57: Hidden Truths of D1 Volleyball Recruiting from 3 Dads (Part 2)
How much should parents actually be involved in their daughter’s volleyball recruiting process? In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with three dads of 2028 Division I commits, the conversation shifts from what happened during recruiting to what it was really like to navigate the process as a parent. The dads share the roles they took on behind the scenes, from managing spreadsheets, emails, film, travel, and school research to helping their daughters think through what they actually wanted in a college experience. They also get candid about the harder part: knowing when to stop coaching, listen more, manage their own stress, and give their daughters space to simply be teenagers. They also talk about what happens after the commitment, why June 15th does not define an athlete, and the importance of running your own race instead of comparing your recruiting journey to someone else’s. The conversation closes with practical advice for looking beyond brand-name schools, evaluating where an athlete realistically fits, and using tools like Massey Ratings and virtual campus tours to discover programs families may otherwise overlook. If you’re a parent wondering how to support your daughter without taking over her recruiting journey, this episode offers an honest look at what these dads learned along the way. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome back to Part 2 01:20 – What role should dads play in recruiting? 03:20 – Helping your athlete figure out what she really wants 05:20 – When being the coach gets in the way of being dad 07:40 – Protecting time for athletes to just be kids 08:35 – Who was actually the most stressed? 12:30 – What the dads will miss about recruiting 15:45 – What happens after your athlete commits? 17:30 – Final advice for parents navigating recruiting 19:20 – June 15th does not define your athlete 21:45 – Stop chasing only the brand-name schools 23:00 – Using Massey Ratings to find the right competitive fit 27:20 – Using virtual campus tours to narrow your list 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: @amayaclassof2028 Carolina Delaney: @carolinadelaneyvb Liv Wender: @livwendervolleyball Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank www.rallysend.com Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time. Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.