Shows
She Aced ThatTraining Commitment, Confidence, Concentration & Composure with Jess KnechtWhat separates good athletes from elite athletes? The mental game.In this episode, mental performance coach Jess Knecht breaks down the Four Cs of Elite Mindset: Commitment, Confidence, Concentration, and Composure. Jess, a partner at Max Out Mindset who works with Division I athletes, championship teams, and professional players shares actionable strategies you can use TODAY to train your mental game.In this conversation, we cover:Why confidence is trainable (and the ingredients to build it)How to refocus under pressure when the game is on the lineThe...
2025-11-2653 minShe Aced ThatUnlocking Mental Toughness: How to Perform Under Pressure with Kristen WoodmanWhy do so many talented athletes dominate in practice but freeze in games? In this powerful conversation, mental performance coach Kristen Woodman breaks down the real reasons athletes underperform—and how to fix it.Kristen shares her personal journey of using volleyball as an escape and how those experiences shaped her approach to training mental toughness. We dive deep into:- The practice vs. game performance gap (and how to close it)- Why perfectionism and people-pleasing hold female athletes back...
2025-11-191h 04She Aced ThatBrooke Nuneviller on Her Path to Professional VolleyballFresh off signing with Mizuno, Brooke Nuneviller joins She Aced That to share her incredible journey from college standout to professional volleyball player. As a three-time All-American at the University of Oregon and the only player in Pac-12 history to record 1,500+ kills and 2,000+ digs, Brooke has built a career defined by versatility, grit, and passion for the game.In this episode, Brooke opens up about:Her recent partnership with Mizuno and what it means to her careerTransitioning from libero to outside hitter in college and the challenges that came with itThe nutrition and...
2025-11-1244 minShe Aced ThatThe Off-Season Reset You Actually NeedPlaying scared or feel burnt out at the end of your school season? This episode is your game plan for the gap between high school and club season. We're talking about what playing scared actually looks like, how to tell if you're burnt out vs. just having a bad week, and the exact framework for using your off-season to reset. Week-by-week guidance on rest, low-pressure play, cross-training, and coming back ready to play free. Plus, a weekend recap of college volleyball chaos including Kentucky's sweep over Texas and Nebraska's continued dominance.New Episodes Every...
2025-11-0522 minShe Aced ThatBuilding Professional Volleyball in America ft. Cassidy LichtmanFrom Stanford star to Team USA gold medalist to Director of Volleyball at Athletes Unlimited, Cassidy Lichtman has played every position in volleyball—and now she's building the future of this sport in America.In this episode, Cassidy shares her incredible journey including:How she "snuck into" the national team gym and stayed for 5 yearsThe revolutionary Athletes Unlimited model where players have equity and teams change weeklyWinning Pan Am Cup golds and that unforgettable moment when 40,000 fans finally chanted "USA" Balancing a BA and MA in 4 years while winning 4 Pac-12 championships at StanfordOvercoming ch...
2025-10-2939 minShe Aced ThatThe Power of Pink: Ellen Dempsey's Journey of Championships & Changing LivesIn this powerful episode of She Aced That, we sit down with Ellen Dempsey, the winningest volleyball coach in Hiram College history turned Executive Director of the Side-Out Foundation.Ellen shares her incredible journey from dual-sport athlete at Michigan State (volleyball & track), through a career-ending injury that launched her coaching path, to becoming a championship coach with 2 conference titles, 4 NCAA tournaments, and 4 Coach of the Year awards. She coached at the 1994 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival and transformed every program she touched!But Ellen's greatest impact is happening right...
2025-10-2257 minShe Aced ThatYour Sign to Stop WaitingThree months in: midnight edits, morning meetings, and how I know I was made for this. If you're waiting for the "right time" to start that thing you've been thinking about, spoiler alert: there isn't one. The time is now! Connect: @sheacedthat | sheacedthat@gmail.comMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Michigan State VolleyballCoach Kelsay InterviewBella Bergmark Interview New episodes every Wednesday
2025-10-1521 minShe Aced ThatInside the Mind of a Professional Middle Blocker ft. Bella BergmarkJoin me for an insightful conversation with professional volleyball player Bella Bergmark, who takes us from her early days as an outside hitter to becoming a two-time NCAA champion middle blocker and has played professional volleyball on various continents.Bella opens up about her pivotal coin flip decision that led her to transfer from Cal to Texas, where she won back-to-back national championships. She breaks down the technical and mental challenges of playing middle at the professional level - from reading setters in milliseconds to adapting to the lightning-fast international game in France and...
2025-10-0842 minShe Aced ThatCreating Opportunities & Building a Boys Volleyball Program From Scratch ft. Kathryn RichardsonIn this episode of She Aced That, I sit down with Kathryn to explore her journey building a boys high school volleyball program from nothing. Two years later, her players are heading to college teams—athletes who had never touched a volleyball before their junior or senior year. Kathryn shares the reality of starting something terrifying, the unexpected differences between coaching boys and girls, and why winning isn't the only goal. Finding that balance between pushing athletes and showing grace, this honest conversation offers insights for coaches, parents, and anyone thinking about creating opportunities in...
2025-10-0138 minShe Aced ThatKristen Kelsay Exclusive: How MSU's Head Coach Builds Champions Through Leadership, Legacy & Courageous ConflictMichigan State's Head Volleyball Coach Kristen Kelsay returns home to lead the program where she finished her Spartan career with over 3,000 assists—3,040 to be exact—ranking her sixth all-time in MSU history. She appeared in 133 career matches, which ranks eighth all-time at Michigan State, and her 473 career sets ranks fourth in program history. As a multi-year team captain, she led the Spartans to back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 2012 and 2013, while earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and being named a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. In this informative conversation, Kristen joins Alyxandra on She Aced That...
2025-09-2441 minShe Aced ThatThe Real Cost of Volleyball: Sacrifice, Surgeries & Second Chances ft. Alex RepaskyIn this informative episode of She Aced That, I sit down with my former Michigan State club volleyball teammate Alex Repasky to discuss her incredible journey through a devastating triple knee injury (ACL, MCL, and meniscus) during her senior season. Alex shares:- The moment everything changed at a Central Michigan tournament- Taking a gap year of volleyball after high school - How she spent 6 years at Michigan State (and why that was the best thing)- The mental battle of learning to jump and...
2025-09-1745 minShe Aced ThatLibero Lessons, Superstitions & Coaching Success ft. Amanda LynchFormer libero, Amanda Lynch, joins Alyxandra and shares how back row lessons and team superstitions became the foundation of her long-term coaching success. After 11 years leading teams, she's proof that combining genuine care with high standards (and maybe even some backwards chants that turned into championship-winning superstitions) creates the kind of team culture every coach dreams about.From watching older girls play at Catholic school recess to walking on at Pitt Greensburg, Amanda's path proves that setbacks can become your greatest teaching tools. She shares honest insights about parent dynamics, team chemistry, and why the back row perspective makes...
2025-09-1047 minShe Aced ThatThe Hidden Game of Politics & Power DynamicsEver felt like sports isn't just about who's the best player? This episode dives deep into the hidden politics, power dynamics, and unspoken truths that exist in volleyball and youth sports. From coach favoritism to social media comparison, I'm sharing the real stories nobody talks about publicly - the conversations that only happen in team group chats and car rides home. If you've ever questioned why someone's starting over you despite your skills, or noticed certain players getting away with everything, this episode validates your experience. You're not crazy, and you're definitely not alone.
2025-09-0322 minShe Aced ThatThe Quarterback Complex All Setters Face ft. Bryn NagelIn this episode of She Aced That, I sit down with one of my best friends and former MSU teammate, Bryn Nagel, to discuss her incredible journey as a setter who was told she was "too small" for the big leagues. From choosing volleyball at age 8 because it was inside, to becoming a decorated setter who won MVP awards and changed the game at every level, Bryn shares the raw truth about:🏐 Being the "quarterback" who gets all the blame but none of the credit🏐 Making All-Star camp 3 years in a row but never making the team (and th...
2025-08-271h 17She Aced ThatBack 2 School: New Season, Stronger YouIn this episode, Alyxandra gets real about navigating those first few weeks back to routine - the schedule shock, the social juggling, and yes, even the drama. Whether you're in the middle of tryouts, just survived week one, or wondering if you even want to play this season, this episode breaks down exactly HOW to handle it all. From managing anxiety the night before school starts to dealing with sore muscles and impossible homework schedules, we're covering what actually works (not just "do your best" advice).KEY TAKEAWAYS:✓ Write down your 3 biggest wo...
2025-08-2021 minShe Aced ThatNobody Talks About The Yips or Pushing Through JV as a Junior (So We Did) ft. Alyssa KerriganNot everyone goes D1. Not everyone has the perfect trajectory in their sports career. But everyone who stays in the game has a story worth telling.Sometimes the JV journey makes the best varsity story. Alyssa Kerrigan proves that your worth as an athlete isn't determined by making varsity as a sophomore or committing to a D1 school. It's about what you do when the path isn't perfect.In this episode we cover:✓ Walking into high school tryouts knowing NOBODY (and how volleyball saved her)✓ The moment she made JV as a...
2025-08-1358 minShe Aced ThatTake Control of Your Recruiting Journey: Even When Coaches Aren’t Calling (yet)The Complete College Volleyball Recruiting Guide You NEED | She Aced That PodcastAre coaches not reaching out to you? You're not alone, and it's not over. In this game-changing episode, I'm sharing EVERYTHING I wish I knew in high school about volleyball recruiting.📍 TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 — Why This Matters1:12 — The Realities of College Athletics2:17 — Understanding Your Options: NCAA divisions, NAIA, and junior colleges explained7:27 — Building Your Recruiting Game Plan & How to get noticed: profiles, outreach, highlight videos, and social media12:48 — Communicating with Coaches...
2025-08-0634 minShe Aced ThatHow One Coach Can Change Everything: The Impact of 900 Square Feet ft. Andy SteppOne coaching decision during a tryout changed my entire volleyball career and I knew I had to share Coach Andy Stepp's story with you all. From learning competitive volleyball at the YMCA to becoming a transformational coach who's impacted hundreds of athletes, Andy's journey proves that the best teachers often come from the most unexpected paths.In this powerful episode, we explore his game-changing "900 Square Feet" philosophy - a mindset that transformed not just how his teams play, but how they approach life. We dive deep into making mistakes vs. failures, standing up for...
2025-07-301h 14She Aced ThatCourt Anxiety, Playing Time & College Ball ft. Liz KoThe reality of college club sports! In this honest conversation, Alyxandra sits down with her best friend and former MSU Club Volleyball teammate Liz Ko to expose the truth about court anxiety, playing time politics, and what college club sports are really like.Liz shares her journey from planning to not play volleyball after high school to accidentally making the MSU club team. We talk about the reality of less playing time, how one coach can destroy your confidence while another can rebuild it, and why being pitted against your own teammates for positions creates wounds that...
2025-07-2349 minShe Aced ThatThe Parent Every Athlete Needs ...And The One They Don't | The Hard Truths About Sports ParentingFrom the sidelines to social media, sports parents can make or break their child's athletic journey. In this must-listen episode, host Alyxandra gets real about the hard truths of sports parenting. She takes listeners through a deep dive into the uncomfortable truths about sports parenting that no one talks about.As a former player, coach, AND parent, she's seen it all - from parents who get it right to those who unknowingly impact their child's passion for the game. Alyxandra shares how her own parents became her biggest supporters without ever being her biggest problem, and the three simple...
2025-07-1619 minShe Aced ThatClipboard Truths: What Coaches Actually Look For During TryoutsJoin host Alyxandra as she reveals exactly what coaches look for during tryouts and shares exclusive insights on what's really on their clipboards. From position-specific Alyxandra Pro Tips to the power of being the first to volunteer, this episode reveals why the best teammate often beats the most skillful player.Plus, hear why volleyball is the ultimate metaphor for handling life's challenges. Whether you're preparing for your first tryout or your tenth, this episode will transform how you show up - both in the gym and in life.Perfect for players, parents, and anyone who...
2025-07-0919 minShe Aced ThatFirst Episode & Navigating TryoutsIn the inaugural episode of 'She Aced That,' host Alyxandra takes listeners through her volleyball journey, sharing experiences from elementary school teams to college-level club volleyball. Alyxandra discusses the essence of volleyball beyond just skills and drills, emphasizing the importance of navigating social dynamics, handling setbacks, and maintaining a positive attitude. She introduces an e-book, 'She Aced That: Tryout Ready,' designed to be a comprehensive guide for those preparing for volleyball tryouts. Practical tips on managing tryout nerves, setting intentions, and packing essentials are shared. Listeners get insights into what coaches truly look for during tryouts and...
2025-07-0237 min
Fated Mates - Romance Books for Novel PeopleS04.48: J. R. Ward: A Trailblazer EpisodeThe final Trailblazer of Season 4 is a very excellent one—we’re welcoming JR Ward to Fated Mates! Best known as the author of The Black Dagger Brotherhood (a series that blooded Jen), JR began her career writing contemporary romances under the name Jessica Bird before turning to the vampires the romance world adores. In this episode, we talk about the twists and turns of her early career, about the influence of her mother and other powerful women in her life, about the business of being JR Ward, about her process of writing the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and about her...
2022-08-171h 41