Wokolo. I 
Grant: don't remember her being in. I don't either. Which might actually be a good thing. , I think she may have just been, , doing her job. , not necessarily standing out.
Which, no. Sometimes that's just what you need from a middle. 
Claire: Exactly. [00:25:00] You need them to close the blocks. You need them to transition and try to get one on one blocks. And, yeah, sometimes you don't always need them to hit. But I do think that would have changed the course of the game. I think so too.
Especially for Louisville, because I think Their two middles are better than Pitt's two middles. I agree. Yeah, you have Cara Cressy and P. K. Kong who can Take 
Grant: over games. 
Claire: and Emma Monk She's not Brie Kelly Who is injured for the rest of the year and is the transfer from Florida.
Yeah. She's great. She's good It looks like a great teammate and plays with so much joy and you can see 
Grant: that I actually think she's very much what Pitt needs. That's true they need and I mean like they have a young team, but She's just, , light and, , competitive and, , like you said, , she's very happy to be there, you can tell, , she's, , so thankful to be on the court, and it shows in her play, , she really does, , give 
Claire: it everything.
Definitely. Yeah, and she gets mad when she, , knows she didn't, , do something right or she missed something. So yeah, it'll just [00:26:00] be interesting to see. I think going forward though, Louisville, in order to win a national championship, and I think Louisville can. Yeah. Is they need to be more balanced with their attack. Yeah. Because Anna DeBeer and Charity Looper and Iko Jones obviously slay the house.
They 
Grant: finna eat. They 
Claire: finna eat. No, they're hungry, they're leaving no crumbs. Exactly. But it just gets predictable. Yeah. And if you have teams that You know that your middles are better than their middles, you should really use that because that's where you'll Get really great production and it'll be helpful late in the tournament.
Grant: Yeah. Yeah, cuz I Don't remember PK Kong or Kara Cressi getting like any kills. I 
Claire: know I remember Kara Cressi a little bit. I feel like in the first two sets. She had some production But PK, I can remember a few blocks, but that's it. Yeah. And normally PK can put the ball seven feet. 
Grant: Yeah, [00:27:00] yeah. And same with Cara Cressy.
Exactly. Like if there would have been Some monster kills I would remember. Right. Cause like I actually love all of those women volleyball players. 
Claire: Yes Yeah, I know and before the game you were like, I can't wait to see Louisville's 
Grant: middles. Literally, literally, I love them. Yes. I just like, I don't know, on a platonic level I'm in love with them Yeah, 
Claire: no, exactly.
And I mean their skill levels like yeah. 
Grant: Yeah. Get after it. Exactly. 
Claire: But I think that is the answer for Louisville 
Grant: going forward. Totally, totally, 
Claire: yeah. But I think they weren't able to get the middles going because their serve receive was not 
Grant: No. Super solid. It wasn't. 
Claire: There weren't a ton of shanks. But they were running most of their offense behind the 
Grant: 10 foot line.
If I remember correctly, it seemed like they were targeting Charity Looper, but Charity Looper wasn't passing very many of them. 
Claire: No, because [00:28:00] she was on 
Grant: the sideline. Exactly, and it ended up being Anna DeBeer. Yes. Who would pass it because Charity Looper only had to take up maybe three feet.
 Literally. Yeah, and she was 
Claire: already transitioning out to 
Grant: hit. Yeah, exactly. So Anna DeBeer would take those balls, and I don't know they weren't perfect in system passes. Which they didn't mean. 
Claire: No, I also felt like a lot of the passes that Elena Scott gave to Ellie Glock were, they didn't have much height on them.
Yeah. They were very much just like, here you go, go, run, 
Grant: you know. Like get this point, please yeah, 
 
Claire: Pit. To win 17 15 in the fifth set that shows some fight and that shows some determination and they were Super happy after that win.
I mean obviously they should have been , you know did the reverse sweep battled back and Louisville was definitely Because I looked to see the the pit [00:29:00] fans celebrating, and then I looked down at the Louisville side of the court and everybody was gone.
I was like, I was like, how did the coaches get out of there so fast? , cause I saw the girls running to the locker room, but I didn't see the coaches at all. And I was like, I know they didn't just run across the court. So they must've snuck out or like they got airlifted. They transported themselves out.
bUt yeah, 
Grant: that's actually so relatable because it's not bad sportsmanship. Like, no, you go through the line, smile, good game, good game, good game, good game. And then you leave. Right. It's truly when you're a competitor, it's embarrassing. Like there's a sense of embarrassment, no matter how much you rationalize it with like, that was a great game.
We're a great team. Yes, like it didn't work out in our 
Claire: favor Yeah, one team's gonna win one team's gonna exactly 
Grant: It's still just feels embarrassing, right? And maybe that's just us, but I think that's just a competitive feeling 
Claire: Yes because whenever you give it your all yes, and you [00:30:00] don't get the outcome you want.
Yeah, it's 
Grant: Devastating. Yeah, you know Or like you want to give it your all but you're just not having the best day. 
Claire: Yes, and that sucks Yeah, and I mean we have personal experience with losing the whip beetle championship and then having to stand there Get a dull silver medal. We 
Grant: have our display.
The one that's been sitting on the coffee table for two or three weeks. 
Claire: And , then they're asking for pictures and there's announcements. And , people are crying. And they're asking you to smile. And it's like, I just want 
Grant: to leave. Exactly.
Exactly. 
Claire: So I totally respect the lose and gain. 
Grant: Yeah. And like, there's, everyone knows there's so many lessons to be learned and a loss, but it doesn't make it feel better. No, 
Claire: no. And it's like, we can think about those in like two hours, but , give me two hours just to be mad and sad and 
Grant: feel. Yeah.
Because if we're bringing it back to. , the [00:31:00] Whitfield Championship. It is absolutely an accomplishment. Like, it stings, but it is an accomplishment in itself.
Claire: when you're a competitor, and when you set Goals, at the beginning of the season it's tough when you when you run into Hiccup all along 
Grant: the way. Yeah, especially Okay, we don't have to talk about football No, I think so too especially after our season last year where We went through and won everything.
Yes. Yes, and of course we had A decent amount of pushback, but... Right. We were really, really tested. Yes. Only 
Claire: once, I would say. I agree. And that was in the PIAA 
Grant: semifinals. Yeah. And then we ended up losing to that team that we beat in the semifinals. In the quarterfinals. This year, in the quarterfinals.
Yeah. So that's it, guys. Thanks for joining. We're gonna go cry. Yeah, we're 
gonna go 
[00:32:00] 
Grant: and so in order to learn from the loss, you need to feel those feelings.
And then work through the things 
that you need to learn. And yeah, , if you truly are just okay with it, then, , you're holding yourself back. Exactly. 
Yes. You're majorly 
Claire: A lot of the times people , bring their worries Totally. And bring their fights and things Yeah, yeah. Into the gym. Yeah. Which is never good. 
Grant: Yeah. 
Claire: For
us, too, We're very good at, , compartmentalizing. For sure. And, I think volleyball , Is a reason for that. Yeah. Because we knew every day, no matter what, two hours, lock in for practice, work hard forget about everything else. Yeah. Whereas that's a hard skill to come by.
Yeah. 
Grant: Yeah. Because , especially, and I really realize that now, . No matter, , how depressed I am, no matter how much I hate my job, when I'm in the volleyball gym, , it's completely different.
, I don't care about anything. Like, I'm literally just focused on volleyball because, , that's what I love. And, It helps me, [00:33:00] like, channel those emotions into, , fun, competitive, like, aggressive play. Yes. 
Claire: And it also, I feel like time, Kind of stops too. Whereas like, yes, I'm looking at the clock because I need to make sure that we're getting everything We need to get done. Yes on the agenda and 
Grant: like I'm kind of hungry. So I'm ready for dinner, right?
Claire: but Other than that, i'm not worried about When I like, oh, I have laundry I need to get done or oh, I need to make this call for work or you know for those two hours i'm focused on volleyball and making the girls the best 
Grant: athletes they can be exactly Yeah 
Claire: And just trying to compete and have fun.
Yeah 
Grant: Competing is so fun. It's so fun But there's just a lot that comes with it like yes Geez I am it's like so competitive. 
Claire: I know Like I saw this video. Did you see on my story yesterday of this little girl? It was like her first grade turkey trot. Yes. I did see that and she probably Got 400 meters and out in front of her [00:34:00] class.
Yeah, and didn't stop did not look behind Refused to lose all gas. No breaks. Exactly. And that's how I'm trying to be. Yes. 
Grant: Yeah, and that's how I am Yes, like I here's a little fun story for you folks at home When I was about like five years old, yeah, no, I was probably a little older I was probably like eight We were at Our grandparents house, all of our cousins, playing the classic yard game jackpot.
Oh, work. My uncle was throwing up the ball, me and my cousins were catching it, collecting the jackpot. My one cousin would consistently, like, after you would catch the ball, rip it out of your hands. And claim that, like, that's how jackpot works, but last time I checked, it was about, like, catching the ball.
Mid air. Mid air. Not trying to, like, pry it out of each other's hands to cheat and win. [00:35:00] So that had happened a few times, and I'm not one to, , sit idly by while there's cheating happening, and I'm, like, losing because of this. Right. So I'm trying to stick up for myself, I'm probably being a little brat, , fighting with my uncle, fighting with my cousins, they're like, no, that's how it is, that's how we do it, blah blah blah.
It got to the point where I, my cousin did it one more time and I shoved him to the ground and punched him till his nose bled. Like, I, now that's toxic. That's dangerous. I have gone through, I've dealt with my anger issues. I'm not that kid anymore at all. But the competitiveness is still there. Just not the aggression.
I 
Claire: have, and also funny anecdote about probably a similar time. Yeah, we were up at our grandparents house after church probably one sunday And we were playing wiffle ball in the yard Fun. Awesome. Like that's my [00:36:00] jam And I think this is our other uncle. 
Grant: Well, I have another story. Yes. 
Claire: So this is a different uncle was the pitcher.
Okay. And I think I was the catcher at the time. And his daughter was up to bat. And she had three strikes. And I'm like, okay, three strikes. 
Grant: You're out. We all know how this works. 
Claire: Loser. But like, okay, one, you know, one down, two to go. One down, two to go. Go free Porsche. And my mom's like, no, no, no, you know, keep, keep swinging.
And like. We're all around the same age, too, so it's not like, Oh, she's a baby, , give her a few extra shots.
So, I was like, oh, no, , three strikes, , she's out. And he's like, no, no And still, at this time, I don't do well with confrontation.
So, , my emotions just, , overwhelmed me and I stormed off. I went up, hid in the attic, cried. I'm like, [00:37:00] UGH! And I think, , that's another reason why I have issues with officials. Where I'm like, don't, , don't try to control this. , we're gonna play by the rules and we're gonna play fairly.
Yeah. Because we need to have an equal. playing field in order 
Grant: to compete. Yes, and
Claire: Yeah.
but then one other thing that I was going to say that really shows our competitiveness is when we were kids, we had to have smack talk Wednesday. It was one day out of the week where we were, we were able to really smack talk and really compete when we played the week specifically we sports, yeah, specifically we sports like tennis and bowling, it was cutthroat.
Yeah. And we were just getting into many fights on. Regular days of the week that my parents were like, okay, you can have one day of the week where you 
Grant: can verbally abuse each other
Claire: But all the other days it has to be healthy competition
Yeah, so [00:38:00] fun But yeah being a competitor is so fun and so rewarding. Absolutely, but with those highs So I'm really feeling for Louisville this week. There's a lot to learn, a lot to learn. And on Wednesday they get another big ACC rivalry they're going to Georgia Tech. So yeah, they'll be able to redeem themselves and I'm interested to see who the ACC champions should be.
Yeah, yeah. Because it's really down to the wire. And , especially with a lot of them, , losing some key matches. 
So it'll be really interesting to see because a lot of conferences already have their Automatic qualifier and their champion. Oh, yeah But the ACC does not No, no, no. Yeah Exciting stuff. Definitely. So we hope you enjoyed this podcast. And can't wait for all of the good volleyball that'll be on this weekend.
 Yeah. Well, thanks for listening, thanks for having me. Yeah. [00:39:00] Oh, of course. You're welcome. Anytime. 
Thank you for listening to the best of five podcast. Tune in on Friday as Grace and I gear up for the last weekend of regular season play, talk all things liberos, and prep to make our bracket predictions. Please remember to like, subscribe, and follow the best of five podcast. Why is volleyball the best?
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