What does the volleyball recruiting process actually look like from the parent side?
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Susan sits down with three volleyball dads whose daughters recently committed to Division I programs in the class of 2028. Each came into volleyball with experience in other sports, and each quickly discovered that college volleyball recruiting operates very differently.
They share what surprised them most about the process, what happened when June 15th arrived, and just how quickly calls, emails, offers, and decisions started moving. They also talk about college camps, visiting campuses early, building and narrowing a target school list, and trying to understand where their daughters realistically fit within the national recruiting landscape.
Susan also breaks down why recruiting can feel so subjective in volleyball, why measurable stats only tell part of the story, and why gaining clarity early can help families spend their time, energy, and resources more strategically.
If you’re a parent trying to understand what may be coming next in your daughter’s recruiting process, this episode gives you an honest look at what these families learned while going through it in real time.
Chapters
00:00 – Susan’s recruiting support and Volleyball Recruiting School
06:00 – Why these three dads wanted to share their experience
07:25 – Meet the volleyball dads and their daughters
11:25 – How volleyball recruiting differs from other sports
13:30 – What happened when June 15th arrived
18:50 – When families realized recruiting was moving fast
19:10 – Visiting campuses early to gain clarity
22:55 – Why camps matter more than families may realize
24:20 – Narrowing the school list and targeting strategically
27:20 – A late-blooming athlete and a very fast recruiting journey
29:20 – Why evaluating volleyball recruits is so subjective
31:35 – The importance of jump touch and measurable traits
32:20 – What’s coming in Part 2
About the Guests:
Jason Wender
Father of Liv Wender, 2028 S, West Virginia Commit
Matthew Delaney
Father of Carolina Delaney, 2028 OH, Pepperdine Commit
Brett Baatrup
Father of Amaya Simon, 2028 MB, Colorado State Commit
Connect with the Players:
- Amaya Simon: @amayaclassof2028Carolina Delaney: @carolinadelaneyvbLiv Wender: @livwendervolleyball
Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank
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