Bump, Set, Mic...The Junior Club Volleyball Podcast by TNT

Every young athlete should have a chance to play volleyball—even if they're new to the sport, balancing other activities, or still developing after a tryout. In the Season 3 kickoff of Bump, Set, Mic, Brian and Chuck welcome back Jacki Curci, TNT's boys' program director, to talk about the club's efforts to grow the game, including the in-house program and its goal of making volleyball more accessible.

The conversation looks at how the program welcomes beginners, helps experienced players sharpen their skills, and gives athletes a supportive place to keep playing. From building confidence and making friends to...

Outside hitters are asked to do it all: pass, defend, lead, and take big swings—often when the play is out of system. In the Season 2 finale of Bump, Set, Mic, Brian and Chuck welcome back Sam Moyerman for a deep dive into one of volleyball's most demanding positions.

From what coaches look for in a young hitter to how the role changes with age and level, the conversation explores the skills, mindset, and adaptability it takes to succeed on the outside. Whether you're a player preparing for tryouts, a parent trying to understand a coach's decisions, or...

From recruiting DMs to viral highlight clips, today's volleyball players are building their futures in public—often without realizing what they're really sharing. In this episode of Bump, Set, Mic, Chuck takes over hosting duties while Brian and returning guest Leon Kasperski, TNT's Director of Operations, break down how athletes and families can use social media as a powerful recruiting tool without putting safety, privacy, or future opportunities at risk.

Drawing on Brian's 30+ years as a middle school teacher, along with his experience as a high school and club coach, and Leon's hands-on work guiding TNT athletes th...

From high school standout to D3 starter, VLA athlete, and now assistant coach at West Chester University and head coach of TNT's girls' 16 Thunder National, Coach Mike Carr brings grit, versatility, and high standards to every player he mentors. In this episode of Bump, Set, Mic, Chuck and Brian sit down with Mike to explore his coaching philosophy, his emphasis on strength and conditioning, and what players can expect when working with him.

Discover Mike's practical insights on his experiences playing multiple positions, building resilience through adversity, navigating the demands of college and semi-pro volleyball, and helping...

Hard work can be fun! In this episode of Bump, Set, Mic, Chuck and Brian are joined by Coach Emily Poole, head women's volleyball coach at Arcadia University and member of the TNT Volleyball coaching staff, as she shares her volleyball journey and blueprint for how very competitive teams can also have an enjoyable time as well at both the club and collegiate levels.

Chuck, Brian, and Emily cover her path from York, PA to Division I volleyball, navigating academics at Lehigh, and the moment she realized coaching—not the corporate world—was her future. Emily shares how...

What's volleyball life really like for the players in the middle? In this episode, the second in Bump, Set, Mic's planned series of episodes on each on-court position, Chuck and Brian sit down with college, TNT, and high school coach LJ Brothers to talk about his volleyball journey, unpack what makes middle blockers great,  and share tips on how families can navigate the recruiting process. 

They cover the realities of playing middle at a high level, what college staffs truly look for, how to build effective highlight reels, and smart strategies for showcases, Nationals, and overall long‑term...

More athletes than ever seem to be quitting their volleyball teams mid-season — but why is it happening, and what can families learn from it?

In this episode of Bump Set Mic, we take a deep dive into one of the biggest issues facing club volleyball today: quitting during the season, navigating adversity, and deciding whether it's time to stay with your current club or move on.

We discuss the real reasons players leave teams, including burnout, playing time frustrations, confidence struggles, coach conflicts, academic pressure, financial stress, and the growing impact of social media comparison cu...

If you've ever wondered why one player on the volleyball court wears a different colored jersey, what rules actually apply to them, or how coaches decide who gets that jersey, episode 42 of "Bump, Set, Mic" covers it all regarding the libero position.

Hosts Chuck Dougherty and Brian Mooney welcome Coach Jea Lee back to the show to unpack the libero, one of the most visible—and most misunderstood—positions in volleyball.

Segment one covers the history and purpose of the position, key rule differences compared to a defensive specialist, and how the libero role fits into...

Some teams chase trophies, while others prioritize growth. What about pursuing both? Even if it appears that a tournament team is sandbagging, is that reality of what's really going on?

In episode 41 of "Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Club Podcast,"Chuck and Brian are joined by Leon Kasperski, TNT's Director of Operations and scheduler extraordinaire, to go behind the scenes regarding the controversial topic of sandbagging in club volleyball. What may appear to be sandbagging on the surface might actually not be that at all. If a team is sandbagging, why does it happen? And the...

"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them: a desire, a dream, a vision" - Muhammad Ali. These wise words from the greatest boxer of all time directly connect to the focus of episode 40 of "Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast."

In this episode, Chuck and Brian welcome TNT parents and mental health professionals Stephanie Hutchman (Instagram @superpsychnini and www.splatpsych.org) and Annemarie Tester to share their insights into the world of mental health. Our experts break down the pressures young athletes face, from performance anxiety and...

It's a party at The Armory! TNT Volleyball is thrilled to mark one year since opening the doors to our wonderful facility, The Armory in Horsham, PA. This episode of "Bump, Set, Mic: the TNT Volleyball Podcast" begins with a celebration of all that The Armory has added to life here at the club.

In addition, during this episode Chuck and Brian brought some of TNT's 15U and 17U Platinum players into the studio to share some insights as they talk about the dynamics of their current teams, recent tournament experiences, and their volleyball journeys to this...

Film doesn't lie - and in club volleyball, it can help coaches to improve their practice, players to devleop faster, and parents to stay aligned with the process they invest so much in for the benefit of their children.

In this episode of "Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast," hosts Brian Mooney and club director Chuck Dougherty welcome returning guest and resident analytics guru, Coach Sam Moyerman, for a deep dive into how TNT uses the platform HUDL and its video and stat capabilities to elevate players, inform coaches, and engage parents. 

The group d...

Ready or not, here comes the club season! Bump Set Mic gets it started in episode 37 with an energetic, behind-the-scenes look at TNT Volleyball's kickoff to the new season.

Hosts Brian Mooney and club director Chuck Dougherty, joined early by TNT's Director of Operations Leon Kasperski, break down the realities of the club's efforts when navigating tournament scheduling chaos, hotel "stay-to-play" hurdles, outfitting teams for the season, arranging for programs over the holidays, and efforts towards furthering player development during the season. 

Other highlights of the episode include a recap of some recent fun events a...

Team parents are the quiet leaders on every junior volleyball team that work closely with coaches and the club to make the season better for players, families, and everyone involved.

In Episode 36 of the TNT Junior Volleyball Club podcast, hosts Brian Mooney and Chuck Dougherty discuss the crucial role of team parents in club volleyball. They emphasize the importance of team parents in fostering a positive team culture, managing logistics, and maintaining open communication. Key responsibilities include organizing team events, coordinating travel, and ensuring team cohesion. The hosts highlight the need for team parents to balance their...

Wondering what college volleyball life is like for a Division 1 athlete? This episode of Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast Presents the College Experience Series continues with a focus on the player perspective featuring players from Marist University in New York.

In this second episode of the series, Bump, Set, Mic co-hosts Chuck Dougherty and Brian Mooney sat down again with TNT Director of Operations Leon Kasperski to share and reflect upon his recent interview with Marist University players Claire Lewis (a 5th Year Senior Setter and Team Captain), Claudia Kasperski (a Junior Libero/DS), and G...

Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast, is thrilled to present the first episode of our new College Experience Series. 

So much is often discussed about how players should go about trying to get recruited, but what is life like for college players, coaches, and others involved in the college game once that occurs? The College Experience Series will have you covered with all you need to know about life in the college volleyball world from those that live in it.

In this first episode of the series, Bump, Set, Mic co-hosts Chuck Dougherty and Br...

We've got a fun one for you this time on TNT Bump. Set. Mic.! 🎙️ We're kicking things off with a recap of our 12U–14U tryouts—lots of energy, tons of talent, and a few process improvements to make this our smoothest tryout ever!  If you ever wondered how we manage 250 girls in a single tryout, we give you peek under the covers.

At TNT, we are always striving for improvement, so we develped our own home grown tryout app that made this year's process smoother, faster, and even more awesome.  Chuck, Brian and Leon will give you a peek...

In Episode 32 of Bump. Set. Mic., Chuck and Brian dive into the heart of TNT Volleyball: our core values. From the early days of the club to today, these values have shaped who we are, how we play, and the community we build.

We'll explore why our values matter, how they've evolved over the years, and the role they play in guiding every decision—from coaching and player development to building a culture of serious fun, family, and excellence.

Whether you're a player, parent, or coach, this conversation will give you a deeper look at wha...

An exciting first for the podcast comes your way in episode 31! Chuck and Brian are joined by TNT boys' program directors Jacki Curci and Bob Minschwaner to discuss the history and growth of boys volleyball, and how they have been producing successful boys teams since 2010!  They discuss relevant topics such as the challenges of building a competitive schedule, how to get recruited by colleges as well as the differences between coaching boys and girls.  Chuck and Brian learn all about the underground market of Nationals jersey exchanges, and how that is a major factor when designing boys uniforms!   

Se...

Did you ever wonder how clubs create tournament schedules for teams? If you have ever found yourself scratching your head or irritated about anything related to your schedule, you don't want to miss this episode. In Episode 30, Season 3, Chuck and Brian talk to the schedule maker extraordinaire, a.k.a The Unicorn, a.k.a Leon Kasperski to discuss all of the things that need to be considered when creating the tournament schedule for a team. The panel discusses important factors such as travel costs, availability, picking the right level, and college coach exposure among other things, and how...

In Episode 29, Season 2 of the podcast continues with another episode from "The Owner's Box." (aka Chuck's Kitchen Table)

Segment 1 begins with a discussion of what TNT is doing to prepare for the upcoming tryouts. Chuck and Brian discuss open gyms, TNT's commitment to honoring the tryout and USAV rules by NOT extending early offers, and the rumor of "Secret Tryouts". 

Chuck adds his personal feelings about the changing landscape of club volleyball and tryouts, and how TNT has had to make changes in recent years, while holding firm the the TNT Mission that all decisions s...

In Episode 28, Season 2 of the podcast kicks off at "The Owner's Box" ... i.e. Chuck's house. At the start, Chuck and Brian begin discussing their recent time in Orlando at AAU Nationals with the TNT girls' teams while also wishing the boys' teams who are currently competing there the best of luck. After that, they talk briefly about the quick tunraround from one season to the next before moving forward.

The first segment provides a detailed recap of Nationals for the TNT girls' teams who participated. Segment 2 includes important information about the upcoming open gyms and tryouts...

In Episode 27, Chuck and Brian discuss TNT's summer programs and which one is right for you! We look ahead to AAU Nationals and discuss the upcoming summer tryouts as next season quickly approaches. In addition, Chuck and Brian discuss some current events in the crazy world of Philadelphia club volleyball and provide some advice on what to look for when trying to decide which clubs to try out for.

The final episode of season 1 ends with a overview and recap of the highly-successful Play4Abbey yearly charity event held recently.  If you are not familiar with Abbey's s...

In episode 26, Chuck and Brian welcome four of the club's female coaches, Casey Jenkins, Amber Wood, Kira Campbell, and Sue Rose to the podcast for our "Ladies' Night" episode to share their experiences as players, coaches, parents, and maternal figures within the volleyball community.

This episode highlights topics such as the variety of experiences and perspectives that female coaches bring to the volleyball community, challenges that female coaches face, and the importance of female representation in the coaching ranks.

Segment 1: (0:00 - 24:24)

We're hitting the mid-season mark, and it's time to check in with the minds behind the game. In this special roundtable episode, we sit down with TNT Coaches, Players and Directors to break down the highs, lows, and surprises of the season so far.

We're talking team development, tactical adjustments, what players are learning, and how coaches are keeping their squads focused for the stretch run. Expect honest insights, behind-the-scenes strategy, and plenty of volleyball wisdom.

Whether you're a player, coach, or just a fan of the game, this episode gives you a front-row seat...

If you thought Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) just applied to D1 College athletes (like we did!), boy were you wrong!  Courtney Altemus from Advance NIL joins Chuck and Brian to set the record straight.

In Episode 24 of Bump. Set. Mic, we dive deep into the world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, focusing on how it's changing things in the college world and also impacting high school athletes, too. NIL has been a game-changer in the sports world, allowing athletes to profit from their personal brand, but what does this mean for high school students n...

Ever wonder if you should try to squeeze in Strength and Conditioning Training during the Season?  We have the science and data to answer that question!  Ever wonder how your athlete should be eating at a tournament to keep fresh all day long?  Listen to what we learned!

In Episode 23, Chuck and Brian welcome back Emily Neff from Relentless Athletics to share her findings from her research on In-Season strength training.  The results will surprise you!  Suffice to say, you are probably doing it wrong!

In Segment 1 Emily explains why it is important for young athle...

In Episode 22, Chuck and Brian talk to Volleyball Lifer and College Coach Eli Porr and Volleyball Dad and TNT Club Director Leon Kasperski as they discuss their thoughts on the College Recruiting process.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering playing college volleyball or simply trying to decide if college volleyball is right for them.

In Segment 1, we discuss what college coaches are actually looking for when scouting volleyball players. The answers may surprise you! What are the attributes and skills coaches prioritize in recruits? What makes a player stand out? How do you...

In Episode 21, Chuck and Brian travel to Baltimore, MD for the JVA Charm City Classic to talk to Team Mom, Parent, and Former D1 athlete, Natalie McIlhenny.

This episode talks about what to expect as a new parent venturing into the world of club Volleyball and is a MUST LISTEN for all parents.  Natalie does an amazing job of putting things into perspective and gives her tips, tricks, and lessons learned from 4 years of Club Volleyball.

In Segment 1, we discuss the benefits of playing club volleyball, and all of the ways that parents can enhance t...

The first episode of 2025 finds Chuck and Brian at TNT's just-opened new facility, the Armory!

In Segment 1, we talk about the benefits of the new facility now that it's open - and how it came to fruition.

Segment 2 answers some important questions about the start of the club volleyball tournament season as posted by our Facebook friends at Volleyball Moms.  Wanna hear out take on teams yelling "Balls Up", Sandbagging and what to do if you are feeling duped by your club?  Join us in a fun conversation about important issues facing the club volleyball wo...

In episode 19, Chuck and Brian ventured to the new TNT Armory facility scheduled to open in January to meet up with 13U Coach John Kutsuzawa, a.k.a. JK3.

John will be coaching the National TNT 13 Roadrunner team this season and has played volleyball for over 30 years. JK3 has coached CYO, high school, adults, and beach players. He has previous club stops at East Coast Power and GPS Crush prior to coming to TNT. 

Ever wonder what to expect from 13 year old players and how much you can challenge them?  JK3 shares shares his thoughts on...

In episode 18, Chuck and Brian caught up with TNT Coach Randy Syracuse. Randy recently joined TNT to continue his volleyball journey with our club, and we couldn't be happier that he's now with us.

Randy's journey includes expereince as both a professional player and a NCAA Division 1 coach. He also has a long track record of recruiting and training talented academic and athletic students. Randy has achieved multiple championships and medals as a player in various countries along the way, and he has quite a bit of experience in club volleyball, too.

On this episode...

In Episode 17, Chuck and Brian got together a few days after the recent tryouts for the remaining 15-18U teams to discuss TNT's approach to the tryout process. Tryouts are stressful for Players, Parents and Coaches alike.  This episode takes listeners behind the scenes of the process that takes place from the time the tryout is completed until the teams are fomed.

In segment one, Chuck and Brian talk about the steps that are taken by the club before, during and after a tryout. We learn how TNT schedules and conducts their tryouts, and how no positions a...

In Episode 16, TNT is pleased and honored to be able to present a volleyball dicussion with legendary Penn State Coach Russ Rose from a recent chat with TNT Director of Operations Leon Kasperski. The chat occurred in advance of Coach Rose's 11/10/24 visit to TNT to conduct both coach and player clinics.

This special episode features numerous clips taken from that chat, each one followed by a discussion between Chuck and Brian about the topics just mentioned.

In segment one, Russ shares his thoughts about club philosophy, skill acquisition at the younger age groups, and overall...

In Episode 15, Chuck invites Brian and TNT 15U Platinum Head Coach Rob Reifsteck and 15U National Head Coach LJ Brothers to his home to discuss volleyball from their perspectives as younger male coaches. They discuss their beginnings in volleyball, how they got started coaching teenage girls.  We hear their thoughts about the upcoming club season and goals for their 15U teams.  They discuss the differences in coaching boys vs. girls, and how they go about translating knowledge they gained as players to the next generation of players now that they are coaches themselves.  We also discuss the challenges that you...

In Episode 14, Chuck and Brian met up with TNT 14U National Coach Sam Moyerman to discuss the value of statistics in volleyball and suggestions for proper use of them within the concept of a team.

Given that there are many different opinions about stats, Sam presents a lot of valuable information about which are most important and how they should be valued by coaches, players, and parents. The need to balance the coach's "eye-test" with what statistics say was an interesting aspect of the discussion, too.

In segment one, we meet Sam, hear some about...

In Episode 13, Chuck and Brian welcome 12U Coach Jamal Corbin to the podcast to discuss the expectations of players at that age group along with some of his experiences over the years coaching both girls' and boys' volleyball.

Also debuting in this episode is Chuck's first public singing performance (not really, but that sounds good). 

For parents and players new to the club, wondering what the expectations are for players at that level, this episode is one we hope you find helpful.

In segment 1, we meet Jamal, hear about his coaching background, and h...

In Episode 12 Brian and Chuck welcome Emily Neff to talk about the importance of strength training for young female athletes.  Emily is the founder of Relentless Athletics, a company that specializes in training girls and helping them succeed while also helping them prevent injuries.  If you are the parent or coach of a young female athlete, you don't want to miss this episode!

Visit them at Relentless Athletics (relentlessathleticsllc.com)

In Segment 1, we meet Emily and learn the science behind why young girls are far more prone to injury.  We learn about steps that parents and...

In Episode 11, Brian and Chuck talk about the following topics:

1) The value of managing your own facility and how it helps build a club.

2) Aftermath of High School Tryouts and whether "Politics" play a part in decisions.

In Segment 1, we share our experience of how valuable controling a practice facility is for the growth of a club.  We discuss how to start the process of finding a space and the issues TNT faced when trying to convert a warehouse into a volleyball gym.

In Segment 2, we answer the questions "Now What?" o...

In Episode 10, Brian and Chuck welcome Doug Blystone to the Bump Set Mic studio (aka Doug's back patio) and talk about qualities of the ideal coach.  Doug has coached high school, club, and college volleyball and is a CAP Cadre specializing in coaching the coaches.  In addition, Doug recently travelled to the United World Games (UWG) in Austria and shares his experiences in Europe as well as ideas for taking a team to the UWG in 2025.

In Segment 1, Doug talks about his volleyball journey and how he started coachevals.com as a way to help growth mindset co...