Bump Set Chat! The place to hear from your favorite volleyball personalities!

What does it take to build a championship culture in college volleyball? And what is it like to return to one of the sport's most historic programs — this time as the head coach?On this episode of Bump Set Chat, we sit down with John Hawks, Head Coach of UCLA Men's Volleyball, to explore his remarkable volleyball journey, from discovering the sport and balancing coaching with a full-time engineering career to coaching at the highest levels of college and international volleyball.John takes us behind the scenes of his journey from UCLA assistant coach to head coach at Loyola Chicago and ultimately back to UCLA. We discuss the opportunity to lead the Bruins, his first season at the helm, and how he is building his own culture while upholding UCLA's championship tradition.We also dive into the value of international coaching experience, bringing Milan to the staff, developing players, the realities of NIL and the transfer portal, and what it takes to remain competitive in today's college volleyball landscape.Plus, John shares advice for freshmen adjusting to college volleyball, what separates good players from great ones, what clubs should prioritize when developing athletes, and the most rewarding part of being a coach.If you enjoy conversations about volleyball, coaching, player development, recruiting and the people behind the game, subscribe to Bump Set Chat for more interviews with the coaches and athletes shaping the sport.👍 LIKE the video if you enjoyed the conversation.💬 COMMENT: What do you think separates a good volleyball player from a great one?🔔 SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@BumpSetChat📸 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/bump_set_chat/#BumpSetChat #UCLAVolleyball #MensVolleyball

In this episode of Bump Set Chat, I sit down with Canadian National Team libero Kacey Jost to talk about her incredible volleyball journey — from growing up around hockey and dance, to discovering volleyball, playing at UBC, starting her professional career, earning a spot with Team Canada, and ultimately helping Canada qualify for the LA28 Olympic Games. 🇨🇦🏐Kacey's journey is anything but traditional. We talk about her early days playing multiple sports, the importance of club volleyball, the coaches who helped shape her, and why she ultimately chose UBC and U SPORTS over pursuing NCAA volleyball in the United States.We also get into her transition from opposite to libero, what it took to adjust to the collegiate game, her first professional contract, and what life is really like playing volleyball professionally.Then we dive into Team Canada.Kacey shares what it was like finding out she was traveling with the national team, her first experiences around Canada's senior team, playing alongside some of the country's top players, and taking that next step up to international volleyball.We also talk about working with Giovanni Guidetti, her experience during VNL 2026, and some of the moments that stood out during Canada's historic run.And, of course, we talk about the moment Canada defeated the Dominican Republic to secure a spot at LA28.What was going through Kacey's mind before that match? What did it feel like when the final point was over? And what does it mean to help bring Canadian women's volleyball back to the Olympic stage?We finish with Kacey's life away from the court, pre-game rituals, mental resets, the toughest position in volleyball, the people who have influenced her career, and what's next with LOVB Madison.If you enjoy conversations with volleyball players, coaches and people working to grow the game, make sure to subscribe to Bump Set Chat.#Volleyball #KaceyJost #TeamCanada #CanadianVolleyball #LA28 #OlympicVolleyball #UBCVolleyball #VolleyballPodcast #VNL #NORCECA #LOVB #LOVBMadison #VolleyballJourney #Libero #WomensVolleyball #USPORTS

What makes a great volleyball coach? What can coaches learn from working in different volleyball cultures? And what separates an elite athlete from everyone else?On this episode of Bump Set Chat, I sit down with Brian Singh, a competitive volleyball coach with more than 20 years of experience, nearly a decade coaching at the largest college in Canada, and the founder of Digital Volleyball Academy and Nemesis Sports.Brian and I take a deep dive into his volleyball journey, from playing and coaching high school volleyball to club and college coaching, and eventually becoming one of the most recognized voices in volleyball coaching and player development.We talk about the differences between coaching volleyball in the United States and Canada, what Brian learned from being in the gyms of great coaches, how his coaching philosophy developed, and what coaches can sometimes lose sight of when working with young athletes.We also get into Brian's work with vertical jump training and some of the biggest mistakes young volleyball players make when they begin training to jump higher.And one of my favorite parts of the conversation is Brian's relationship with Daenan "Kofi" Gyimah. Brian shares what separated Kofi from other athletes, the moment he saw Kofi's potential begin to take off, and what it has been like watching the player and person Kofi has become.

Creighton Volleyball Head Coach Brian Rosen joins Bump Set Chat to share his volleyball journey and the unique path that led him from assistant coach to taking over one of the top programs in college volleyball.Brian talks about how he first got hooked on volleyball, his journey through high school, club and Division II coaching, and what brought him to Creighton. He shares what it was like working alongside legendary Creighton coach Kirsten Booth, the lessons he learned from her, and the phone call that eventually changed everything.We also discuss Brian's reaction when he learned Kirsten was leaving after 22 years, the challenge of replacing a legend, and the transition from being an assistant coach to becoming the head coach. Brian talks about honoring the culture and values that have made Creighton Volleyball so successful while also putting his own stamp on the program.Other topics include recruiting, the pressure facing freshmen, finding the right Division I, Division II or Division III fit, the transfer portal, NIL, what club volleyball can do to better prepare players, advice for younger coaches and middle blockers, and what Brian finds most rewarding about coaching.Plus, we have some fun talking about Sister Act 2, pineapple pizza, music in the gym, Target runs, and more!Thanks to Coach Rosen for taking the time to join the podcast, and good luck to the Creighton Bluejays this season! 🏐Don't forget to like, subscribe and follow Bump Set Chat for more conversations with the people who make the volleyball world great!#Volleyball #CreightonVolleyball #CollegeVolleyball #VolleyballPodcast

In this episode, we're joined by George Mulry, Executive Director of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) and founder of Pioneer Valley Juniors Volleyball Club.George shares his incredible volleyball journey—from discovering the sport and developing his coaching philosophy to building one of New England's premier volleyball clubs. We dive into what separates great coaches from good ones, what parents often don't see behind the scenes, and what it takes to create a successful club culture.We also explore the fascinating history of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, why it's located in Holyoke, Massachusetts—the birthplace of volleyball, and the story behind the invention of the sport by William G. Morgan. George explains the Hall's mission to preserve volleyball's rich history while inspiring future generations around the world.Plus, we discuss the 2026 IVHF Induction Class, the Showcase of Champions, memorable moments with volleyball legends, growing boys volleyball in New England, and how fans can support the Hall of Fame.Whether you're a player, coach, parent, or lifelong volleyball fan, this conversation is packed with stories, history, and insights you won't want to miss.In this episode:🏐 George's volleyball journey🏐 Discovering a passion for coaching🏐 Building Pioneer Valley Juniors🏐 Coaching philosophy and mentorship🏐 What great coaches do differently🏐 The history of volleyball🏐 Why the IVHF is located in Holyoke🏐 Behind the scenes of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame🏐 The 2026 Hall of Fame induction class🏐 Growing volleyball for future generations🏐 How you can support the IVHFIf you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to help us continue bringing you conversations with the people growing the game of volleyball.Follow the International Volleyball Hall of Fame:https://www.volleyhall.org/Follow Bump Set Chat for more volleyball interviews with players, coaches, and leaders from around the world.#Volleyball #GeorgeMulry #IVHF #VolleyballHallOfFame #BumpSetChat #Coaching #YouthVolleyball #ClubVolleyball #PioneerValleyJuniors #Holyoke #WilliamGMorgan #USAVolleyball #VolleyballHistory #GrowTheGame #VolleyballPodcast