BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL MEDIA DAYS

August 2, 2022

Caitlin Schweihofer

Madyson Chitty

Rachel Tam

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Rutgers and head coach Caitlin Schweihofer, along with student-athletes Rachel Tam and Madyson Chitty.

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: Thank you for having us and being here. Let me start off by saying how wonderful an opportunity this is for our programs and for the conference and for the sport of volleyball. It really is a remarkable event.

Last night's reception was just a wonderful opportunity and experience to mingle with all the other teams and coaches and players that we see and we play and I see out recruiting, but to see them out in this environment was very special.

I'm very happy to be here. It's important, I think, for me to recognize the student-athletes that I brought with me.

Madyson Chitty has been our libero for the last two seasons. She was one of the youngest liberos in the league if not the youngest when she started as a freshman. She grew up in Big Ten country but chose Rutgers because she's committed to doing something special as we kind of continuously build this program into much greater heights. And she can talk more about that a little bit later.

And I also brought Rachel Tam with us. She's our lone New Jerseyian on the team. That was very important to me when I got to Rutgers to make sure that our state was represented and that the Tri State area recognizes that volleyball is a growing sport in not only our area but across the country it is much more highly played, if that makes any sense.

For her to come and show she can play on a Big Ten roster and be from New Jersey, it will really inspire a lot of other younger players to also take up the volleyball rather than maybe another sport that they weren't exposed to earlier. Excited to have Rachel here with us.

Q. Caitlin, when you took over, with a new roster, you said you were going to try to get some foreign players on the roster. But with the announcement yesterday that Big Ten matches and Volleyball World was going to bridge the international scope, does that mean anything to you?

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: If you know anything about Rutgers, we're a very internationally based school. Obviously we have access to major airports. We're close enough to New York City. That's a big draw for international players. I see why the interest was there.

But it was very important to me to build a brand across the United States. I wanted to make sure that the domestic players understood what competitive level we were aiming to aspire to be at Rutgers. And we've done very well and been very successful recruiting domestically since I've been there. However, Rutgers as a whole is one of the most diverse if not the most diverse Big Ten institutions.

I don't want to lose our international flare entirely. We'll continue to be a mix of domestic and international players. But I think, as you'll see the roster, it will move from a fully international team with a few domestic players to kind of the reverse. But we will still incorporate international players. And they're very excited that their families get to see them play now. I spoke to a few of them yesterday.

Q. [Off microphone]

MADYSON CHITTY: It's been a blast. We made plans to go to Greece. We made plans to go to Italy just because that's where they live. All we really need to do is book a ticket. It's been cool learning about another culture. We try their foods and make dinner all together. And they bring what they eat what they eat for dinner and we bring what we eat for dinner. It's been a really cool experience to learn about everyone.

RACHEL TAM: Definitely exactly what Caitlin was saying about the flare. You kind of come to college expecting one experience and then you're on a team with practically 50 percent international players and it definitely gives you a different perspective. But I've only had a positive experience with my teammates.

And like Caitlin said, again, it brings a little flare and makes every single day a little interesting. And I learn new things every single day.

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: Last year was the first Thanksgiving that most of them had ever had. So that was pretty exciting. We were home for Thanksgiving and we had a team meal at their house. Some of the items that were brought to Thanksgiving dinner were not your traditional Thanksgiving items. But it evolves over time.

Q. Specifics? What were some of the things you weren't expecting?

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: (Indiscernible) she brought some weird potatoes.

RACHEL TAM: She brought some weird potatoes. I'm not sure if it was Italian. Not a traditional turkey or Thanksgiving meal.

Q. This is already an extremely competitive volleyball conference. Now this league in the next couple of years is about to get bigger. And there are two historically strong programs coming in, and programs that are very far away from Rutgers. Curious what you three think about Big Ten expanding in the near future?

MADYSON CHITTY: I think it's awesome. I think Big Ten is a great conference. And adding those two teams in is just going to expand the competition. And it's going to be cool to travel out there.

Been out there a few times. But it's across the country. But I think it's going to be exciting and it's a cool experience.

RACHEL TAM: I'm really excited, too. Like she was saying UCLA and USC are two great volleyball programs and they've been great volleyball programs in the past. And the Big Ten is the greatest conference in the country. So adding two more strong teams into the mix kind of reaffirms our position as the best conference in the country. I'm really excited.

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: As the coach, obviously, there's a lot of things to consider. And as my vision for how the program moves forward and climbs the ladder in the Big Ten, it's a big hill to climb to add two more historically top 25 programs, but I think it only expands our recruiting base.

We do actively recruit out of the West Coast. And those players always ask, do I ever get to play in front of my home crowd. Now we get to answer yes. It's not just going to be during preseason, our tournament once every four years. But we can regularly get them in front of their family and friends. So that's really exciting for us.

Q. You brought on two new people to your staff Abby and Bailey. What will they bring to the staff this year?

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: Abby Detering came in as our recruiting coordinator. She started and hit for Penn State. She was in two Final Fours, three Final Fours, I think. She is a wonderful voice in the gym. She has a really wide range of skill set. Obviously both hitting, hitting from the right side and setting.

She's mainly going to work with our setters, even though she probably wants to hit with our hitters, but mainly working with the setters.

And plus playing for a legendary coach and really bringing in all the knowledge what it takes for you to be successful in this league, I think is very inspiring for our players, but also motivating and telling of what's necessary of the work that needs to be put in.

She connects extremely well with a younger recruiting audience of when we have to recruit 15-, 16-year-olds, she's really good at creating those connections and being able to share her experience but she's been a great advocate.

Bailey came in as our director of operations and she played at George Mason. So she has really kind of just learned that role over the last semester. I think she's very excited about working in this conference and developing her skill set in more of an administrative role.

RACHEL TAM: I was going to say that obviously our coaches are really talented and we all learn a lot from them. But Abby having experience in the Big Ten is just another leg up. And she knows exactly what we need to be able to compete and bring in the competition. I really love hearing advice from her. I know everyone else does on the team. It's really nice to hear what she has to say, especially having experience playing.

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: But if you hit the seam, she'll block you. (Laughter)

RACHEL TAM: If you don't block in the seam she'll bounce that ball right down.

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: She had the winning hitting percentage, I think, all spring.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the move from [inaudible]? What has it done to your program?

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: This was a really huge goal for me from my interview process, but also just within the first season I recognized that as much as I love College Avenue Gym -- we still practice there. We added air conditioning for preseason. Excited about that.

But the opportunity to play in Jersey Mike's Arena in front of a larger crowd, in front of what I feel is a more professional environment, the opportunity to then be on Big Ten Network Live, which was something that had never been done for the program was a huge goal for me. And I was grateful we were given that opportunity.

It just shows the support that Rutgers is always putting into this volleyball program. We were definitely behind when it came to facilities and some other things that some of our cohorts had had already. But Rutgers has really shown since I've been there the promotion of our sport and the investment they've made into it. And moving us into the arena for matches is one of those major, major things that they've done for us. Very grateful for that.

Q. Caitlin, since I've known you since before you took the job to the time you've maintained incredible level of optimism (indiscernible). Are there times when it's hard because of the results (indiscernible) --

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: It definitely is hard, and I look to them because for me I'm their leader. I think the team is reflective of what my attitude towards this process is. And I know what I signed up for, so to speak. And they do, too. They committed to this.

And in the recruiting process, I'm very specific about what type of demeanor and outlook and what our vision is, because it does take a very special person to come in and suffer through some of those hard moments. And what was said last night by the speakers was very, very inspiring to me, and I think to them as well because how I look at it is a lot of times you do have some failure before you reach your success.

Throughout my career, I've done this before. So they haven't but I have. In my first go-around, I used to really think, am I doing this right? Am I making the best decisions? Am I going about the process correctly? But knowing that I have an educational background in change management and understanding some of the curriculum pieces that go into creating organizational change gives me some comfort because I know there is a very specific process that has been documented and categorized by numerous people smarter than I am. So that gives me some faith.

But I think the girls showing me in little ways that they're also bought in, and in big ways, just keeps me very hopeful. I know we're going to get there. I firmly believe it.

Q. Wondering if you three could be a little bit more specific about what some of those little changes that maybe people like us don't get to see as you're trying to dramatically change outward results in this kind of highly competitive environment. What does it look like?

RACHEL TAM: I grew up 25 minutes from Rutgers. I've been able to watch Rutgers grow. I remember I used to go watch high school games. I was like, okay, never really imagined myself playing here.

But now that I'm here I've really been able to see it from point A to whatever point we're at now. And even though again, like you said, we go through some tough times and it's a tough conference to play in every single weekend day in, day out, there's been massive changes.

And I think (lost audio) especially in the culture, and I'm really excited for this year because I think we're going to bring a side of Rutgers you guys haven't seen yet. Excited for that.

MADYSON CHITTY: I was going to say some of the little changes that you're talking about is just holding each other accountable. Not letting those little things like if you're five minutes late, not let that go unnoticed. Making sure we all come to treatment early, making sure we all trust each other and just hold each other accountable, honestly, because I don't believe that's happened in the past. Now that we're doing that, you're going to be able to notice.

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: Behind the scenes things, Rutgers has invested in our program from a budgetary standpoint we're mid-range in the league now from a budget. And you see how that's reflected in some of our other Olympic sports that have been very successful in this league and the NCAA. They were just a bit of ahead of us in that change process.

Things like we have a strength coach who works with just us and one other team versus someone who was working with five other teams. We have our own sports medicine trainer who is just with us and a secondary team as well.

So those are some things that really do matter that can change just what type of athlete we're able to bring in and recruit because they're getting that personal dedication.

But we also did something that I think was kind of unique. We hired a communication consultant that worked with our team this past spring because as they talk about accountability, this was someone who -- I wasn't in these conversations; they can talk to more about this -- but this was someone who taught the women how to interact with each other both on the court in one way, how to communicate and how to communicate off the court as well. But you don't have to be the exact same in between the two.

She was a really huge help. I see that reflected in just the way the team interacts over the summer. I don't know if you have anything to add to that.

RACHEL TAM: It was a great experience. I think we underestimated how important team chemistry and team connection was. Rutgers has always been a close team, but I think when we really had the time to sit down, really talk about what makes this person different, what does this person need to really succeed on and off the court, I think you're going to be able to see like huge changes in our game play. And I think it's just something that's really exciting and will bring to us the next level.

Q. It's very interesting because I don't think I've heard of many other departments reaching out to that, to that outside kind of expertise before. Was that a Rutgers initiative or was it unique to the volleyball program?

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: It was unique to my brain.

Q. It's a good idea.

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: I think when I kept asking the team after each match -- we had a very specific goal sheet for ourselves, and that was not to win the Big Ten. We created these baby steps we have to take on the way. And the last time Rutgers volleyball dot, dot, dot. And some things, the last time we took a set from Penn State, the last time we took a road set. And we were able to cross these things off. The last time we had someone setter of the week.

And we were slowly building up to this bigger event. And it is pretty neat and that evolves each year. Now it can be the next time we take two sets for Penn State. It evolves slowly.

But whenever I ask the girls after a loss, what was the biggest issue, communication kept coming back. And that's sometimes just something players say to not have to answer any other questions. But I took a mental note about that, and it was something that stuck with me over the Christmas break.

And I'm, like, okay, let's try this. And it was not a sports psychology route. It was very much a business organization, how do businesses, effective businesses communicate with one another from a leadership standpoint to colleagues, to everyone. And we'll continue working with this woman and her team, and I think that will be reflected in our game play, for sure.

Q. Madyson, could you talk about some players that you expect to really develop and stand out?

MADYSON CHITTY: The one player I expect to really develop and stand out is Alissa Kinkela, our Australian. She's been working so hard over the summer. I'm really proud of her. And it's crazy to see how much she's grown from freshman year to this year.

And she's so much fun to watch. She's a great teammate. And I'm just really happy and excited for her.

Q. Coach, you got recently the fifth straight AVCA team academic award. How do you balance that now especially in a world with NIL existence, still trying to promote the academic side five years straight while balancing what may be external influences?

COACH SCHWEIHOFER: Rutgers is an extremely challenging academic institution. I have a master's degree in education. So this is for me, it's at the top of my pyramid on my wall of things that are core values. And academics for me is at the forefront. Obviously being successful on the volleyball court and being successful in life are all things that I want all my players to succeed at, but the investment in the academics, we have a wonderful academic advisor who really spends time.

We've created a game plan that they meet with him once a week from the start of their freshman year all the way through graduation. And that is just a touch base or it could be a much more extended conversation. And it gives them some freedom to allow for some assistance, what's already scheduled.

Whereas, if not, they have to figure out a way to walk into his office say, hey, can we meet? This is a preplanned time. I've not shied away from my players taking challenging majors. By 2023 we'll have four engineers on the team. We have some premed. We have business. We have sports management. We have everything. And I say this is going to be tough; this is something that you have to balance. And when you add in the NIL piece and a social life and all the things that a college student wants to do, there's only so many plates you can hold up in the air. But we really do spend time and have an open door policy with the coaching staff, that if they need help and they need to figure out -- we've done this. I didn't do NIL. I wish there was NIL for coaches. That would be great. There probably is.

But they can come in with questions and get advice. And I think having Abby on staff as well, who is much closer in age to them who has recently gone through the process of balancing academics and school and everything else, is extremely helpful.