#17 Everything Is Possible with Jana MATIASOVSKA

#17 Everything Is Possible with Jana MATIASOVSKA

Athlete Case Study: A Slovakian NCAA All American, Pro & Azerbaijan National Team Volleyball Player 
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Dec 27, 2014

LISTEN TO FULL EPISODE HERE OR ITUNES/STITCHER (49m:48s)

BACKGROUND

I've known of Jana for some time now mostly because I run and agency and she was a top recruit out of college and also because we both played in South Korea. I heard from friends and contact great things and knew of her song performance for Louisville University's Cardinal women's volleyball team. She's a total success on the court and well as soon as I heard her character was spectacular off-the-court too I just had to have her on... 

She's taken some big risks in her life being one of only a history of a few student-atheltes to leave her country of Slovakia to attend college/university in the USA and then she choose to take a new nationality to play for the Azerbaijan team to be challenged and reach higher heights in her sport. True courage and dedication to becoming a great athlete and the intelligence to make what she says was the "best decision of her life" to play for a NCAA school in the USA so that no matter what happened with sports she would be able to have knowledge and a highly respected degree to secure work when she must stop pro sports.

BIO

Jana MATIASOVSKA

Born:        7. 7. 1987 
Height:        199 cm
Weight:        83 kg
Spike reach:    319 cm
Block reach:    300 cm
Position:    Receiving Spiker, Opposite Spiker

Born in Bratislava, Slovakia in 1987. Started playing volleyball at 13 for a local club, Slavia UK Bratislava. Upon high school graduation, went to study at University of Louisville through a volleyball scholarship. In 2009 turned pro, signed with Russian Uralocka Yekaterinburg. After 1.5 seasons in Russia, played two seasons in Azerbaijan, one in Korea, again one season in Azerbaijan, and currently in Poland.

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LISTEN TO FULL EPISODE HERE OR ITUNES/STITCHER (49m:48s)

MOST GRATEFUL TODAY FOR:

 

PERSONAL QUOTE:

Positive anything is better than negative nothing - Elbert Hubbard

MOST INFLUENTIAL MENTOR(S) IN HER LIFE: 

Every step of the way there has been someone. First my parents; then my great mentor at the University, Stan Jonas; and now my fiance, Yigit Kulan. They have provided me with support and motivation.

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s her story and how she got into sports?
• How has she failed?
• Why did she choose her pro teams?
• How did she choose to play for another country's national team?
• What is she most excited about?

Key Lessons:

• MORE COMING SOON!

LISTEN TO FULL EPISODE HERE OR ITUNES/STITCHER (49m:48s)

ATHLETE'S TIP JAR

What was holding her back from becoming better?
Fear of Failure and high expectations

How She gets rid of negative thoughts:
Just blocks them out! Don't keep thinking about them...

Sleep & Morning ritual: 

How does she adjust to a new city and/or team?
Likes to observe everyone and everything for the first few days to see how things and people operate/behave before making initial moves to integrate into team.

Recommended Book:
Freakonomics by  Levitt & Dubner 
Super Freakonomics by Levitt & Dubner

Name THE person you feel has been MOST influential in your life to reach higher and be better?
College Coach

A learning resource you love to use...
 

Give a tool/habit you love to use to stay healthy:
Sleep a lot and eat a healthy diet

A useful tool or tip for eating on the go -OR- for traveling in general?
Always pack a snack - banana, nut mix or at least a sports drink

Most Grateful For:
 

Key Person In Her Life:
 

INFO

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to:
I donate to World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Otherwise, I believe in random signs of kindness and help, so I try to add my part whenever I see an opportunity. Often the teams I played for participated in various charity events.

Business/Work:
Pro Volleyball

Past/Current Teams: 
 Canakkale Belediye Spor (Turkey)

Recommended Guest:
 

Follow Athlete Here:
Facebook | Instagram 

Definition of Beyond Athletic?

"Coming Soon"

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ITUNES -OR- OUR SITE

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16 | No Fear! Unleash Your True Potential with Dave DEUSER

Coach Case Study

December 23, 2014

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#16  No Fear! Unleash Your True Potential with Dave DEUSER

LISTEN HERE OR ON iTUNES! (01:06m:06s)

BIO

David Elliot Deuser    
Date of Birth: 26/1/1966
USA Volleyball apprentice Summer 1987, Women Assist. coach Loyola University of Chicago 1991, 92 seasons.  Richards High School head boy's coach 1992 State Champions 41-0.  Lewis University head men's coach 1994 to 2004.     Volleyball Mag. coach of the year 1998.  AVCA men's coach of the year 2003. 2014 Great Lakes mens PVL head coach, National Champions.

LISTEN HERE OR ON iTUNES! (01:06m:06s)

Quotes:

"I Can!" & "There is no greater factor in your game than how you feel about yourself as a volleyball player."  -Stan Kelner

TOPICS: 
Building self confidence on the court
Build Trust.. competitive & unified environment
Build Positive reinforcement not only punishment
Create situations for success.. replace negative thoughts with self assured.. FREE FROM FEAR

LISTEN HERE OR ON iTUNES! (01:06m:06s)

A book or learning resource:
Volleyball Cybernetics (Book) & Living the Miracle Audio, mental training and rehearsal CD.  

✓    A Healthy Habit
Get enough sleep.  

✓    Travel Tip:
I always take and carry EmergenC packets with me when I travel.  and I wash my hands constantly.

✓    Adds Value to others by...
Visiting Childrens Hospitals with my team.

“People who put excellence in the first place have the patience to end up with success. An additional burden for the victim of the success mentality is that he is threatened by the success of others and he resents real excellence. In contrast, the person that is fascinated by quality is excited when he sees it in others.” -Joe PATERNO

Facebook: David Deuser
Website: http://www.thevolleyballinstitute.com
Email: lewismensvolleyball@msn.com

15 | How Penn St. Dominated The NCAA 4X In A Row with Arielle WILSON

#15 How Penn St. Dominated The NCAA 4X In A Row with Arielle WILSON

Athlete Case Study: USA 4x NCAA Champion, Pro & Recent National Team Volleyball Player 
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Dec 20, 2014

Photo Credit: 

Listen here now or go to iTunes/Sticher (55m:46s)

BACKGROUND

I had to have Arie on because she's a selfless soul that gives and gives and gives... Reminds me of another midwesterner and my "adopted" sister Therese Crawford of Team USA too. My point is that the midwest produces some of the friendliest people in the USA. I had to present her to others so they can learn from a truly humble champion and hear where she came from to understand why that is such a huge thing!

Arie and I go back because: 

A; We both grew up in Chicago. She grew up in the suburb next to my super safe and super clean and super enriching neighborhood.. haha. No, really. I have so much respect for anyone that makes it out of the rough areas of big cities because the odd are COMPLETELY against it.
B: She's a baddass volleyball player and is a middle which was my first position.
C: We both played for Team USA national team...
D. We both played in Indonesia together...

View fullsize

BIO

Born, Arielle Dwan WILSON, from Maywood, IL on January 3rd, 1989.

She is an only child but has two half-sisters she's close to still.

Went to Proviso East high school known for the production of basketball players.

Was the first volleyball player to get her jersey retired. Attended Penn State, where she started as a freshman and won four NCAA National Championships.

After college she begin her overseas career in Poland (Impel Wroclaw - Champion;s League Team) where she won MVP for a tournament and then spent 2 years in Baku, Azerbaijan, a short stint in Indonesia and now playing in Italy for Nordmecchanica Piacenza in Champion's League.

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Listen here now or go to iTunes/Sticher (55m:46s)

 

MOST GRATEFUL TODAY FOR:

Her life and being able to play the sport she loves aborad.

PERSONAL QUOTE:

Everything happens for a reason. -Anon.

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN HER LIFE: 

 

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s her story and how she got into sports?
• When did she have a big failure?
• What was it like being on a 4x championship team?
• Why did she choose her pro teams?
• What is she most excited about?

Key Lessons:

• Sometimes you just got to be present...

"I’m just here to play…"

• Being on a dominant team takes heart & passion/ & The Struggle!
• Focusing on the moment is most important
• Find a way to just get it done is how to succeed...
• MORE COMING SOON!

Listen here now or go to iTunes/Sticher (55m:46s)

ATHLETE'S TIP JAR

What was holding her back from becoming better?
Fear of 

How She gets rid of negative thoughts:

Sleep & Morning ritual: 
 

How does she adjust to a new city and/or team?
 

Recommended App:

Name THE person you feel has been MOST influential in your life to reach higher and be better?
My boyfriend Terrill

A learning resource you love to use...
I love being in Cali with the USA national team

Give a tool/habit you love to use to stay healthy:
Overseas i find that i eat healthier and I also use my family to motivate me to continue to be healthy

A useful tool or tip for eating on the go -OR- for traveling in general?
Grab a piece of fruit. It has been the most healthiest and helpful tip I can think of 

Most Grateful For:
 

Key Person In Her Life:
 

INFO

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to:
I give or help with camps at the local high schools and volunteer with colleges to also make sure I'm spreading knowledge

Business/Work:
Pro Volleyball

Past/Current Teams: 
Nordmechanica Piacenza (ITALY)

Recommended Guest:
 

Follow Athlete Here:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Definition of Beyond Athletic?

""

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14 | Be The Trigger-Point Behind Your Goals with Mari A. Hole

#14 Be The Trigger-Point Behind Your Goals with Mari A. Hole

Athlete Case Study: Norwegian Pro & National Team Volleyball Player 
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Dec 16, 2014

Photo Credit: William Szatkowski

Listen HERE to the full episode (53m:44s)

Getting to know Mari a bit over the last couple weeks has been nothing short of inspiring & educational. When we chatted about the need to get our stories out to athletes trying to do what we do or just to add value in some way she was on board immediately. There's something that always sticks out about selfless people (AKA unselfish).. With Mari before we'd agreed on a time to do the podcast she'd done her research & found out I help kids get to school in the USA & Canada... She asked about it and we started working on it even before the podcast... now her brother is getting some more interest from schools which is exciting. Mari did a lot of hours of work to track down school's info for her brother who is busy with school and volley. SELFLESS I tell you... amazing of her.

Imagine you write 20 people and tell them you've got a project to help others & you'd like their help (Read: TIME & EFFORT)... Welp, usually about half the people write back and only half of those might actually do something about it. This time it was even less...Well, Mari was one of those I wrote during the launch of Beyond Athletic a few weeks back and she was one of the 1st two responses and the 2nd person to schedule a time to record! I remind you she's in the middle of a time of year where they are playing sometimes 2 matches per week and traveling intercontinentally! Some people make reasons to help others... not why they can't. So grateful for Mari doing this...

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BIO

Born, Mari Aase Hole, in Miritz, Switzerland on August 3rd, 1990.

Moved to Olso, Norway to start school. She has a young sister and brother.

She was raised to participate in many actives like hiking, skiing, soccer, volleyball, biking, etc. She played soccer mainly until high school when volleyball took over..

She won/accomplished just about everything possible in volleyball at the highest level, by the end of high school, in Norway and chose to attend UCLA in the USA where she played for 2 years and then moved to Ohio State University for her final two years of college eligibility becoming an AVCA All American!

Her first pro team was in 2013-14 in Istres, France, where she was the Best Scorer & Attacker of the LNV PRO-A league! (French Top Division)

.Now she plays volleyball for Team Norway and pro for the Bezier Angels in France. 

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Listen HERE to the full episode (53m:44s)

MOST GRATEFUL FOR:

Family!

PERSONAL QUOTE:

"Selv i motbakker vokser det blomster"

Translation: "Even in the hills the flowers are growing"

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN HER LIFE: 

Her first coach.. who happens to be her mother also! :)

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s her story and how she got into sports?
• What is her biggest fear?
• What has she learned from her life until now?
• What was her biggest obstacle?
• Why was it important that she go to a school in the USA?
• What is she most excited about?

Key Lessons:

• You cannot specialize in one sport too young

• Challenges help you improve

"I was just looking for a challenge. I wanted to see how much better i could get."

• Being away from family can be tough

• Even in tough times there are positive things & lessons

"It's been a big transition...schools were really great...but it was really tough... But I had a really good time, I had a lot of really good people around me."

• Things will not always go as planned

• Hard work pays off

"If you want to get somewhere you have to put in a lot of the hours yourself...Don't expect anyone to do it for you."

• You must set goals

"YOU have to be the TRIGGER POINT behind it..."

• Can't compete at a high level and learn at a high level in Norway simultaneously

"Volleyball is so much bigger in the States...There's a huge economic aspect behind it...So there's just expectations in volleyball are different. The coaches...I've never had had that big of a staff around me before... "

• Fears of failing but also of success can hold you back if you let them

"You do not get to go inwards."

• Be appreciative!

"Engage yourself in your surroundings!"

Listen HERE to the full episode (53m:44s)

ATHLETE'S TIP JAR

What was holding her back from becoming better?
1. Fear of failure & success
2. Didn't want to "stick out" AKA been seen as a star/leader

How She gets rid of negative thoughts:
Just let it go... Block it out...Zone in on next action!
Take a deep breath & Keep her action simple not overcomplicated.
Smile & let people in so she doesn't close herself off to her teammates.

Tool To Improve As A Human Being:
Engage other people to get to know them a bit.

Sleep & Morning ritual: 
7-8 hours of sleep. Wake 1 hr before training. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Read Norwegian News. Head to training 30 minutes before it starts.

How does she adjust to a new city and/or team?
Explore's the new city with her teammates so she get's to know the city and her teammates make memories.

A Healthy Habit:
I am a huge fan of smoothies, so often when I want something to "snack" on I make myself a thick smoothie. But generally my thought for staying healthy is everything in moderation. I have too much of a sweet tooth to stay away from ice-cream etc.

Travel Tip:
Make your own trail mix and bring fruit or other snack you enjoy to eat. It is good to always have something to eat in your backpack. That way you avoid buying unnecessary food on the go. And bring a water bottle.

Recommended Book:
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Most Grateful For:
Family.

Key Mentor In Her Life:
Her Mother (She was also her first coach)

INFO

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to:
I enjoy to help people. In Norway coaching is done on a volunteer basis so when I am home I help out when I can and try to share my experiences when asked. Previously I have had talks/presentations to young volleyball players and teams about my experiences and what it takes to get better.

Business/Work:
Pro Volleyball

Past/Current Teams: 
Beziers Angels (FRANCE)

Recommended Guest:
 

Follow Athlete Here:
Blog | Instagram

Definition of Beyond Athletic?

"Be aware that people look up to you. Be aware of your actions as well as behavior... Because people will copy it whether you notice it or not. You have to be bigger than yourself and your sport...See past just your sport. There is more to you than just your sport."

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ITUNES -OR- OUR SITE

WE WILL GET YOUR REVIEW TO THE ATHLETE! @BEYONDATHLETIC