Episode Transcript
[00:00:11] Speaker A: Welcome to Kendall speaks. I'm Dr. Brian Stewart Kendall, campus president. Today we have a very special version of Kendall Speaks. We have the national championship lady shark from Miami Dade College. Welcome, ladies. And Coach Kiko.
[00:00:28] Speaker B: Thank you. Thank you for inviting us.
[00:00:29] Speaker A: Great having you here today. We're going to have a very strong athletic conversation today.
So with us is Fernanda. Did I say it right? All right. Luana, Nikki, and then Nori and Coach Kiko.
[00:00:41] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:00:42] Speaker A: How's it feel?
[00:00:43] Speaker B: It feels great. First of all, thank you for inviting us. This is going to be hopefully a great podcast. I know that we're going to give everything so we can have fun. We're just going to relax, have fun and. And that's it, right?
[00:00:55] Speaker C: Yes, of course.
[00:00:56] Speaker A: Well, this comes on the heels of being inducted yesterday to the Our Betters hall of Fame, which we were all there together, was kind of a bigger deal than I thought, quite frankly. But it was really cool to. To be recognized. And you got a nice little medal.
[00:01:10] Speaker B: Yes, yes. Actually, I wasn't expecting that many people, but it was wonderful. Spend time with the community.
See a lot of people that haven't seen before or haven't seen for a long time.
You were there. Madame Pumarigo was there. Mike was there. A lot of staff from Miami Dade College. It was amazing. It was wonderful.
[00:01:27] Speaker A: I don't think you ladies realize how big of a reach you have. I have people all the time in the community ask about you and want to come to practice. And I mean, this is. This has been a really great year, but. And we'll get into the going to nationals and all that. But first, Kiko, let's start with your background. Talk a little bit about. You've been at Miami Dade 17 years
[00:01:45] Speaker B: and actually, I've been in Miami Dade since 1995. Funny story, I started as a water boy in 95 and 96, and then 1997, I was lucky enough to get up third assistant coach position by that was opening and Elida Madera was nice enough to give it to me. So I've been here since 95. It's going to be 31 years.
[00:02:05] Speaker A: What. First you got interested in volleyball?
[00:02:07] Speaker B: Back in the day when my native country. I'm from the Dominican Republic, I used to play baseball, like, you know, like a good Dominican.
And then from baseball I went to volleyball. And it was. It was a fun sport. And that's how, you know, that's how I got into volleyball. And the way I got here to Miami Dade College, it was one day I went to Practice. And they had 11 players. That was back in 1994.
And one of the former players in Miami Dade College, I knew her from the Dominican Republic. And she told the coach, hey, he knows how to play volleyball. We need an extra person. And actually, that's how I kind of got familiar with Miami Dade College. And then I went back in 95.
[00:02:45] Speaker A: And now here you are all these years later. And we should give a little shout out to your assistant coaches before we forget, because they were a big role this year. Isabella and Paola did a great job. I know Stephen was a big help, and it's a team effort, and it was just a great year. And so I'm proud of you guys and proud of everything. So.
[00:03:04] Speaker B: No, definitely. I mean, without Paola, without Issa, that would have been possible. They are. I don't call an assistant coaches. They're coaches just like me.
[00:03:12] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. It was great to see him. All right, Fernanda, tell us about your journey to volleyball. Where are you from? And tell us about your path to Miami Dade College.
[00:03:21] Speaker C: I'm from Brazil. I started playing volleyball because everyone, like, just say, oh, my God, you're so tall. You need, like, play basketball, volleyball or something like this. And one day I just, like, say, like, oh, my God, I need to try something. And I just, like, try volleyball. And I love it. Like, I love volleyball, really. And I'm so grateful to. To stay here. The team is great, the coach is great. The mdc, it's a really, really hot place. I love here. And I'm so grateful for this season, too, because I won the national champions. I think we're so good for everyone.
[00:03:55] Speaker A: And we're going to do it next year, right?
[00:03:56] Speaker C: Yeah, exactly. Let's go.
[00:03:57] Speaker A: So how tall are you?
[00:03:58] Speaker C: I'm six. Two, six one.
[00:04:00] Speaker A: Okay. My daughter's six foot and played college volleyball in New York. So really, I'll tell you stories about that. So I've been around volleyball. My son actually plays professional sand volleyball. He's so. Volleyball is close to my heart. So welcome. Glad to have you. All right, Liana, tell us about your journey to Miami Dade College. And you're both middles, right? No. You're a middle.
[00:04:21] Speaker D: I'm an outsider outside.
[00:04:22] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:04:23] Speaker D: So I'm from Brazil, too. I started playing volleyball when I was six years old, just for fun. And then I love volleyball, and I just keep going, and it's my passion. I'm a sophomore, so I'm leaving soon.
That's sad. But I'm grateful for Miami Dade for Everything that I lived here, it's a great experience. And once a shark, I was a
[00:04:46] Speaker A: shark, always a shark. That's right.
[00:04:47] Speaker D: And I'm coming back to visit you.
[00:04:48] Speaker A: Okay. Are you going to play anywhere next year? Do you have plans to play?
[00:04:51] Speaker D: I'm not sure where I'm going yet. I'm deciding, but I have plans.
[00:04:56] Speaker B: She does have some auctions she's had to pay.
[00:04:59] Speaker A: Talk a little bit about our options. You have a bunch of girls that are going on from this year's team that are.
Yes, play.
[00:05:04] Speaker B: Yes. Already we have Lujayzi, she's already at Florida Atlantic University. Taliba committed to Morgan State University.
Kathy and Angelica, they committed to St. John's University in New York. And like I say, you know, Luana has an offer also Asra as well as Olina. Okay, so they're all gonna go, they're gonna go big. And Emily, she decided to stay here Memory day and she's going to be a nurse. Okay.
[00:05:33] Speaker A: Oh, that's good. You know, when I think about the previous year's term when you recruited these girls, you lost a lot of players from two years ago team to this year and you replaced them with some great talent next year you've got some returning so a little bit more to work with, wouldn't you say?
[00:05:48] Speaker B: That's great to, you know, to have them at least for an extra year. But you know, the sad part about junior college is that after two years they had to leave. I know, and you know, it's sad but, but it's good as well because we know that they're going to go to a four year school to complete
[00:06:00] Speaker A: their bachelor's degree and we've left them big shoes to fill. It's going to be hard to. But you'll do it. I know you'll do it. All right, Nori, tell me about your journey to Miami Dade College.
[00:06:09] Speaker E: So first of all, I started playing when I was eight, so really young age. And from then, like I love volleyball. That's my passion. Like I go every day practicing back in Bulgaria. I'm from Bulgaria, so every day I just go with love and I want to practice the sport. So when it came to like university, I was like, okay, let me try to go to the US and coach Kiku here reached out to me. No, I actually reached out first but then my email just didn't go through. And then three months later Kiko reached out to me back and I'm super grateful for this and I took the opportunity as soon as he called me I was like, yes, I have to go to Miami Dade. That's like an amazing college. I really want to play there.
So that's how I came here. And now I'm enjoying my two years and I don't want them to end because I love it here.
[00:07:03] Speaker A: And a little more to that story is Kiko was desperate at that time, let me say, because you had a pretty good hole in your. We were filling a hole with the amazing player that left us, right?
[00:07:11] Speaker B: That is correct. We have one of the settlers that ended up going back to her country due to personal problems and, and we're lucky enough to get a great setter. And I was very pleased just to tell you a little bit about the email. It went to junk and I hardly checked my junk email and I was deleting emails. Then I saw her email. You go, let me call her to probably she's available, who knows? And she was. And now for now on, I've been checking my junk email.
[00:07:39] Speaker A: I was going to say that's what I was going to ask.
And by the way, you did a great job blocking it. National tournament, not many medals block as well as this one, I would say. So we're glad you're here. We're glad you're here and glad you're going to be here for one more year. All right, Nikki, let's, let's talk about your background and what brought you to Miami Dade College.
[00:07:55] Speaker F: And so actually Nori brought me here.
[00:07:58] Speaker A: Yeah, good recruiter, Nori.
[00:08:00] Speaker F: When Kiko reached out to her, he was asking for a right side and she called me and I was like, yeah, like that's a nice opportunity. I was considering to go to a university, a four year school school, but unfortunately due to a lot of injuries and stuff going on with the sport, I wasn't able to commit anywhere. So I was kind of stuck in a position that I had to decide quick because it was almost like the beginning of the summer and most coaches, they already have their rooster ready. So I was like, let me check it. And then I checked the place, I checked the location, the school, the volleyball program, everything. And I loved it, like everything as well as my parents. They came here and they fell in love with this place.
Now they don't want me to leave the state or the city. They're like, you're staying in Miami, that's great.
[00:08:47] Speaker A: And so were you injured, you said, going into your senior year in high school or what Kind of, Yeah, I
[00:08:52] Speaker F: had a lot of troubles during the past two years of my volleyball career. But I think I'm getting back. I'm trying to be healthier, like do more work in the gym so I can keep myself healthy and without injuries.
[00:09:06] Speaker A: It's tough. My daughter was a senior in high school, was the player of the year middle, and she was playing select and we, you know, I'd been to all these games and I had all these videos and was in those days, that's. That's how you got to college. Notice somebody came under the net, stepped on her foot. I know you know this story. All of you, ankles on the side of her foot. Had to go to the emergency room. It's the only tournament I ever missed. I was watching Deadpool, if you remember that movie with my son, and I got this emergency call in the movie theater, made it to the hospital and had to watch him as they. Volleyball can be a difficult sport with lots of injuries, so people don't realize how tough it is.
[00:09:45] Speaker F: Most people say, like, sport is healthy, but the professional sport. Yeah, it's definitely not.
[00:09:52] Speaker A: That's right. Well, let's talk a little bit about practice. Coach Kiko's not in the room here right now.
[00:09:56] Speaker B: Bye.
[00:09:56] Speaker E: Bye.
[00:09:57] Speaker A: See you, ladies.
Talk to me about practice. Tell me about a Shark practice.
[00:10:01] Speaker F: So I think like Issa, Coach Isa, she's in most of the practices. So we start by drills mostly like server Se. That's what we've been doing every single day so we can get better at it. And then we start like some basic exercises for element and stuff. And then we go through the game six versus six and we get to play against each other. It's very fun most of the time
[00:10:23] Speaker C: in competitive and competitive.
[00:10:25] Speaker F: So, yeah.
[00:10:27] Speaker A: Anybody else have any practice comments they want to?
[00:10:30] Speaker C: Yeah, like, it's so good because I come here in summer and like, it's the same, like constants and like, I really like the practice here because you have like a lot fun with everyone in the now in spring, it's. It's more like safe, you know, like when it's in on the season, it's really hard. Like, really. But here, like in spring right now, you can like, improve.
[00:10:55] Speaker A: So Kiko. So the team you've played in the national championship game four years in a row against the same team and we'll talk about results. Obviously we want it, but talk a little bit about what how this team you may be handled different from two years ago team. Because one of the things about sports is every year it's a new team.
[00:11:13] Speaker B: No, definitely. Actually, we lost three years in a row against Florida South Western, this thing since the beginning, I saw something in them. It's like the way they got along. The chemistry was unbelievable. And the other three teams, the other three years, we had great. They were great as well. Great players, amazing people.
But it does what I say. It doesn't matter how good you are, if you don't have the chemistry, you're not going to go anywhere. And they get along so well.
[00:11:43] Speaker C: You.
[00:11:44] Speaker B: You can see it inside and outside the court. And I personally, I think this was one of the main reason why we won.
[00:11:49] Speaker A: Yeah. You mentioned Florida Southwestern. So two years ago I got the opportunity to go see you play there. And that's a nice gym. I really like that gym. But I was representing our college president, Madeline Pumerega, who you mentioned earlier, and I had to sit in the balcony area. And so their campus president comes in with this big old shiny ring and he's showing me this ring around.
Oh, man. So guess what I want to do next year?
[00:12:13] Speaker C: Yeah, same thing.
[00:12:15] Speaker A: I want to go payback time. And if he hears this, I'm sorry, because. Because it's going to our turn to be a dynasty. So, speaking of which, let's talk about Florida Southwest. You played them four times this year, right?
[00:12:25] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:12:26] Speaker A: First time was here.
Very, very close match. Very close match. I think we actually did a cookout for that one. And then talk about how it changed because you saw them again in the championship game. But from your perspective, then we'll go to the ladies perspective.
[00:12:40] Speaker B: Definitely. I mean, they're a great team. That's why they made it to the finals. That's why they won three national championships. In a role when we played in, we knew that we could beat them. You know, the first set was amazing. We beat them like 2517 and 2518. And then we kind of got lost a little bit. So it wasn't because we didn't have it. It was because we lost concentration. And I think it was great for us to lose against them because then we realized what we had to do next and that's what we did. You know, we handled them at the horn over there during the regular season, then state tournament and then national tournament, and it was a. It was a sweet 30 victory.
[00:13:20] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:21] Speaker B: Against such a great and amazing team.
[00:13:23] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. Ladies, what did you think about playing them? I know there's a lot of rivalry, if that's the right word, maybe even some stronger words.
[00:13:31] Speaker F: Yeah.
[00:13:31] Speaker E: So especially as like freshmen coming here, we knew about for the Southwestern, but we didn't know the rivalry like it was that big.
So in the first match, like, all the sophomores, they were like, we need to win against that team. And we were like, yes. We were preparing and stuff.
[00:13:47] Speaker A: Hit it. We get it.
[00:13:47] Speaker E: We get it. Yeah. So we enter the game, and we're all caught up in our emotions, and we win the first set. It was amazing. But then it just, like, the emotions led ahead of us.
[00:14:00] Speaker A: And you spanked him in that first set.
Y' all were solid on him.
[00:14:04] Speaker E: And I don't know what happened. Maybe we didn't expect it or. I don't know. We were prepared for it. So I don't know why that, like, turned against us. And then we lost. But I think, like Coach Kiko said, it's good that we lost the first game because we knew what we had to do the next three games. And we took the next three games, three zero, without any problem.
[00:14:23] Speaker C: And I think so, like, was, like, your first game, like, a really big team. Like, like, was same level than us. And I think was good because to understand, like, for the next games, you know, the.
[00:14:36] Speaker A: I've been to the last two years of the national tournament, and you told me two years ago how tough the competition was, and I think it was even tougher this year. And I know a lot of times during the season we don't get the level of competition, so that may be another reason. That first game was a little. A little while, I have to tell you. So I didn't get to go to state because, unfortunately, I was at Disney World. But I promise you, my wife was furious at me because I was in line watching you guys play that tournament. I don't think I even told you this. And when I was watching, I have a little bit of a athletic background. I could tell. I could see the frustration on their face.
And the more. The deeper the game went. And those girls are competitive. Some of those girls are. They're competitive. We'll leave it at that. But as I watched that game on my phone and then got to go to nationals and watch that game, I could just see how your confidence. And you didn't make hardly any mistakes, especially even in that game. I think our rights. Our outside was incredible. And their announcer even said that was bragging about her. What else? I want to move on to the national tournament now. We had a tough little match there early in that tournament.
[00:15:37] Speaker E: Yeah, the second game.
[00:15:39] Speaker A: Talk.
[00:15:39] Speaker E: Talk about the quarterfinals. I think it was against.
It was a tough game. We. I think we won the first two.
[00:15:49] Speaker D: We won the first two sets, and then they started like playing super good.
Yeah.
[00:15:55] Speaker C: And I think you like to expert this, you know, and it just like was a shock for us.
[00:16:00] Speaker E: I just think the problem is that we watched game by game. No, we were looking towards the final. We didn't look, oh, we have to win against this team first, then against the second team, then the third team. We were just like watching for the Southwestern in the final. Yeah. And we shouldn't do that, like.
[00:16:18] Speaker F: No.
[00:16:18] Speaker D: So that's why I know that, yes,
[00:16:22] Speaker E: it was day by day and win by win, that was how.
[00:16:24] Speaker A: That was a solid team. That Odessa team was talented. Those two medals, do you know where those two medals went? Weren't they both graduates?
[00:16:31] Speaker B: Actually, I don't know. They're still there. Are they leaving already? But, you know, when we watched the game, Odessa's match, the middle didn't play that well.
The outside hitter was amazing. And one of the middle, one of the middle did. But then both of them. I don't know what happened. I don't know whether we're drinking or what they ate, but, you know, they were just killing it. They were killing it. And it caught us by surprise because to tell the truth, no, I was not expecting those tomatoes to play the way they play. So my personally, I think that was a final match. That was a great match. That was a final for us.
[00:17:04] Speaker A: Yeah. Because after that, boy, you guys were focused rest of the way. That's great. All right, let's talk about the team this year. Tell me about the players on the team. Who. Who's the craziest player? Who's the one that.
[00:17:15] Speaker F: Who's the craziest?
[00:17:16] Speaker C: Craziest.
[00:17:19] Speaker B: You're talking to her right now.
[00:17:21] Speaker F: Yeah, maybe I'm a little bit more emotional than everybody, maybe.
But, yeah, I just. I'm passionate about a sport and I don't like to look like.
[00:17:33] Speaker A: Nothing wrong with that.
[00:17:34] Speaker F: That's not my thing. And when I get a mistake, I'm working on this, so don't get that much frustrated because it's leading to another one. So I'm working on that right now. Thanks to coach Kiko and yeah, hopefully next season it'll be better.
[00:17:49] Speaker B: You will. You're getting much better.
[00:17:51] Speaker F: And I think I'm also getting more mature. So I'm growing up.
[00:17:56] Speaker A: Who's the team clown? Who's the one that makes you laugh?
[00:17:59] Speaker B: Tata.
[00:17:59] Speaker F: I think it's Tata. Yeah.
[00:18:01] Speaker C: Yeah. I think everyone's have a little bit, like, funny.
[00:18:03] Speaker A: Do your parents. I know you're all from outside the United States, right? Do your does your family watch your games? Because I know we stream them. How is that for them?
[00:18:11] Speaker D: My family couldn't watch because in Brazil it didn't work so they couldn't watch.
[00:18:17] Speaker F: Yeah, I think our family is both with Nori because we are both from Bulgaria. They paid for vpn so it was kind of expensive for them to watch the games really. But they paid and they went with us through the whole journey and like I said, my parents, they even came here. So they were in person there for the, I think the state tournament. They were there, yeah. They were just winning the trophy and everything.
[00:18:38] Speaker E: So it was very, very good. And also there's like a seven hour difference. Hour difference. So it's like they had to stay up to watch the game because it was, I think it was what time?
[00:18:51] Speaker B: Like around three in the morning over there in your country?
[00:18:53] Speaker E: Yes, because we played around 6, 7. 7. Yeah, but yeah, they had to like
[00:18:59] Speaker A: stay away, stay awake. Well, so yours, they ever get the tapes of it or videos of it? No, no, there's not a website that we can.
[00:19:07] Speaker C: Yeah, actually my parents like pay it to. To watch and yeah, they got it.
[00:19:11] Speaker A: Well, that's good. I have to say it did feel like the whole arena was against us at nationals for most of the time. I don't know what y' all felt, but you know, when I played college basketball, people would always ask me, you never hear. I never heard anything in the stands because you're focused on the game. But it was, it was hard for the athletic director now to sit over there and listen to everybody rooting against you guys.
[00:19:31] Speaker B: It was, it was. But you know, but I think the final, it was a little bit different because the final we have. Yes, I agree, like two or three teams that were, they were supporting Miami Dade College. But you know, the first three days, yes, they, they were not when Miami did.
[00:19:46] Speaker A: Yeah, for sure.
[00:19:46] Speaker B: But the good thing that those sono. Then they decided to support us at the final and. And we just want to say thank you to all of them.
[00:19:55] Speaker A: So as we think about next year, we may have a little target on our back. What are you, what are your thoughts? How do you coach differently? What do you do to prepare the girls? Because you know it's going to be a new season and who knows who we're going to run up against.
[00:20:06] Speaker B: Now definitely, obviously we practice to win and we don't practice to lose. And we have a setter coming back. We have two middles coming back.
At least we have half of the team right there. And now we Have. I know that Kati is going to St. John's University, but we were lucky enough to bring Olivero. She's pretty good. So out of the seven starters, we have four. That's going to help, especially in the junior college that they come here in August and then we have to play into two weeks, so we don't have a lot of time to prepare them. So having them here, you know, that's. That's amazing. But, you know, we used to it because every year half of them are leaving.
[00:20:45] Speaker A: You know, that's unfortunate.
[00:20:46] Speaker B: Fortunately, they had to leave and. But we've been blessed. Lucky enough that we get good players, good student as well, because something that we had to mention. 3.5 GPA has a.
[00:20:57] Speaker A: Say that again now. What?
[00:20:58] Speaker B: 3.5 as a team.
[00:21:05] Speaker A: No, that's awesome. That's really great.
[00:21:07] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:21:08] Speaker A: What about our returners? What about next year? How do you see us keeping the going next year?
[00:21:13] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm so excited because, like this year, like the last season, I feel like national champions, so I. I want to feel again. So I think I. I'm still like the page, like win the national champions and I feel like my teammates, too. So you're excited for this and we're
[00:21:28] Speaker A: in a different location next year, right? Or are we back there?
[00:21:30] Speaker B: Yes, it's gonna. We're gonna. We're gonna go to Hutchinson in Canada.
[00:21:33] Speaker A: Just in Kansas. Okay.
[00:21:33] Speaker B: You know, also something good is that someone told me around here that this year she's going to take the right side position. So that would be pretty much five out of the seven.
[00:21:43] Speaker A: Was that right?
[00:21:44] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:21:45] Speaker F: Yes.
[00:21:47] Speaker A: Competition, competitive, right?
[00:21:49] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:21:50] Speaker A: What about next year? What are your thoughts on next year?
[00:21:53] Speaker F: To win again. And I hope I'll be part of inside a core more throughout the season.
So, yeah, I'm working out a lot. I'm getting better. I'm trying to do everything as best to. To be there and to be on the court and to help the team to win it again. So we can feel the emotion again.
[00:22:13] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:13] Speaker F: Because it was incredible. And I'm so thankful to all the staff, to you, to Coach Mike. I'm so grateful to him, to Stephen, to coach Kiko Isempolo, that they've been there with us for everything. Like, and especially Steven. He's my boy. So to Stephen, like, I've been talking to him so much throughout the scene. I really appreciate him a lot.
[00:22:35] Speaker A: His head's just growing. I can see it.
But no, he does so much for all of our programs, and I think that's awesome.
[00:22:42] Speaker F: And also for academics, like, whenever I need something, I'm reaching out to Stephen first.
[00:22:47] Speaker A: Anybody in a math class?
[00:22:49] Speaker E: Me.
[00:22:49] Speaker F: The only math class. Calculus Advanced.
[00:22:52] Speaker E: Okay.
[00:22:52] Speaker A: That's my degree. If you need help.
[00:22:54] Speaker F: Oh, I'm okay. Don't worry.
[00:22:55] Speaker B: I'm good.
[00:22:56] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:22:57] Speaker B: I'm good.
[00:22:58] Speaker F: My GPA is 4.0, so.
[00:23:00] Speaker A: Oh, maybe she needs to tutor me. What about you?
[00:23:03] Speaker E: About coming back?
[00:23:04] Speaker A: Yeah. What about next year?
[00:23:06] Speaker E: I feel like, like Fernando said, if we're on all on the same page, I feel like we would be good to win and to just have the same goal, you know, being national champions. Because last year all the sophomores knew how it felt to lose. So when we came in us, I think the freshmen did an amazing job of wanting to be national champions as much as the sophomores.
So I feel like if the new girls that come in, they have this energy and this desire to win, I think we're going to be good.
[00:23:38] Speaker A: I think that's well said. You know, this year there were ups and downs. You know, it wasn't always easy. What about next year's schedule? No offense, but y' all don't play enough games at home.
[00:23:47] Speaker B: I know, I know. And actually.
[00:23:49] Speaker A: But I know you've got to go away to play the right competition, so I respect that.
[00:23:52] Speaker B: Yeah. But the good thing is we can have a tournament here.
[00:23:55] Speaker A: Oh, we are. I don't think I knew that.
[00:23:56] Speaker B: Yes. Yes.
If I'm not mistaken, September 4th 5th, there were going to be six teams coming to play in a little tournament here. So we're going to play more games here. And also we're going back to Salt Lake and.
Yes, Salt Lake.
[00:24:15] Speaker A: Is that a good trip or a bad trip?
[00:24:18] Speaker B: Yeah, that's where she got injured.
[00:24:20] Speaker A: Oh, is that why you got injured? Oh, that's where you had to change the lineup at the last minute.
[00:24:24] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:24:24] Speaker A: Yeah. See, I know things.
[00:24:27] Speaker B: So. And then we add in another. Another tournament, which I don't know where exactly, but, you know, hopefully we're gonna play, you know, more. More matches here at home, so you guys can come and support us like you guys always do.
[00:24:39] Speaker A: And when will preseason rankings come out?
[00:24:42] Speaker B: Two weeks before that would be probably second week in August.
[00:24:46] Speaker A: August. And we should be where, you know,
[00:24:49] Speaker B: ranking is good, but I don't believe so much in ranking. I believe I'm playing well.
Ranking is good in case that you don't make it or you don't win your state tournament. So you can get an at large. But I think ranking, you demonstrate that in some inside the Plane.
[00:25:03] Speaker A: Yeah, that's right. I agree. All right, let's go around the table one last time. Talk a little bit about if you had a crystal ball. Where do you see your future? You've. You've played four years of college volleyball.
What's your major? What would you like to be? You want to coach volleyball? You want to play professional volleyball? What's the future?
[00:25:18] Speaker C: I don't know. Like, now I'm, like, living, like, natural, but, like, I want to, like, do, like, the second year here and transfer for a really good university.
And I'm majoring in international relations.
[00:25:31] Speaker A: International relations. Okay.
[00:25:33] Speaker C: And I don't know yet, but I want to, like, play volleyball professional. Like, I really love this sport, and, like, I really love, like, the routine be athlet.
And I think that that's it. Like, I want to, like, have, like, my graduate in the university, but I still, like, still playing, you know.
[00:25:53] Speaker A: Well, we hope the next year goes slow. So you're here. What about you? You're going to somewhere fun, but where do you see yourself after graduation from college?
[00:26:02] Speaker D: I hope I can play, like, professional, but if not, I want to, like, work in my degree. I'm in business administration, and let's see what life has to me in the future.
[00:26:12] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:26:13] Speaker D: But I love volleyball.
[00:26:14] Speaker A: You want to stay in the United States, otherwise.
[00:26:16] Speaker D: Yes, Yes, I want.
[00:26:17] Speaker A: What about you? I didn't ask you that question.
[00:26:19] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah.
[00:26:20] Speaker A: Unless volleyball takes you overseas.
[00:26:22] Speaker C: Yeah, exactly. Let's see.
[00:26:23] Speaker A: All right, what about your. You got a year here, but three years from now, where do you see yourself?
[00:26:28] Speaker F: I think I'm. I'll be working. Like, I. I love volleyball, but I don't know. I think it has a expiration date.
[00:26:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:26:37] Speaker E: So.
[00:26:38] Speaker F: And it's kind of dangerous if you have a lot of injuries. So I'll see how my body got it. Like, if I'm still healthy and I'm playing good. Yeah, probably I'll try it out for a couple years to enjoy the sport a little bit more. But if. No, I don't want to pressure my body too much, so I'll be working on my degree. That's why I'm taking it serious.
[00:26:58] Speaker A: Anybody want to coach me?
Okay, go.
[00:27:01] Speaker E: Like, I see myself as a coach, too, and that was what I was about to say. So first, I would like to transfer to a really good university, and I would like to be in this area in Florida. Like, I really love it here. Of course, I'm open to try new places, but I really like Florida, so I really want to stay here.
And maybe a really nice university here. Then graduate. And I'm taking psychology. My major is psychology, so if I'm not a coach, I hope I can specialize in something like maybe sports psychology, something around sports.
[00:27:37] Speaker A: Very good.
[00:27:37] Speaker E: Yeah. But coaching, that. I like it. I really like it.
[00:27:41] Speaker A: Well, we'll end with the coach here. I know you're working on your master's degree, so not that you're going anywhere time soon. Talk about the future for Coach Kiko. I know you have a daughter that we might be seeing a little bit of next year.
[00:27:52] Speaker B: Yes, yes. Actually, my daughter just committed to Miami Dade College. She's coming now in August.
And yes, I'm going to be done with my master in history now that I'm leaving, like you say, I'm planning to stay here and retire from Mirdade College. And I had a lot of chances to leave, but for me, I'm a homeboy and. And Miami Dade College is home for me.
[00:28:13] Speaker A: That's awesome.
[00:28:14] Speaker B: So, God willing, I'm going to be here for a long period of time.
[00:28:18] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, what's great is we're going to have to have some great alumni return in this room today. Well, one of the things we like to do at Kendyl Speaks is we like to turn the microphone around on me.
My very first podcast. This is podcast 45 or 6, by the way, but the very first one with our student government association. At the end, they sort of shocked me and said, hey, we want to ask you a question. So. So I'll turn it around. If anybody wants to ask me a question, I'll answer anything you ask. So whoever wants to go first.
[00:28:43] Speaker B: Well, I want to go first.
[00:28:45] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:28:46] Speaker B: This year, are you going to go with us to the state tournament?
[00:28:50] Speaker A: I think I have to. Oh, the state tournament.
[00:28:52] Speaker B: State tournament.
[00:28:54] Speaker A: Where is state?
[00:28:55] Speaker B: Same place, Florida Southwestern.
[00:28:57] Speaker A: The thing you got to do is that lady right behind you got to get it on my calendar and I'll go. But yeah, I'd love to go to state. I'll be there. That's a promise.
[00:29:04] Speaker B: Good, good.
[00:29:05] Speaker E: What do you like better, indoor or beach?
[00:29:09] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh, my son and daughter are going to hear this.
Indoor.
[00:29:13] Speaker E: Indoor.
[00:29:15] Speaker A: My son. My son, who's 30, calls me up and he still wants me to go see him play. So I flown to Arkansas, flown to Colorado, and he's. He's got a really good partner.
But there's something about indoor. One of the things I love is the team aspect of it, and I've watched so much indoor that, you know, know I like them both, but I like indoor. A good question.
[00:29:35] Speaker B: Well, this is not a question. This is a suggestion. Let's put it that way. When you get the ring and you see the other gentleman from Florida said, we're saying, could you please take a picture with it, Send it to us.
[00:29:48] Speaker A: Yes, that's a good idea. I had thought of that. Hey, I'll take a selfie. That's what I'll do.
Yeah, he was a nice guy, but he was a little.
Well, he's proud. Just like I'm going to be proud to. To put that thing on. We get it. All right, well, thank you, ladies, for being here. Coach Kiko, thank you for all you've done for Miami Dade College.
We're looking forward to hear where you end up, you three. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do on the court next year and keeping this run going. So thank you for being here. Thank you for choosing Miami Dade College. We're blessed to have many great things, and students like you are one of them.
[00:30:20] Speaker B: So thank you for inviting us.
[00:30:22] Speaker A: Bye.
[00:30:22] Speaker B: Bye.
[00:30:23] Speaker A: I want to thank our head writer, Christina Saenz, our executive producer, Paul Klein, and our producer, Alex Bellows. Thank you for all being here with us today, and goodbye for now.
