Out of Rotation

Episode 20 — A New Era for Pittsburgh Volleyball | The Road to States

A new name, a bigger vision, and the same passion for growing the game! John and Scott introduce 412 Volleyball, discuss the future of the organization, and invite new sponsors to help expand our support of Western Pennsylvania volleyball. Plus, we break down the WPIAL playoffs, who's still standing, who's punched their ticket to states, and what's at stake during championship week!

John and Scott wrap up their WPIAL girls volleyball playoff previews with a breakdown of the 3A, 4A and 6A brackets. They discuss championship contenders, potential upsets and key matchups, plus the Queens Bracket Challenge and whose picks could survive the postseason.

The episode opens with a heartfelt tribute to Pittsburgh rock legend Donnie Iris, a close friend of John’s and a supporter of the Avonworth volleyball program.

The brackets are set, and the road to a WPIAL championship starts here! On Episode 18 of Out of Rotation, we break down every matchup in the 1A, 2A, and 5A WPIAL girls volleyball playoffs, joined by section-winning coaches for their insights on the fields, key matchups, and what it takes to make a postseason run.

Think you know how it will all unfold? Head to bracket.burghqueens.com to enter the Queens Bracket Challenge, make your picks, and see if you can predict every match correctly!

Three classifications. Championship dreams. Let’s talk playoff volleyball!

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:

• Game Changers — Dan Gold
Stories paired with insightful questions and action plans.
• 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.
• Max Out Mindset — Larry Widman, M.D.
Strategies and exercises for developing and practicing mental skills.
• The Right Call — Sally Jenkins
A favorite of Dr. Burns, who considered using it as a textbook for a sports-themed first-year seminar.
• 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.
• 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.
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success — Carol S. Dweck, PhD
A resource for exploring growth mindset and perseverance.
• 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.

Episode 7 heads to Beaver Area! Head Coach Suze Pollins joins Bayli Bartley, Annsley Baker, Malaya Oster and Kaylee Kisling to look back at a tremendous 2025 season, preview what’s ahead in 2026, and discuss the special experience of hosting a college match that brought a former Beaver player back home as a college athlete.

Episode 6 of Out of Rotation takes us inside one of Western Pennsylvania’s most decorated programs: North Allegheny. Head coach Russ Hoburg joins seniors Keira Duffy, Alicia Mokube, Molly Robertson, and Luana Tripon to preview the Tigers’ 2026 season. Plus, we break down the new-look Class 6A, the teams and players to watch, and the Top 5 rankings as the season gets underway.

Episode 5 of Out of Rotation is all about new chapters and community. We sit down with new Norwin head coach Mike Palaschak and Kiski Area head coach Joel Miller, along with Cavaliers Alayna Bordogna, Olivia Plowman, and Jess Slaugenhaupt, to preview the 2026 season. Plus, Tim Toy and Jim Joyce join us to talk about the We Serve First Foundation and Pack the Park—one of Western PA volleyball’s most unique events.

Episode 4 heads north for a full look at District 10 volleyball! Corry Area head coach and PIAA District 10 representative Kelly Goodsell joins Scott Lockwood of DeeJ Experience Productions as we break down all six D10 classifications, preview Corry’s 2026 season, and get you ready for the first-ever D7 vs. D10 Showdown at Slippery Rock University.

Two districts. Four teams. One huge opening weekend.

Episode 3: Class 1A & 5A Preview — Eden Christian & Peters Township

Two defending WPIAL champions. Two classifications. One big season preview.

Episode 3 of Out of Rotation breaks down Class 1A and Class 5A with two programs coming off historic 2025 seasons.

🏆 Eden Christian Academy — Head Coach Jillian Zentko joins Nina Oliver, Erin Hull, and Emily Muir after capturing the program’s first WPIAL championship and reaching the PIAA semifinals.

🏆 Peters Township — Head Coach Chris Kelly joins Eva Drake and Raia Lamping after winning the program’s first WPIAL title and advancing to the PIAA quarterfinals.

Plus, we cover teams to watch, dark horses, players to know, and the biggest 1A & 5A storylines heading into 2026.

The season is here. Let’s talk Western PA volleyball.

This week, John is joined by South Fayette head coach Scott Sundgren as they sit down with Michael “Mac” McDonald, WPIAL Volleyball Chair and head coach at OLSH.

We talk with Mac about 40 years of coaching, the state of Pittsburgh volleyball, and the move to six WPIAL classifications.

Then we welcome OLSH seniors Frankie Schlatterer and Carmella Rippole for the first of many season previews as we get ready for another great season of Pittsburgh volleyball.

In our debut episode, host John Skarupa is joined by Kyra Schmidt, Brooke Kessler, and Delaney Concannon of the IUP Women's Volleyball program. We discuss their volleyball journeys, life as college athletes and get an inside look at IUP's Program through their eyes.

The Out of Rotation Podcast was created to celebrate and grow the game of volleyball in Western Pennsylvania by bringing you conversations with the players, coaches, and personalities who make our volleyball community special.