Bump, Set, Mic...The Junior Club Volleyball Podcast by TNT
Bump, Set, Mic explores junior club volleyball from the perspective of TNT Volleyball Club in the Philadelphia area. Club Director Chuck Dougherty and co-host Brian Mooney interview coaches, parents, and players to share behind-the-scenes insight into the club volleyball world. Episodes cover topics important to players, families, and coaches involved in the junior club circuit.
Episodes
Ep 47: Visible, Not Vulnerable: Social Media & Volleyball Recruiting
From recruiting DMs to viral highlight clips, today's volleyball players are building their futures in public—often without realizing what they're really sharing. In this episode of Bump, Set, Mic, Chuck takes over hosting duties while Brian and returning guest Leon Kasperski, TNT's Director of Operations, break down how athletes and families can use social media as a powerful recruiting tool with
Ep 46: Still Playing, Now Coaching: Introducing Mike Carr
From high school standout to D3 starter, VLA athlete, and now assistant coach at West Chester University and head coach of TNT's girls' 16 Thunder National, Coach Mike Carr brings grit, versatility, and high standards to every player he mentors. In this episode of Bump, Set, Mic, Chuck and Brian sit down with Mike to explore his coaching philosophy, his emphasis on strength and conditioning, and
Ep 45: From Player to Coach: Emily Poole's Volleyball Journey
Hard work can be fun! In this episode of Bump, Set, Mic, Chuck and Brian are joined by Coach Emily Poole, head women's volleyball coach at Arcadia University and member of the TNT Volleyball coaching staff, as she shares her volleyball journey and blueprint for how very competitive teams can also have an enjoyable time as well at both the club and collegiate levels. Chuck, Brian, and Emily cover h
Ep 44: Why Middles Matter With LJ Brothers
What's volleyball life really like for the players in the middle? In this episode, the second in Bump, Set, Mic's planned series of episodes on each on-court position, Chuck and Brian sit down with college, TNT, and high school coach LJ Brothers to talk about his volleyball journey, unpack what makes middle blockers great, and share tips on how families can navigate the recruiting process. They
Ep 43: Should I Stay or Should I go: Quitting Mid-Season & Choosing Your Next Club
More athletes than ever seem to be quitting their volleyball teams mid-season — but why is it happening, and what can families learn from it? In this episode of Bump Set Mic, we take a deep dive into one of the biggest issues facing club volleyball today: quitting during the season, navigating adversity, and deciding whether it's time to stay with your current club or move on. We discuss the real
Ep 42: The Libero: What It Is, Why It Matters, and What Coaches Actually Want
If you've ever wondered why one player on the volleyball court wears a different colored jersey, what rules actually apply to them, or how coaches decide who gets that jersey, episode 42 of "Bump, Set, Mic" covers it all regarding the libero position. Hosts Chuck Dougherty and Brian Mooney welcome Coach Jea Lee back to the show to unpack the libero, one of the most visible—and most misunderstood—p
Ep 41: The Truth About Sandbagging: Medals vs. Development
Some teams chase trophies, while others prioritize growth. What about pursuing both? Even if it appears that a tournament team is sandbagging, is that reality of what's really going on? In episode 41 of "Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Club Podcast,"Chuck and Brian are joined by Leon Kasperski, TNT's Director of Operations and scheduler extraordinaire, to go behind the scenes regarding the cont
Ep 40: The Mental Side of the Game With Stephanie Hutchman and Annemarie Tester
"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them: a desire, a dream, a vision" - Muhammad Ali. These wise words from the greatest boxer of all time directly connect to the focus of episode 40 of "Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast." In this episode, Chuck and Brian welcome TNT parents and mental health professionals Stephanie Hutchman (Instagr
Ep 39: Serious. Fun. From The Armory to MLK Weekend
It's a party at The Armory! TNT Volleyball is thrilled to mark one year since opening the doors to our wonderful facility, The Armory in Horsham, PA. This episode of "Bump, Set, Mic: the TNT Volleyball Podcast" begins with a celebration of all that The Armory has added to life here at the club. In addition, during this episode Chuck and Brian brought some of TNT's 15U and 17U Platinum players into
Ep 38: Lets Talk HUDL: How Video Helps TNT Players Improve - With Sam Moyerman
Film doesn't lie - and in club volleyball, it can help coaches to improve their practice, players to devleop faster, and parents to stay aligned with the process they invest so much in for the benefit of their children. In this episode of "Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast," hosts Brian Mooney and club director Chuck Dougherty welcome returning guest and resident analytics guru, Coach Sam
Ep 37 - Season Kickoff
Ready or not, here comes the club season! Bump Set Mic gets it started in episode 37 with an energetic, behind-the-scenes look at TNT Volleyball's kickoff to the new season. Hosts Brian Mooney and club director Chuck Dougherty, joined early by TNT's Director of Operations Leon Kasperski, break down the realities of the club's efforts when navigating tournament scheduling chaos, hotel "stay-to-play
Ep 36 - Setting Up Success: The Value of Team Parents
Team parents are the quiet leaders on every junior volleyball team that work closely with coaches and the club to make the season better for players, families, and everyone involved. In Episode 36 of the TNT Junior Volleyball Club podcast, hosts Brian Mooney and Chuck Dougherty discuss the crucial role of team parents in club volleyball. They emphasize the importance of team parents in fostering a
Ep 35 - College Experience Series Vol 2 - Marist University Players
Wondering what college volleyball life is like for a Division 1 athlete? This episode of Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast Presents the College Experience Series continues with a focus on the player perspective featuring players from Marist University in New York. In this second episode of the series, Bump, Set, Mic co-hosts Chuck Dougherty and Brian Mooney sat down again with TNT Directo
Ep 34 - College Experience Series Vol 1 - Temple University Coaches
Bump, Set, Mic, the TNT Volleyball Podcast, is thrilled to present the first episode of our new College Experience Series. So much is often discussed about how players should go about trying to get recruited, but what is life like for college players, coaches, and others involved in the college game once that occurs? The College Experience Series will have you covered with all you need to know ab
Ep 33 Fall Tryout Recap & the New TNT College Experience Series
We've got a fun one for you this time on TNT Bump. Set. Mic.! 🎙️ We're kicking things off with a recap of our 12U–14U tryouts—lots of energy, tons of talent, and a few process improvements to make this our smoothest tryout ever! If you ever wondered how we manage 250 girls in a single tryout, we give you peek under the covers. At TNT, we are always striving for improvement, so we develped our own
Ep 32: Serious. Fun. The importance of Core Values to a club.
In Episode 32 of Bump. Set. Mic., Chuck and Brian dive into the heart of TNT Volleyball: our core values. From the early days of the club to today, these values have shaped who we are, how we play, and the community we build. We'll explore why our values matter, how they've evolved over the years, and the role they play in guiding every decision—from coaching and player development to building a c
Ep. 31: TNT is for Boys Too! with Jacki Curci and Bob Minschwaner
An exciting first for the podcast comes your way in episode 31! Chuck and Brian are joined by TNT boys' program directors Jacki Curci and Bob Minschwaner to discuss the history and growth of boys volleyball, and how they have been producing successful boys teams since 2010! They discuss relevant topics such as the challenges of building a competitive schedule, how to get recruited by colleges as
Ep 30: Building the Perfect Schedule with Leon Kasperski
Did you ever wonder how clubs create tournament schedules for teams? If you have ever found yourself scratching your head or irritated about anything related to your schedule, you don't want to miss this episode. In Episode 30, Season 3, Chuck and Brian talk to the schedule maker extraordinaire, a.k.a The Unicorn, a.k.a Leon Kasperski to discuss all of the things that need to be considered when
Ep 29: Fun in the Summertime? Tryout Season is Upon Us
In Episode 29, Season 2 of the podcast continues with another episode from "The Owner's Box." (aka Chuck's Kitchen Table) Segment 1 begins with a discussion of what TNT is doing to prepare for the upcoming tryouts. Chuck and Brian discuss open gyms, TNT's commitment to honoring the tryout and USAV rules by NOT extending early offers, and the rumor of "Secret Tryouts". Chuck adds his personal feel
Ep 28: Nationals Recap & The Road Ahead
In Episode 28, Season 2 of the podcast kicks off at "The Owner's Box" ... i.e. Chuck's house. At the start, Chuck and Brian begin discussing their recent time in Orlando at AAU Nationals with the TNT girls' teams while also wishing the boys' teams who are currently competing there the best of luck. After that, they talk briefly about the quick tunraround from one season to the next before moving f
Ep 27 Serving with Purpose: Abbey's Legacy, the Road to Nationals, and Summer Programs
In Episode 27, Chuck and Brian discuss TNT's summer programs and which one is right for you! We look ahead to AAU Nationals and discuss the upcoming summer tryouts as next season quickly approaches. In addition, Chuck and Brian discuss some current events in the crazy world of Philadelphia club volleyball and provide some advice on what to look for when trying to decide which clubs to try out for.
Ep 26: Female Coaches - Girl Mom, Boy Mom, Step Mom & Newlywed with Casey Jenkins, Amber Wood, Kira Campbell, Sue Rose
In episode 26, Chuck and Brian welcome four of the club's female coaches, Casey Jenkins, Amber Wood, Kira Campbell, and Sue Rose to the podcast for our "Ladies' Night" episode to share their experiences as players, coaches, parents, and maternal figures within the volleyball community. This episode highlights topics such as the variety of experiences and perspectives that female coaches bring to t
Ep 25 Coaches Mid-Season Roundtable with Jordan Robinson, Andrew Lee, Dave Noll & Sam Moyerman
We're hitting the mid-season mark, and it's time to check in with the minds behind the game. In this special roundtable episode, we sit down with TNT Coaches, Players and Directors to break down the highs, lows, and surprises of the season so far. We're talking team development, tactical adjustments, what players are learning, and how coaches are keeping their squads focused for the stretch run. E
Ep 24 NIL for High School Athletes with Courtney Altemus
If you thought Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) just applied to D1 College athletes (like we did!), boy were you wrong! Courtney Altemus from Advance NIL joins Chuck and Brian to set the record straight. In Episode 24 of Bump. Set. Mic, we dive deep into the world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, focusing on how it's changing things in the college world and also impacting high school ath
Ep 23 In-Season Strength Training and Nutrition with Emily Neff
Ever wonder if you should try to squeeze in Strength and Conditioning Training during the Season? We have the science and data to answer that question! Ever wonder how your athlete should be eating at a tournament to keep fresh all day long? Listen to what we learned! In Episode 23, Chuck and Brian welcome back Emily Neff from Relentless Athletics to share her findings from her research on In-S
Ep 22 College Recruiting with Eli Porr and Leon Kasperski
In Episode 22, Chuck and Brian talk to Volleyball Lifer and College Coach Eli Porr and Volleyball Dad and TNT Club Director Leon Kasperski as they discuss their thoughts on the College Recruiting process. This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering playing college volleyball or simply trying to decide if college volleyball is right for them. In Segment 1, we discuss what college coaches a
Ep 21: Parent Advice from a Parent - with Natalie McIlhenny
In Episode 21, Chuck and Brian travel to Baltimore, MD for the JVA Charm City Classic to talk to Team Mom, Parent, and Former D1 athlete, Natalie McIlhenny. This episode talks about what to expect as a new parent venturing into the world of club Volleyball and is a MUST LISTEN for all parents. Natalie does an amazing job of putting things into perspective and gives her tips, tricks, and lessons l
Ep 20: Welcome to The Armory!
The first episode of 2025 finds Chuck and Brian at TNT's just-opened new facility, the Armory! In Segment 1, we talk about the benefits of the new facility now that it's open - and how it came to fruition. Segment 2 answers some important questions about the start of the club volleyball tournament season as posted by our Facebook friends at Volleyball Moms. Wanna hear out take on teams yelling "B
Ep 19: 13U Expectations and Advice with JK3
In episode 19, Chuck and Brian ventured to the new TNT Armory facility scheduled to open in January to meet up with 13U Coach John Kutsuzawa, a.k.a. JK3. John will be coaching the National TNT 13 Roadrunner team this season and has played volleyball for over 30 years. JK3 has coached CYO, high school, adults, and beach players. He has previous club stops at East Coast Power and GPS Crush prior to
Ep 18 Volleyball in Europe With Randy Syracuse
In episode 18, Chuck and Brian caught up with TNT Coach Randy Syracuse. Randy recently joined TNT to continue his volleyball journey with our club, and we couldn't be happier that he's now with us. Randy's journey includes expereince as both a professional player and a NCAA Division 1 coach. He also has a long track record of recruiting and training talented academic and athletic students. Randy h
Ep 17 How Teams Are Made - Dealing With the Stress of Tryouts
In Episode 17, Chuck and Brian got together a few days after the recent tryouts for the remaining 15-18U teams to discuss TNT's approach to the tryout process. Tryouts are stressful for Players, Parents and Coaches alike. This episode takes listeners behind the scenes of the process that takes place from the time the tryout is completed until the teams are fomed. In segment one, Chuck and Brian t
Ep 16 Advice from a Legend with Russ Rose
In Episode 16, TNT is pleased and honored to be able to present a volleyball dicussion with legendary Penn State Coach Russ Rose from a recent chat with TNT Director of Operations Leon Kasperski. The chat occurred in advance of Coach Rose's 11/10/24 visit to TNT to conduct both coach and player clinics. This special episode features numerous clips taken from that chat, each one followed by a discu
Ep 15 Beginning a Coaching Career with Rob Reifsteck and LJ Brothers
In Episode 15, Chuck invites Brian and TNT 15U Platinum Head Coach Rob Reifsteck and 15U National Head Coach LJ Brothers to his home to discuss volleyball from their perspectives as younger male coaches. They discuss their beginnings in volleyball, how they got started coaching teenage girls. We hear their thoughts about the upcoming club season and goals for their 15U teams. They discuss the di
Ep 14 Volleyball Statistics for Dummies - with Sam Moyerman
In Episode 14, Chuck and Brian met up with TNT 14U National Coach Sam Moyerman to discuss the value of statistics in volleyball and suggestions for proper use of them within the concept of a team. Given that there are many different opinions about stats, Sam presents a lot of valuable information about which are most important and how they should be valued by coaches, players, and parents. The nee
Ep 13 Parent Coaches, 12U Expectations & Boys vs Girls with Jamal Corbin
In Episode 13, Chuck and Brian welcome 12U Coach Jamal Corbin to the podcast to discuss the expectations of players at that age group along with some of his experiences over the years coaching both girls' and boys' volleyball. Also debuting in this episode is Chuck's first public singing performance (not really, but that sounds good). For parents and players new to the club, wondering what the ex
Ep 12 The Value of Strength and Conditioning Coaching with Relentless Athletics
In Episode 12 Brian and Chuck welcome Emily Neff to talk about the importance of strength training for young female athletes. Emily is the founder of Relentless Athletics, a company that specializes in training girls and helping them succeed while also helping them prevent injuries. If you are the parent or coach of a young female athlete, you don't want to miss this episode! Visit them at Relen
Ep 11 The Importance of a Facility & Fallout from High School Tryouts
In Episode 11, Brian and Chuck talk about the following topics: 1) The value of managing your own facility and how it helps build a club. 2) Aftermath of High School Tryouts and whether "Politics" play a part in decisions. In Segment 1, we share our experience of how valuable controling a practice facility is for the growth of a club. We discuss how to start the process of finding a space and the
Ep 10 Coaching The Coaches and the United World Games - with Doug Blystone
In Episode 10, Brian and Chuck welcome Doug Blystone to the Bump Set Mic studio (aka Doug's back patio) and talk about qualities of the ideal coach. Doug has coached high school, club, and college volleyball and is a CAP Cadre specializing in coaching the coaches. In addition, Doug recently travelled to the United World Games (UWG) in Austria and shares his experiences in Europe as well as ideas
Ep 9 Start them Early - with Bob Quon
In Episode 9, Brian and Chuck welcome Coach Bob Quon as they discuss the role that young players play in building a club. In Segment 1, we talk about the TNT Regional program which has introduced hundreds of young players to volleyball that may not have had the opportunity to join a club and receive quality coaching. We discuss the challenges faced when starting a grassroots program and feedbac
Ep 8 Playing Up and the value of 1's team
In Episode 8, Brian and Chuck talk about some important topics when trying out for a Club Volleyball team. Special guests include 15U players Lea Ras and Ashlyn Kear, who provide inside from a player's perspective. We test them with questions from the Volleyball Mom's Facebook page, including "What is the best volleyball shoe to wear?" In Segment 1, we answer the following questions: Do all club
Ep 7 TNT Summer Tryouts - Special Edition
This abbreviated episide applies to the 2024 TNT Volleyball Club National team summer tryouts. In Episode 7 Brian and Chuck talk about The TNT Summer tryouts for 15U-17U National teams. We discuss WHY are tryouts being held in July and what to do if you are NOT able to attend the tryout date. We get it, summers are for family time, and we agree!
Ep 6 Tryouts - How to Stand Out and What Are Coaches Looking For?
In Episode 6 Brian and Chuck talk about Club Volleyball tryouts from an insider's perspective. In Segment 1 we share strategies about how to prepare for upcoming tryouts. We discuss how to find the right clubs, how to not get overlooked in registration, and insider tips on how to gain a significant advantage by getting noticed before tryouts even start! In Segment 2 we share what coaches are actu
Ep 5 AAU Girls Nationals Recap 2024
In Episode 5 we take you On Location to the 2024 AAU Girls Nationals in Orlando as Chuck sets up shop in the hotel lobby to interview players, parents and coaches. Joining Chuck are players and parents from TNT 15U Venom as they share their experiences and advice from first time AAU Nationals participants. Chuck then talks to 3 experienced TNT coaches to get ther perspective on why it is valuabl
Ep 4 "Coach of the Year" with Andrew Lee
In Episide 4, Brian and Chuck are On Location at AAU Nationals in Orlando, poolside at the Endless Summer Dockside Resort. Joining them is the 3x self-proclaimed Coach of the Year, Andrew Lee as he explains how he was introduced to Volleyball as a player and coach and what keeps him coming back for more. Andrew talks about his journey to becoming a college coach and High Performance Academy coa
Ep 3 The Unicorn, with Leon Kasperski
In Eposide 3, we are On Location at AAU Nationals in Orlando. Chuck and Brian talk to Leon Kasperski about his role in TNT and how he has helped grow a 4 team club to over 50 teams! Chuck talks about the growth of the club and how AAU Nationals helped change the direction of TNT. We also talk about some great online resources for players, parents and coaches and finish the episode with a huge s
Ep 2 Family Matters, with Jea Lee
In Episode 2, Philadelphia legendary Coach Jea Lee joins Chuck and Brian to talk about what players should be doing once the club season has ended. We start by discussing the importance of offseason strength training and explain the reasons why players should explore sand and grass options. Bonus track includes Chuck ranting about his opinion on summer club tryouts! In Segment 2 the team talks
Ep 1 In the Beginning, with John Kunzier
In Episode 1, Chuck and Brian talk with TNT Volleyball Co-Founder John Kunzier to reminisce about how TNT got started. They disucss the club scene back in 2016, and explain the vision for TNT and the decision to take on the larger well established clubs. They outline the mission of TNT, and how that mission and vision have enabled the club to grow to over 50 teams in 2024. In Segment 2, John Kunz
