Volley Talk with Sarah Pavan

In this episode of Volley Talk, we take a look at the fan-voted (?), league-determined (?) player-inputted (?) MLV All-Star teams. Basically, we have no idea how exactly these teams were chosen, but we have some thoughts.

We also break down some of the longer winning and losing streaks in various leagues. Are they indicative of how the team actually plays or is something weird going on?

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we look back at the NCAA Women's National Freshmen of the Year from 2010-present. This exercise is a bit tougher than the POY segment we did last week, but we try to rank their collegiate and pro careers.

UCLA remains unbeaten after taking down Hawai'i 3-0, Indy and Dallas have clearly separated themselves on the MLV front, and what would happen if there was a "transfer portal" internationally?

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we look back at the NCAA Women's Players of the Year from 2010-present. We have some fun and try to rank their collegiate careers and see how their pro careers stacked up to expectation.

Confirm or Deny makes a comeback, and the Hawai'i vs Pepperdine series was a lot of fun- honestly, much more competitive than we were expecting! Will Hawai'i hand UCLA their first loss of the season this week?

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we take a look at the playoff matchups happening in the Italian leagues and Champions League. We get out our crystal balls to predict how various leagues will finish their regular seasons and playoffs. Will we be correct?

The FIVB officially released the rule changes they will be testing in the 2026 VNL (no libero changes, thankfully!), and we dive into the LOVB double sub situation and wonder... which national team has the strongest double sub (other than Italy, of course).

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we take a look at the invitees to the USA Volleyball Collegiate Training Camp. Who would make our starting 7? Any surprise selections or snubs?

Our listeners have been on the same page lately, and many people have been submitting the same questions, which is awesome. We dive into some of the most popular questions, including why we don't talk more about Kendall Kipp, and we make our own MLV All-Star picks.

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we go over some of the rule changes we will see implemented in VNL 2026. Some are ok, and some are... not our cup of tea.

Grand Rapids and Omaha made a very interesting trade in MLV that has us shaking our heads, and we dive into the pros and cons of some different blocking tactics.

Join our MLV fantasy league for the 2026 season!! Go to playvoli.com/volleytalk to participate. Download the app on iOS or Android to get in on the action!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we go over some of the most exciting matches we watched this week, including UCLA vs Long Beach State on the NCAA men's side, Vakifbank vs Scandicci for women's Champions League, and some men's Coppa Italia! There was so much great volleyball to watch and we hope you were able to catch a couple matches!

We bring back a Volleyball 101 segment with serving zones and strategy, and we have a little fun with some USA women's roster predictions. Who would be selected if the Olympics were this year, and...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we are all over the map because there was a lot to talk about. LOVB picking up waived MLV players has got a lot of people talking. The Coppa Italia final between Conegliano and Scandicci was absolutely incredible. The US Department of Education found that San Jose State violated Title IX. It was a big week.

Our listeners have come up with some great segment ideas, so we dive into one of them asking where certain upcoming NCAA seniors will end up playing pro. Adam also created an outstanding...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about our favorite and least favorite matches of the week. We also discuss the Omaha Supernovas and their uncharacteristic 3-3 start to the season. Will they bounce back and make a push for the top as expected, or does this team just not have it?

Pavan's Percentages makes a comeback, and we talk about teams that have gotten off to a good start in 2026 and others that have us scratching our heads, wondering what is going on.

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we discuss two of the best matches we watched this week- UC Irvine vs Pepperdine on the NCAA men's side, and Scandicci vs Novara in the women's A1 Italian league. These matches were outstanding and we highly recommend going back to watch them, especially the Italian match.

We also reintroduce a game segment with an MLV Coaches' Mood Meter!

Join our MLV fantasy league for the 2026 season!! Go to playvoli.com/volleytalk to participate. Download the app on iOS or Android to get in on...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about the Kelly Sheffield podcast interview that has gone viral. We had dozens of people reach out to us to talk about it, so of course we had to dive in!

Watch the interview on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DxQMCf6b_k

Listen to the interview here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joncast-podcast-a-wisconsin-sports-podcast/id1588964558?i=1000744025851

We also go over some of the matches we watched this week and do a LOVB season 2 preview!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we go over the absolute mess that is the NCAA women's transfer portal. There were some big surprises again, and we see some programs losing big while others are making huge pickups.

Winter time also means pro coverage!! We talk a bit about what is going on in a couple overseas leagues and do a 2026 MLV preview for the domestic side of things.

Join our MLV fantasy league for the 2026 season!! Go to playvoli.com/volleytalk to participate. Download the app on iOS or Android...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about the NCAA Final Four. Texas A&M took down Pitt and Kentucky 3-0 to claim their first National Championship!

All-American and Player of the Year awards were announced last week as well, so we have a lot to cover to close the book on the 2025 NCAA women's volleyball season!

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about the NCAA Regional Semifinal and Final matches. It was a wild week of volleyball with a few very surprising results, including Texas A&M's victory over Nebraska.

The Four 4 is set, with Wisconsin taking on Kentucky and Texas A&M facing off against Pitt. Matches start Thursday!

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about some of the highlights (and low points) from rounds 1 and 2 of the 2025 NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship. The fact that there are zero perfect brackets anywhere goes to show just how unpredictable some of the results were.

We also discuss the conference awards given out by the Power 4 conferences. While we agreed with most of them, there were a couple that definitely had us scratching our heads.

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about the NCAA Tournament bracket and share our initial impressions of interesting matchups and who we think will make it to the Final Four in Kansas City!

We also go over some of the top NCAA matches from last week, and talk about what went down in the MLV Draft!

If you want to participate in the Volley Talk Bracket Challenge, created by Adam, please sign up at the link below starting on Tuesday, December 2. Entries will remain open until Thursday, December 4 at...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we go over the stats that are posted during broadcasts and the numbers teams looks at when they are preparing for games. With the NCAA tournament selection upon us, we also throw out our predictions for First-Team All-Americans and major AVCA award winners.

There were a lot of happenings to discuss this week as well, including the MLV Draft and Izzy Starck's transfer portal announcement.

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about a couple noteworthy matches from last week, namely UCLA vs Nebraska and Pitt vs Stanford. Pitt was up 14-11 in the 5th and managed to lose 14-16! There is now a 3-way tie for first in the ACC with some huge matches happening in the next couple of weeks.

UCLA took a set off of Nebraska to snap the Huskers' 48-set winning streak, and we talk about what it takes to go pro and what we look for.

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we go through a whole bunch of listener questions. You know we have a massive backlog to get through, so since it was a bit of a slower week on the NCAA side, we decided to dive in and tackle a whole bunch of them. Enjoy!

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about the two teams who were unbeaten going into this past week of play- Nebraska and Texas. Texas took a tumble this week, losing to both Texas A&M and Kentucky, though, leaving Nebraska alone at the top. What is going well for these teams, and what are their weaknesses?

Following up from last week's offense discussion, we go over defensive systems and discuss responsibilities for blockers and defenders. How do these positions work together to cover the court?

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about the Big XII, in particular the handful of teams that are making a push for the conference title. Who do we think really has a chance to win it all? What are the strengths and shortcomings of those teams?

By popular demand, we also break down offensive strategy. What makes a good set, what are the goals when running an offense, and how do teams accomplish those things?

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about Louisville- the good, the bad, and the ugly. The No. 4 team in the country dropped 2 conference matches last week to SMU and ACC rivals Pitt. Are they as good as they're cracked up to be, and what do they need to do to make a push for the Final Four?

We also had the opportunity to sit down with AVCA legend and current chairperson of the LOVB Foundation, Kathy DeBoer. Stay tuned until the end of the episode to listen to our conversation with her.

In this episode of Volley Talk, we break down the biggest NCAA upsets of the week. A struggling Penn State dominated Wisconsin 3-0, and Flormarie Heredia Colon put Miami on her back and recorded 38 kills on the way to getting the reverse sweep on Pitt. It was a surprising week for sure!

NCAA rankings are staying relatively steady, with a few jumps here and there every week, but it seems like the story of the season so far has been injuries, particularly for Minnesota.

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we go through the Power 4 conferences and talk about our contenders for conference championships based on what we saw during the preseason and early conference play.

Listener questions were really good this week, and there were several interesting matches that were worth a closer examination.

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we talk about the men's world championship playoffs, in particular the semifinals and medal matches. Italy put on a serving clinic against Poland and Bulgaria on their way to repeating as world champions in dominant fashion.

Poland defeated Czechia for bronze with a very strong performance by Wilfredo Leon, although the result definitely falls short of their expectations.

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!<...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we go over the wild ride that has been the men's world championship so far. Our predictions from last episode could not have been more wrong, so it's time to go back to the drawing board and try again.

Conference play starts up this week in the NCAA, and a world champion will be named.

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we share our predictions for how the men's world championship is going to play out. With all the parity in men's volleyball, this is a tough task!

We also take a look at the key NCAA matchups from last week, discuss the biggest surprises for the season so far, and Pavan's Percentages makes a long-awaited comeback!

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we go over the absolutely incredible medal matches from the 2025 Women's World Championship. This was some of the best volleyball we have seen in a very long time, if not ever, on the women's side.

Italy extended their world-record winning streak to 36 matches en route to winning gold at Worlds, becoming the first team to hold the Olympic, VNL, and World Championship titles at the same time. They are the first team since Cuba in 2002 to hold the Olympic and World Championship titles simultaneously.

If...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we give the rundown of the 2025 Women's World Championships so far. Pool play is finished, the round of 16 is almost complete, and our quarterfinal predictions from last episode did not hold true!

NCAA volleyball preseason is also underway, and there have been some outstanding matches so far. We give our way-too-early thoughts on teams' performances, what they need to do if they want to win the Natty in December, and much more.

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we do some digging into what to expect from the upcoming women's world championships and NCAA season. Both competitions start up this weekend, so there is going to be a lot of volleyball to watch!!

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we discuss some big updates and roster changes coming out of LOVB and the PVF (yes, I'm still calling it the PVF for now) this week. We also try to tackle a question that we have been avoiding for quite some time... we were intimidated to take it on.

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we go over the matches from the Men's VNL Final 8. Poland was absolutely dominant, winning all 3 matches 3-0 and relying on different players throughout the week. Brazil and France didn't look as sharp as was expected, and surprisingly, not one match went to 5 sets.

We have a lot of listener questions again this week, and this time they're (mostly) all about the men's game.

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we go over the matches from the Women's VNL Final 8. Italy was dominant as usual, beating Brazil 3-1 in the final. There were a couple blow-outs, but overall it was a great week of volleyball.

We have a lot of listener questions this week, so get ready for a lot of discussion!

If you have questions for us or topics you would like us to explore, drop us a line on Instagram or email us at info@sarahpavan.com!

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we discuss what went on during Week 3 of the Men's VNL competition. Brazil finished at the top of the rankings at 11-1, with Italy in second at 10-2. Serbia saved themselves from relegation by going 2-2 this week, and the bubble teams kept things exciting until the very last moment.

Netherlands will not be returning to VNL in 2026, and there were several entertaining matches this week- a lot of them involving Cuba.

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we discuss what went on during Week 3 of the Women's VNL competition. Italy finished the preliminary round with a perfect 12-0 record, followed closely by Brazil at 11-1. Serbia pulled themselves out of the relegation spot by winning 3 of 4 matches in Apeldoorn, but the battle for relegation lasted until the very end.

A couple teams really elevated their performance in Week 3, and others struggled to get anything going. We make some predictions for how the Final 8 will unfold, and of course, answer listener questions.

If...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we discuss what went on during Week 2 of the Men's VNL competition. Brazil is in the lead with 7 wins, followed closely by Poland and Italy. Serbia and Netherlands are facing relegation and will be fighting for their VNL lives in Week 3.

There were lots of injuries sustained during play this week, some teams made big pushes to climb the ranks, and Week 3 is going to be VERY interesting as teams battle it out to make the Final 8.

If you have questions for us or topics...

In this episode of Volley Talk, we discuss what went on during Week 2 of the Women's VNL competition. Some distinct groups have emerged, with 5 teams looking safe to make the Final 8, 4-5 teams fighting for the last 3 spots, and a couple teams battling to avoid relegation.

There were some teams that made big improvements from week 1 and teams that took a bit of a plummet. This week's listener questions were also dialled in.

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we take a look at Week 1 of the 2025 Men's Volleyball Nations League. Poland is the only undefeated team, but teams are all very close and competitive, making things very interesting and exciting.

We saw a variety of strategies in Week 1 roster construction, with different combinations of youth and experience. It's fair to say, however, that a lot of very young athletes stepped up on the big stage, making a case to keep them around long-term.

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we take a look at Week 1 of the 2025 Women's Volleyball Nations League. Japan, Italy, and Turkey went undefeated in their respective pools, with Japan gathering a perfect 12-0 set record for the week.

We also compare Week 1 roster construction, as some teams sent developmental squads to compete, while others used more experienced players. There were some pleasant surprises and a couple disappointments, and we break it all down.

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In this episode of Volley Talk, we take a look ahead at what to expect from the Men's VNL competition, starting June 10. The American men are only returning 3 players from the bronze-medal winning Paris Olympic roster, so we check out the new talent that was called up and discuss what we can expect from this team.

We also take a look at the rosters at the other top teams from around the world and make some predictions on what will happen this VNL season. Also, LOVB has some been signings heading into season 2 and Women's...