Out of Rotation

The regular season is winding down, and every match means more! John and Scott are back on Out of Rotation to recap Week 6 of WPIAL girls volleyball and look ahead to the matchups shaping Week 7.

Plus, we welcome Lelia McCollum of Waynesburg, our Week 5 Jim Shorkey Queens Player of the Week, for a special interview!

We break down the results, discuss the playoff picture, and spotlight the storylines to watch as teams make their final push toward the postseason. Who’s building momentum when it matters most? Let’s talk volleyball!

What does it take to build a confident team and a culture that lasts? John and Scott welcome Dr. Jodi Burns to Out of Rotation for a conversation about the mental side of coaching and building a program. We explore player confidence, accountability, pressure, team roles, and the emotional demands coaches face—with practical situations and ideas to bring back to your next practice.

Dr. Burns’ Recommended Reading

Continue the conversation with these resources recommended by Dr. Burns:

1. Game Changers — Dan Gold
   Stories paired with insightful questions and action plans.
2. The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, & Thrive — Jim Afremow, PhD
   Explore mental skills, motivation, and reflection. Dr. Burns highlights Chapter 2, “Mastering the Mental Skills,” along with Chapters 7 and 8.
3. Max Out Mindset — Larry Widman, M.D.
   Strategies and exercises for developing and practicing mental skills.
4. The Right Call — Sally Jenkins
   A favorite of Dr. Burns, who considered using it as a textbook for a sports-themed first-year seminar.
5. Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message — Tara Mohr
   A book focused on women finding their voice, with valuable perspective for men who coach women, too.
6. PEAK: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise — Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool
   An exploration of deliberate practice and the path to expertise. Dr. Burns gives a special shoutout to Sharon Watson, whose success she connects with this approach.
7. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success — Carol S. Dweck, PhD
   A resource for exploring growth mindset and perseverance.
8. Chasing Greatness — Karch Kiraly

The stretch run is here! In Episode 15 of Out of Rotation, we recap Week 5 across Western Pennsylvania high school volleyball and preview the Week 6 matchups with playoff berths on the line. We discuss the results shaping the standings and what to watch as teams push toward the postseason.

This episode is sponsored by Elevated Performance VB.

This week on Out of Rotation, John Skarupa and Scott Sundgren welcome Chartiers Valley head coach Cullen Vereb and players Megan Dumpman, Payton Friburger and Allegra Susenna for a look inside Colts volleyball.

We talk team chemistry, the experience of a returning roster and the goals driving the program. Allegra also shares her journey from Italy to Western Pennsylvania, offering a unique perspective on volleyball, school and finding her place with a new team.

Get to know the personalities behind the jerseys—and what brings this group together on and off the court.

In Episode 13 of Out of Rotation, John Skarupa and Scott Sundgren break down Week 4 results from across Western Pennsylvania and welcome Ken Wunderley for the latest Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Top 5 rankings. We also preview some of the best upcoming matchups and update Olivia Babcock’s all-time kills record watch. Section races are heating up, and there’s plenty to talk about!

We’re joined by Pitt Volleyball Associate Head Coach Kellen Petrone and Assistant Coach Michael Fisher for a special episode! We talk Olivia Babcock and Blaire Bayless returning for a fifth year, the upcoming Top 5 showdown with SMU on WPIAL High School Night, and Babcock’s chase of Pitt’s all-time career kills record. A huge week for Pitt Volleyball—and we’re breaking it all down!

Week 3 brought nine matches with first place on the line, and John and Scott are breaking down the games and their impact on the section races. Then it’s time to look ahead to Week 4, where several teams are battling for second place. Plus, Week 2 Jim Shorkey Queens Player of the Week Emily Muir joins us for a short interview.

Three Western PA programs hit the road for the Endless Summer Volleyball Tournament in Virginia Beach! Players and coaches from Avonworth, Thomas Jefferson and Frazier join us to talk about the competition, road trip, team bonding and everything that made the weekend one to remember.

Episode 9 of Out of Rotation recaps the biggest results and standout performances from Week 2 before looking ahead to a loaded Week 3, featuring nine matchups with first place in the section on the line. Plus, we crown our first-ever Jim Shorkey Queens Player of the Week, Thomas Jefferson’s Viola MacNeil!

Week 1 of Western PA volleyball delivered plenty to talk about! We recap the biggest results, surprises and performances from opening week before Ken joins us to break down the changes in the Top 5 rankings. Then, we turn the page to Week 2 and highlight the section and non-section matchups you need to have on your radar.

The season is rolling — and we’re just getting started.