Hey Fightin' Podcast Network: The Official Podcast Network of LSU Sports

Tigers Win: Head Coach Russell Brock Previews LSU Beach Volleyball Season & More

·31 min·3 clips

Coach Russell Brock previews LSU Beach Volleyball's season a month before the purple and gold scrimmage.

The episode begins with host Harrison Valentine welcoming Coach Russell Brock for his third appearance on the podcast. Brock previews the upcoming season, noting the team is about a month away from the purple and gold scrimmage and just over a month from their first invitational at Tulane. He describes the offseason as productive, with competitions that escalated in difficulty, including events in Huntsville and Texas. Brock explains the purpose of the scrimmage is to prime players' bodies and minds for real competition, using WHOOP strain tracking to manage the taxing nature of first events. The conversation shifts to roster dynamics, focusing on two grad transfers, Zaina and Emily, who are transitioning from indoor volleyball. Brock details the program's history of developing crossover athletes, emphasizing the mental challenges and skill translation required. He also highlights young players like Julia Sprecker, Cameron Chateleer, and freshman Kinsey McGatlin, who showed promise in the fall. The host brings up that last year was the first time USC and UCLA didn't win the national championship, prompting Brock to discuss the sport's growth and increased parity. He notes more foreign players and expanded title contenders, suggesting the NCAA may need to expand the championship field. Brock then describes LSU's home venue, Death Volley, as a unique facility with multiple courts, shade, lights, and a scoreboard, which other programs envy and visit for inspiration. He pitches Baton Rouge as a destination for beach volleyball recruits, citing the best facility and support staff in the country. The discussion turns to program culture, with Brock explaining themes like 'overcomers' and 'relentless pursuit,' which focus on developing character and resilience beyond winning. He shares how strength coach Katie Guillory's personal challenges have inspired the team. Brock praises sophomore Skylar Martin for her growth from a struggling performance at the Paris Championship to becoming an unstoppable player and effective partner. Finally, he addresses the team's conference move from CCSA to MPSF, which includes top teams like USC, UCLA, and Cal, providing tougher automatic competition and more trips to California. The episode concludes with a call for fans to attend matches at Death Volley.

As heard by us

Russell Brock frames LSU's tougher path ahead while making beach volleyball's pace and home atmosphere easy to understand.

LSU beach volleyball's season preview lands as a grounded read on how Russell Brock views the program's next step. He traces a fall that started around Baton Rouge, built through stronger competition, included a pairs title in Huntsville and a home event with tougher teams, then…

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Why you'd press play

You get LSU's beach volleyball preview, plus a reason to see five courts in motion at the LSU Beach Volleyball Complex.

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