In this episode, Susan pulls back the curtain on the real reason families struggle during the college volleyball journey: misaligned expectations between parents and athletes.

Before the offers, visits, and commitments come in, you need clarity on who decides what, how much college really costs, and what matters most to your daughter’s future. Susan walks you through the most important conversations to have before the pressure hits—so your athlete feels supported, confident, and ready to lead her own process.

Chapters 

00:00 – The #1 issue that silently derails recruiting

01:30 – What really goes wrong when parents + athletes aren’t aligned

02:50 – Who’s making the decision—and does everyone know it?

04:30 – The money talk: budget, scholarships, and hard truths

06:15 – D1, D2, NAIA, D3: what you need to know about aid

08:30 – Boundaries vs. flexibility—setting the right expectations

10:00 – Defining fit: values, location, team culture, and more

11:00 – Communication matters more than talent—here’s why

13:00 – Why parents doing “too much” hurts your athlete

15:25 – The power of messy action + why it gets results

17:45 – Prestige vs. alignment: what really leads to long-term success

20:00 – Helping your athlete choose for herself (not for the brand)

22:30 – What a united team at home looks like

24:00 – How to get expert support inside NXTVB

Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

Quick shoutout to our podcast sponsor University Athlete. The only volleyball-exclusive recruiting platform used by 95% of college coaches. It’s where athletes get seen, get evaluated, and get recruited. Plus it's free and only takes a couple of minutes to activate your profile. 

Click the link below to claim your free profile.

CLAIM YOUR FREE PROFILE HERE

If you decide you want to upgrade to the All-Access pass be sure to use the code ‘NXTVB30’ to save 30% on your yearly membership. 

Subscription boxes are all the rave (we get it, they are FUN!) and we’ve developed one for the recruiting process that comes with 1:1 support in our new Set for Success Membership!

Every Month as Member You Get to Choose from One of the Following for Support:

🖥️ 1:1 ADVISING CALL with either Sonja, Jessie or Susan from the NXTVB team.
🎥 HIGHLIGHT FILM professionally produced and done for you.
🗣️ OUR TARGETED TAKE with detailed feedback on one specific part of your process, so it's worth your time and effort!
😎 PLUS SEASONAL OFFER...