Fresh out of college, Anita Anwusi is making her pro debut this season in her hometown with LOVB Houston Volleyball. A first-generation college graduate, the middle blocker hails from a Nigerian family that was originally skeptical of her athletic career. After Anita’s initial success in high school and reassurance from LSU coaches, Anita’s parents trusted Anita to venture down the elite volleyball pathway. While Anita has planned for her future after volleyball – pediatric physical therapy – she’s very much focused on absorbing all the knowledge she can from her experienced LOVB Houston teammates. She and host Tiffany Oshinsky recently chatted about Anita’s late start in competitive volleyball, love of food and more in this week’s episode of Serving Pancakes. Topics include:

• Adjustment to the LOVB Pro life
• Anita setting out on her own path
• Going to LSU
• Overcoming a fear of mistakes
• Looking ahead to a career in physical therapy
• … But first, LOVB
• Anita off the court
• Hopes for season one
• And more

Follow Anita on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The preseason is here! League One Volleyball athletes are now arriving in their new homes, and one of those athletes is opposite hitter Audriana Fitzmorris. The Overland Park, Kansas, native has played professionally overseas for three seasons. Before her pro career, Audriana attended Stanford University and led the Cardinal to three NCAA titles in four years. In addition to massive success on the court at Stanford, she fell in love with anatomy and how the human body moves. She recently took the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and plans to become a doctor after her playing career. While she is excited to help care for patients in the future, Audriana’s even more excited to help launch a new pro volleyball league here at home, and that’s on display in the latest episode of Serving Pancakes. Topics include:

• The long offseason
• Playing with Jordan Larson and more LOVB Omaha hype
• How she keeps improving after a 17-year playing career
• The difference between playing in LOVB and overseas
• Starting in volleyball
• Future Dr. Fitz
• Moving to opposite from the middle
• Putting off a traditional career for volleyball
• Playing in front of family
• Audriana off the court
• Showcasing the inaugural season of LOVB

Follow Audriana on Instagram.

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No. 3 Penn State picked up a big top-25 win at No. 16 USC over the weekend, and we thought it was the perfect excuse to chat with Penn State alum and LOVB Salt Lake middle Haleigh Washington. A two-time Olympic medalist with Team USA, Haleigh had barely considered playing professionally until legendary coach Russ Rose pulled her aside and encouraged her to put her all into a pro career. After two Olympic appearances and seven years in Italy, Haleigh is coming home and looking forward to changing how volleyball is watched in the U.S. She discusses what it’s like to play for not one but two legends and her deep love of books and reading, among many other topics, in the latest episode of Serving Pancakes.

Follow Haleigh on Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While many of League One Volleyball’s coaches and athletes are familiar with one another already, LOVB Salt Lake takes that to another level. Head coach Tama Miyashiro as coached at least eight LOVB Salt Lake athletes through her other role as U.S. National Team assistant, including middle blocker Serena Gray. Sererena and Tama both caught up with host Tiffany Oshinsky to chat about how that established relationship could impact the season, how each is preparing for the inaugural campaign and more. From grass volleyball to role models, you’ll be much better prepared for the upcoming LOVB Salt Lake season after this conversation. Topics include:

• Top-seeded Pitt vs. Stanford October 20
• Serena’s cats
• Preparing for the season
• Cultural Differences in Volleyball
• Built-in familiarity within LOVB Salt Lake
• How each was introduced to volleyball
• Tips for to choosing a college program
• Welcoming everyone to volleyball
• Off-court activities
• Showcasing LOVB

Follow Serena on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Follow Tama on Instagram.
Follow LOVB Salt Lake on Instagram and Facebook.

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After nearly 30 years of coaching collegiate volleyball, LOVB Omaha Volleyball head coach Suzie Fritz is taking on a new challenge: leading a professional team during its inaugural season. She and host Tiffany Oshinsky chat about Suzie’s excitement for her new role and LOVB Omaha in general, success as a college coach, and the challenges of being a mother working in athletics in the latest episode of Serving Pancakes. Also, Tiffany welcomes back broadcaster Emily Ehman to discuss the five-set thriller between Nebraska and Purdue on October 11.

Topics include:

• Nebraska and Purdue go five
• Parity in college volleyball
• Defensive genius
• Challenges of a first-year team
• Preparing for preseason
• Excitement for the Omaha fandom
• Focusing on the LOVB Omaha plane
• Lessons from a 30-year career
• Starting as a player-coach
• Motherhood and working in athletics
• Showcasing LOVB

and more!

Follow Emily on Instagram, Youtube and X (formerly Twitter).
Follow Suzie on Instagram.
Follow LOVB Omaha on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 14 is Indigenous Peoples' Day, and we’re honoring the occasion by chatting with middle blocker Lauren Schad. From Rapid City, South Dakota, Lauren is a member of the Cheyenne River Lakota Tribe and celebrates her culture as much as possible, which can be difficult for long parts of the year as she has played professionally in France for six seasons. Despite the distance, Lauren has always felt support from the Indigenous community and gives back by hosting volleyball clinics or supporting organizations that raise awareness of the missing and murdered Indigenous women epidemic. From South Dakota to San Diego to continental Europe, Lauren has brought her culture to wherever she’s lived. We’re honored for her to share it with LOVB today.

Topics include:

• Honoring the Cheyenne River Lakota Tribal tradition
• Finding volleyball through a layup
• College on the west coast
• Realizing that going pro is an option
• Overcoming isolation in her rookie year
• Growing the game in Native communities
• Induction into the Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame
• Giving those who cannot speak the opportunity to do so
• Retiring from volleyball and rediscovering joy in volleyball
• Rug-making and textile work

Follow Lauren on Instagram and Facebook. Her company, Wicahpi Rugs & Textiles, is also on Instagram and Facebook.

Resources mentioned:

• IllimiNative | Instagram
• Indigenous Intentions
• MMIUSA
• MMIWhoismissing | Instagram
• Reclaim Your Power
• Red House Project
• Red Ribbon Skirt Society
• Seeding Sovereignty
• Seeing Red
• Urban Indigenous Collective

Become a LOVB Insider to stay up-to-date on when ticket sales, team info and more!

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Daly Santana was told that she could do everything she wanted to in volleyball. That mindset served the budding outside hitter well in her teenage years – especially when she joined the Puerto Rican National Team at age 16, and later on adapting to life at the University of Minnesota. Now, after a decade of pro competition, Daly has softened her approach…off the court, at least. Using summers to rest and recuperate have left her energized and ready to take the court again when LOVB Madison begins play this winter. Daly celebrates that and countless other ways her Puerto Rican heritage has supported her with host Tiffany Oshinsky as we begin another season of Serving Pancakes. Topics include:

• Volleyball over music…for now
• Volleyball’s place in Puerto Rico
• Getting to the U.S. for college
• Burnout and a much-needed break
• Bringing The Island to Minnesota
• Playing in Puerto Rico’s first Olympics
• The Hispanic contribution to volleyball
• Passions outside of volleyball
• Excitement for LOVB and LOVB Madison

Follow Daly on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Wilhite Parsons isn’t the loudest person on the court. Being overly vocal just isn’t in her nature, and she knows that. Sarah is, though, very self-assured, and she has a strong sense of who she is and what she wants from life. She’s used that to great effect. From leading by example to meeting her future husband while in college, Sarah’s been able to live her life according to her own faith and values while maintaining a professional career overseas. Now, with LOVB Madison, her career comes full-circle, and she’ll end it by playing in front of the family and friends she treasures more than anything else. Discussion topics include:

• Breaking into volleyball
• Benefits of high-level club volleyball
• Finding her voice as a leader by example
• Meeting her future husband in college
• Having a support system overseas
• Kinships and cardsharps on Team USA
• Finally playing in Madison
• Sarah's Legacy

Follow Sarah on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

Become a LOVB Insider to stay up-to-date on when tickets will go on sale, team info, venue announcements and more!

• Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
• Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
• Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
• Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr
• Sound Designer: Max Lorenzen

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.