Better Together

In Part 2 of our conversation with Kaelin “Coach Kae” Steele, we dig deeper into what she's learned about coaching, success, and the importance of knowing the athletes behind the jerseys.

Kaelin reflects on her Coach of the Year season with 18 White and how coaching a group with different goals challenged her to adjust her approach and focus on giving each athlete an experience they could be proud of. She shares why player-coach relationships and mental check-ins have become such an important part of her coaching, and how her definition of a successful season has evolved beyond simply wins and losses.

We also look ahead to her upcoming season with 17 Blue, the areas where she's still challenging herself to grow, and why building relationships and team chemistry starts long before the first match.

And to close it out, Coach Kae shares what Better Together means to her after growing alongside United from nearly the beginning.

What happens when you accidentally walk into the wrong tryout and discover a sport that becomes a major part of your life?

In Part 1 of our conversation with Kaelin “Coach Kae” Steele, we go back to where her volleyball story began, from showing up to volleyball tryouts by mistake to discovering what she calls a “positive distraction” during an important season of her life.

Coach Kae shares how she made the transition from player to coach, what she learned by starting as an assistant and simply being willing to observe, and how she's grown from a timid young coach trying to find her voice into a confident head coach and United's 2026 Coach of the Year.

She and Korohen also talk about the confidence that comes with experience, why making mistakes is part of becoming a better coach, and one of the biggest lessons Coach Kae learned during her first season as a head coach: let athletes be proud of themselves, have fun, and enjoy the moments they've worked for.

This is Part 1 of our conversation with Coach Kae. Stay tuned for Part 2!

No two college recruiting journeys look exactly the same.

In this special Better Together recruiting recap, we’re revisiting conversations with Alicia Krichev, Eli Hester, Audrey Cagle, and Audrey Krichev to hear four very different perspectives on finding the right path to college volleyball.

From navigating the process as a family and starting recruiting later than expected, to choosing a school based on academics and finding an unexpected way back to the game, these stories are a reminder that recruiting doesn’t have to follow one specific timeline or formula.

Whether you’re just beginning the process, somewhere in the middle of it, or wondering if your journey looks different from everyone else’s, this episode offers perspective, encouragement, and a reminder to focus on finding the path that fits you.

What do college coaches really look for during the recruiting process?

In this special Better Together recruiting recap, we’re revisiting conversations with Tristan Johnson of UNA Indoor Volleyball, Kaleb VanDePerre of UNA Beach Volleyball, and Betsy Freeburg of UAB Volleyball to hear recruiting from the coaches’ side.

From getting noticed and communicating with coaches to highlight film, grades, finding the right fit, and the qualities that matter beyond talent, these three coaches share insight every athlete and parent navigating the recruiting process should hear.

Whether college volleyball is a future goal or recruiting is already underway, this episode is full of practical advice to help you approach the process with more confidence and intention.

In the final part of our conversation with United Programming Coordinator Celeste Walton, we're bringing her story home to United.

Celeste shares what ultimately brought her back to Alabama, what stood out to her about United, and why our commitment to creating opportunities for athletes at every level made this feel like the right place for her.

We also go behind the scenes of great programming and talk about what parents may not always see: the planning, adapting, problem-solving, and heart that go into creating an environment where athletes can learn, grow, and feel safe enough to make mistakes.

Plus, Celeste shares what she's most excited to grow at United and what "Better Together" means to her, not only for athletes, but for coaches who are willing to learn from one another, share what they know, and continue raising the level of the game together.

We're so excited to have Celeste as part of the United family and can't wait to see the impact she'll make in the gym this season!

In Part 2 of our conversation with United Programming Coordinator Celeste Walton, we're diving deeper into what it means to coach the athlete in front of you.

Celeste and Korohen talk about the lessons that come with coaching athletes at every age, from learning patience and adaptability with younger players to keeping older athletes challenged, engaged, and connected to their role on a team.

They also discuss navigating burnout, understanding that every role matters, and what it means to add value to your team whether you're on the court or supporting your teammates from the sideline.

And finally, Celeste shares the coaching philosophy at the heart of how she wants to impact athletes: Elevate and Empower.

Elevate who they are as people and players. Empower their confidence, their voices, and their ability to advocate for themselves.

Because the impact of a great coach reaches far beyond the volleyball court.

We're excited to welcome a new face to the United family!

In Part 1 of our conversation with United's new Programming Coordinator, Celeste Walton, we get to know the person behind the coach and hear about the volleyball journey that ultimately brought her to United.

Celeste shares how she first fell in love with the game, her experience playing multiple positions and competing at the collegiate level, and the coaches who helped shape the way she approaches athletes today. She also opens up about discovering her own calling to coach and why developing the next generation of young women means so much to her.

Plus, Celeste and Korohen talk about finding your voice, where confidence really comes from, and why putting in the work can give athletes the confidence to make mistakes, learn from them, and keep growing.

We're thankful to have Celeste as part of United and can't wait for you to get to know her.

• How Celeste first discovered volleyball
• Going from libero to middle and eventually playing nearly every position
• How club volleyball fueled her love for the game
• The coaches who took the time to teach, challenge, and believe in her
• Celeste's collegiate volleyball experience
• How volleyball helped Celeste come out of her shell and find her voice
• Why great coaching requires finding different ways to reach different athletes
• The connection between preparation, repetition, and confidence
• Why doing the work can give athletes the confidence to make mistakes
• Helping young athletes explore their limits instead of fearing failure

Celeste Walton

Programming Coordinator, United Volleyball

Huntsville Hair Company, the official sponsor of the Better Together podcast.

As athletes prepare for a new season, we're continuing our look back at one of our most valuable conversations with registered dietitian Alyssum Reno-Smith.

In Part 2, Alyssum gets practical about what fueling can actually look like during a busy tournament weekend — from early morning matches and long days at the convention center to traveling, limited recovery time, and making sure athletes have what they need in their bags.

We also talk about recognizing the signs of under-fueling, building healthy habits without creating restriction or fear around food, navigating nutrition misinformation on social media, and helping young athletes take ownership of their fueling as they grow.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How to plan nutrition around multi-day tournament weekends
• What athletes should eat before, during, and after competition
• Simple foods and snacks to keep on hand while traveling
• How to prepare for early morning matches and limited recovery time
• Why planning ahead can make tournament nutrition much easier
• Signs that an athlete may be under-fueling
• How parents can support healthy eating without becoming overly restrictive
• Helping athletes develop a positive relationship with food
• Whether different volleyball positions have different nutritional needs
• Why hydration should be proactive, not just based on thirst
• How to make small, sustainable changes to everyday nutrition
• How to identify nutrition misinformation and social media red flags
• Common nutrition myths about carbs, fruit, protein bars, and pre-match eating
• Why consistency matters more than perfection when it comes to fueling

Whether you're an athlete, parent, or coach, this conversation is full of practical reminders about preparing, fueling, hydrating, and supporting athletes in a way that helps them perform — both on the court and beyond it.

If you missed Part 1, be sure to go back and listen to the first half of our conversation with Alyssum for even more on the connection between nutrition, focus, energy, and performance.

As athletes head back into the gym and prepare for a new season, we're looking back on one of our most valuable conversations.

In this archived episode, registered dietitian Alyssum Reno-Smith joins us to discuss the powerful connection between nutrition and athletic performance. From brain function and decision making to hydration, anxiety, and sustained energy, Alyssum explains why what athletes eat before and during competition matters just as much as what they do in practice.

Whether you're listening for the first time or revisiting this conversation, the information is just as relevant today as it was when we first released it.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why under-fueling can increase anxiety, shakiness, and mental mistakes
• How nutrition supports the nervous system, focus, and confidence
• Why carbohydrates are the brain's primary fuel
• The truth about energy drinks and pre-competition fueling
• Smart snack ideas for tournaments and long training days
• Why skipping meals before competition can hurt performance
• How hydration affects decision making and reaction time
• Common fueling misconceptions among athletes and parents
• Simple nutrition habits that support more consistent performance

Whether you're an athlete, parent, or coach, this conversation is packed with practical, evidence-based advice to help athletes perform at their best.

Be sure to join us next week as we revisit Part 2 of our conversation with Alyssum.

We wrap up our three-part conversation with professional volleyball player and United ambassador Merritt Beason by talking about the lessons she's still learning - and the ones she hopes to pass on.

From coaching young athletes and navigating difficult decisions to confidence, accountability, self-talk, and finding your voice, Merritt shares the perspective she's gained both on and off the court.

She also reflects on balancing high expectations with grace, why confidence isn't something you always feel, and what it really means to keep growing as an athlete, coach, and person.

• Questions young athletes should be asking more often
• Balancing accountability with grace as a coach
• Helping athletes separate performance from self-worth
• What confidence really looks like
• Finding your voice while remaining respectful
• The importance of effort, energy, and buy-in
• Practical strategies for managing negative self-talk
• Merritt's definition of "Better Together"