Mark Burik (00:01.816)
What's up guys, Coach Matt here. Just wanted to drop in and say thank you so much for listening to our podcast every week. This week we have Savvy Cimo jumping on. Just an absolute incredible human being.
I mean, that's gotta be the highest up that you've had thus far. was, yeah, this year's been so good. I, like, in terms of volleyball, in terms of my relationship and everything like that, but then everything in Chicago, I don't know if you guys are all like up to date, obviously, Maureen kind of knows what went on. Like, that was super tough. And I've still been like struggling with that whole situation and like trying to come out of that because...
I was expecting me playing this whole fall and like playing the league and stuff. so to all of a sudden not be playing is like really tough. So I've been kind of in a weird transition phase, my anxiety even really bad. so yeah, just trying to navigate that, trying to continue to like train and stuff for the fall challengers, but it's like weird because this year was like my best year that I've had. It just has been kind of clouded by that whole situation. know what mean? Yeah. And I know I said that joke about me being your coach.
No, I take that seriously. You were amazing. You really have had an incredible season. Flee or not, congratulations. for the people that are tuning in, give a little rundown of who you are and just your backstory of getting into volleyball and whatnot. Just a little biography. Just throw all your accolades out there, besides the ones from this past season.
So, so love it. I'm from San Diego, a group in to UCLA and played both there. And then I, overseas after my four se then covid happening durin beach. So I went back fo that and then went straight 2021. I won two natu
Mark Burik (02:15.278)
which was awesome on the beach team. I just loved playing beach there. And then came out and just had a kind of interesting transition, you know, qualified for my first event and didn't qualify for the next couple. And then 2022, I kind of counted as like my first real season on tour, because I started qualifying and playing more consistently. And yeah, 2023 now, 2024 is my best season so far, winning Denver, Virginia Beach, like you said, getting engaged and stuff was really cool. So it's been cool to kind of progress. I feel like I'm at the best.
volleyball level I've ever been at, which is awesome. Just continuing to progress and find new ways to get better. And yeah, I'm loving them. Taking a little break. I just had my first practice back in like three weeks. So took a little mental and physical break, which was nice, but yeah, trying to get back in the swing of things that I can be prepared for those FIBB challengers in the fall. But yeah, it's kind of my rundown. Just want to add something.
Just want to add something because she's being way too nice. Savi was number one seed, number one team at UCLA. She was an All-American indoor and beach. And she not only for the AVP won a couple events, she also beat some Olympians this year. So I think she's being a little too soft on herself. She's holding back. I appreciate that. Of course. I needed to share it.
So she's been rocking it this summer for sure. thank you. Love. So sweet. Yeah. Just like Maureen said, Savi has done some very incredible things. And so I'm stoked to have her in here so that we can all just learn about just her as a human being and also as a player and what's gotten her to this point. So Savi, thinking about
What do you think was the hardest transition from just playing in college to now it's all on you and you're like chasing after professional beach volleyball? Yeah, I think the hardest part has been the shift from being on a team to being, it's not individual, I have my partner, but it's like, it's totally different when you're like competing with a team, you're working out as a team and your goals as a team, even though it's like you and your partner, you still are like,
Mark Burik (04:35.054)
you know, there's five pairs in college or indoor was my whole team. And so coming to the professional side is definitely been an adjustment. feel like I've finally settled into that, but like, you know, you're kind of in it for yourself and you don't have control over what your partner does. Like we're all adults. Like you have to kind of figure it out. No one's telling you what to do. You have to kind of decide for yourself, which events you want to go to, how hard you want to train at certain times of the year and all that kind of stuff. So, that's definitely the biggest adjustment feeling kind of like, I don't know. It's weird. You practice against all these people.
And then you have to compete against all of them and then like you go out with them after and it's like such a weird community as you guys know and it's really special as well. But that was a shift for me is like, know, everyone's kind of in it for themselves and like, you know, you're trying to make a living trying to make money versus like competing towards a goal. And I feel like I am so friendly and I love making like these connections and that's tough because like I practice I'm like so friendly and then I go to games and I'm like friendly before the match and people are like very focused, very serious and I'm like.
I feel like I can still play well being like my friendly self and some people have to like really lock in. And so that was, that's always been kind of weird for me. I'm like, wait, you know, what's going on and stuff like that. So, that's definitely been the toughest adjustment. and the biggest, the biggest difference, between, then just seasons much longer. Like I've been competing since March and could go into the end of November versus, college beach is what Marine like March to May, like mid March to beginning of May. It's like a pretty short season.
Granted, I played indoor in the fall, so I was in season a lot, but this professional is also almost year round. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's a lot of volleyball. And a lot of travel. You're not just flying here or there in the States. A lot of times, it seems like you're going a lot of different places overseas as well. So I can't imagine how taxing that can be for you guys.
I hope to experience it at some point, but I can't imagine it right now. No, and for me, it affects everyone differently. Like for Evan, affects him. Evan's my fiance. It affects him physically. Like he gets super, he has like knee and shoulder stuff. So when he's traveling, mine affects me mentally. Like I get super tired and then that triggers panic attacks and all kinds of stuff like that. And everyone has a different way of like resetting, processing, all kinds of stuff. And you kind of have to figure that out like on your own. It's scary.
Mark Burik (06:59.512)
So yeah. Yeah. And in savvy, that's I admire you a lot for your vulnerability with all of that, because I think that's something that a lot of athletes and just human beings struggle with in general. And so kind of piggybacking off of that vulnerability, like what's what's a way that you have found works best for you to be able to fight back?
against those panic attacks and the times where you feel like everything's caving in and you might want to crawl up in a corner and just not get out, but you find a way to just keep battling and keep going. So what's a way that you, you help yourself out in that way? I'm still trying to figure that out. It goes through phases where like sometimes I like right now and these last couple of weeks have been really tough for me. And I feel like I'm pretty out of control over the panic attacks. And I think some of it's a little bit of depression too, just from like
the total shift in like my idea of what my season was going to be. And so that's been kind of a weird thing, but, I love being outside. That's kind of a big thing for me. And so like when I'm anxious, like just stepping outside and you know, it's really, the weather here is really gloomy and cloudy, which I don't like, but like getting in the sun is good for me. Exercising is usually really good for me. and for me, the reason I'm so vulnerable is cause usually when I voice what's going on, it helps me.
move past it. And like when I, when I hold stuff in, don't do as well. I've never been that type of person where I'm like pretty introverted and I don't really communicate what's going on. And so, when I can express to someone, Hey, I'm having a panic attack or Hey, I don't feel right. Or this is going through my head or whatever. It helps me kind of move through it a little bit faster versus just letting it kind of like spin and spin and spin in my head. cause I don't, I don't know if any of you guys experienced panic attacks or anxiety, but you feel like you're crazy. Like you're like going, you have all these crazy thoughts and symptoms and feelings. And you're like, what is wrong with me? Am I dying? And
you know, 30 minutes later when you've kind of come out of that cycle, you're like, Whoa, I'm fine. Like, you know, you're just tired after, but in the moment you feel like you're going to die. And so it's like, you know, it's, it's, it's interesting. And I'm still again, trying to find ways to like Navi excited. just a panic attack in a, in her, the Hermosa open. had a panic attack so bad I had to forfeit a match, which I've never had to do. And I think
Mark Burik (09:17.518)
You know, I've learned what my triggers are and a lot of it's like extreme fatigue, extreme stress, like, and I do think that situation in Chicago where we got bumped from the league was kind of a traumatic emotional experience that we hadn't really recovered from. so I played the whole weekend, exhausted. was anxious the whole weekend, not necessarily about volleyball, but just like, just felt terrible. and then during my match in the semi-final, I had to forfeit cause I just like felt like my body couldn't go anymore. I felt I was in blackout. Like it was a really scary experience. And so I'm still kind of.
recovering from that because that put a weird spin on like usually volvo is my escape and it wasn't and I felt so trapped and like when you're on a court playing a game and there's people watching you don't really feel like Can't really get out of it when your heart's already racing You're shaking you're sweating like all the symptoms of a panic attack You're already having when you're playing a match and so it's hard to like, you know, calm yourself down from that. So I'm
Still trying to figure it out. having lots of meetings with different sports sites, with the psychiatrists. I've never been on medication either, and it might be time to get on a super low dose of something just to like stabilize myself. But yeah, it's been cool. I've had a lot of conversations with people lately and reminded myself I'm not alone. So many people experience this to different, you know, different extents and everyone has different traumas and different triggers and stuff. So reminding myself that everyone, you know, everyone goes through something, whether it's anxiety or something else.
and that there are a ton of people who experience this. And sadly, that makes me feel better. I don't want anyone to experience this, but knowing that I'm not alone is nice. And yeah, just knowing that the cycle or the episode is gonna pass, it's really hard in the moment to recognize that, but that's like anything in life, any tough time. Sorry, I don't mean to get all philosophical, but it always passes with time. Just about being patient and trusting, and that's hard to do. You know what I mean? Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah.
For the people listening, sorry, I just want to mention, because a lot of people are not aware of what happened in Chicago. So what happened to Savi is that she got tied for the eighth team for the league. So basically at the end of the tournament in Chicago, when both of the teams got eliminated, the AVP told them last second that they needed to play a game.
Mark Burik (11:35.118)
to 15, I mean a game like the league. So they had to play, yeah, two games to 15 and whoever team was winning that game was getting into the league. So unfortunately, Savi didn't make it, even though that was her best season so far. And I'm so sorry, Savi, because I felt like it was such a powerful, I you and Adi just had such an amazing season and you were such on a high.
It's sad that you almost feel like you're sad about it. It's sad that you're in period because it's such a high, it's so amazing. I mean, the league is cool, but it doesn't define you and there's going to be a lot more for sure. Thank you, dude. I appreciate you explaining it. It's such a weird situation because the day before, Abby and I lost to Taryn Cloth and Kristen Nuss, 1917 in the third set.
It was like one of the best matches we ever played. came back, we were down 14-11 and came back and almost beat them. We actually had match point and like we left that day feeling so confident, although we lost. We were like, this is awesome. We're playing so good. We're going have a good tournament. We leave the next game the next morning. The other team just came out really fresh. And then we thought we were done with the tournament and to have to like turn around and play another match after that is like, I was like heading to the fricking bar. Like I was like ready to go have a drink and like.
Haley and Kylie, Howard Deberg that we had to play against, they were like looking at flights to go home. And so it's just like as athletes and as people like, you know, we prepare for certain things. And so they never communicated. Like if they had communicated that there's going to be a playoff, then like, fair enough, like then we're ready to go. But it just wasn't communicated. I can't argue that they wanted to use the wild card on April and Alex. They're a great team. They're super marketable. They should be in the league. All these things. It's just, you know, yeah. So like Marine said, like it's kind of something sprung on you and your
Something that feels so big, which in the grand scheme of things probably isn't that big a deal, but the league at this time is a lot of money for players. And it could have been really great for me and Evan as a couple. It would have been great for me and Abby to keep going, keep playing, keep building on what we had. And so it just to have that come down to one game in a format we've never played before was really tough. And we went and battled. We gave it our all. lost 15-12, I think, in the third set. And the first person to pick me up after I
Mark Burik (13:53.55)
collapsed and started crying after was Kylie Deberg who I just played against. Like it was just a situation that none of us were expecting and prepared for. so yeah, like it was just a weird situation. I wish them nothing but the best. If it's nothing to do with them. And I really, I really like, I'm fine with the ADP now. It took me some time to like process. I really do want the ADP to be successful and stuff. just like put us in such a weird head space that we're still kind of like, I've had anxiety my whole life, but I think that episode was the catalyst to like,
You know, just this little cycle that I'm in. I'm so tired anyways, just from the timing of season and stuff. So it's just like, you know, I'm going to be fine. I've been through a cycle like this before. It takes time to get my footing again. It's weird. Like I've had panic attacks my whole life and every time I get one, it's like the first time it's ever happened. It's such a weird, such a weird thing. But yeah, thanks for explaining that, It's for the people that don't know.
social media was blowing up. had to get off social media. Everyone was very supportive of us, but it was just like a lot to get like, wrapped up in. So I've, I've taken some time to like, I haven't posted like anything. I haven't written anything about it. haven't, I've tried not to talk to people about it. just so I can process. went, I've been trying to like go out of town and like take time off and stuff. and so that's been, that's been really good. Yeah. And yeah, I, I can't imagine what that would feel like. and,
I appreciate it again, just the vulnerability. Everybody can relate to pain in some way. And so often people are, and nobody can relate to the pain that you're feeling right now specifically, but like in some way, shape or form is relatable to someone else. And so I appreciate you so much for being willing to share about all that. And kind of to shift,
shift to the other end of things of how amazing of a season it was for you. What was a moment where you felt just an absolute breakthrough? Because obviously this was your first, was this your first season where you won an AVP event? yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I remember you made the final of
Mark Burik (16:12.6)
What was that? Hermosa last year? made the final of Hermosa last year and I made the final of Denver of Denver as well last year. Those two places have been pretty good to me. I like playing in Hermosa and Denver. I've done well there in the past. Man, a beach and a mountains girl. it is. with those events, thinking back to 2023 when you would make it to the final and then just couldn't
for some reason just couldn't get the win. Shifting to this season, what was something that changed? Was it more consistency in skills? Was it a mindset shift? What was that for you that allowed you to get those wins this season? Yeah, that's a good question. I think a big part of it is a consistent partner. Like I've been playing with Abby Van Winkle this whole season and she's been awesome. Last year I played with Tony some. I played with Megan Rice in her most because Tony was injured. So that was like a totally new thing. But I think the biggest change
from last year to this year is last year when I would make it to a final, I'd be, because I made it to the final of a challenger as well. And that was probably my biggest accomplishment because the competition was so high. And I think my thoughts when I won the semi-final, I was like, we have a medal. We made it to the finals. Like I was almost just stoked to be in that position versus this year it was like, I want to win. And of course I wanted to win last year too, but I think like this year, like I showed up to the finals and was like, I'm not losing.
Like I'm going to win versus like last year I was just like, was having these great accomplishments as well and making finals, but I was just like so stoked to be there and to have a medal and for the opportunity and all these things that like, I wonder if that kind of like, you know, shifted my mindset and maybe I didn't play as strong as I normally would. so I think that's been the biggest shift, obviously the consistent partner who I'm loving playing with and also, yeah, just the shift of like, I'm not losing.
Like I came to win, like obviously when we went to Virginia Beach, that was like a bid for Chicago that we weren't sure if we were in or not. And so like, once you get to the semis, it's like you're in to Chicago, which is what you should go there to do. and that happened to me two years ago in 2022, and the qualifiers were like this, we have to travel. And once you make the semis you're in. And I remember getting to the semis and being like, yes, like we won the quarters. We're into this event. And then you shit the bed in the semis. Like you're just happy to like make the main draw, the big Ravie P.
Mark Burik (18:37.378)
and so like that's been a trend of mine and I'm so sick of taking second. I've done it enough. I'm like in seconds. Awesome. But it's like, I, this year it was like, I'm not losing. Like, and, we played to win, you know, and that that's a huge difference. And, something I'm really proud of, of me and Abby, cause she's never even been in this position before. And she's come out and had a killer season. I'm biased cause she's my partner, but I would, I would vote her, you know, rookie of the year or,
Breakthrough play of year, most improved, whatever the award is. I think she's done a great job at holding her own. and, and cause she, she played last year, but wasn't like consistently main draw, wasn't consistently finishing high. And so she's come a long way as well. And that's a huge part of why I've been successful is cause of the work she's put in and like the progress she's made and how much she's been able to do with not a ton of experience. It's really cool, man. Well, obviously she can't do that on her own. And so with that being said, how do you
feel like you as a partner has attributed to her growth in that way? Yeah, I've been in an interesting role this year. Like for the first time, I feel like I'm the veteran in the partnership, which is weird. Like I just turned 26. I've only been playing a couple of seasons on tour. So it's weird to kind of have that role. But I've done enough, you know, ABPs and international travel in comparison to her to feel like I could take on that role. And like, it's been really fun.
you know, and sometimes like hard, like showing her like the ropes in terms of like, hey, you shouldn't be flying spirit when we're going to a tournament because the flights get canceled, they get delayed and it's unpredictable. It's like stuff like that that you don't really think about. Yeah, just a small thing. you know, she's going for the cheapest, the cheapest option as we all want to do. But like I've stuck with United for a long time. I've built status and like it's worth the extra hundred bucks to fly United than it is to fly Spirit and have it be so unpredictable.
And so stuff like that, it's been like a challenge, getting her to understand like, like try and one airline to build points and build status. And so you can get the lounge access. You need to get a credit card. You're 20. I was trying to get a credit card. Like, all of us were so sheltered because of COVID, like when we were in college. And so it kind of like, in a way put us back. Evan's been a huge help for me financially to like get me started on some stuff because COVID was weird. Like Abby did.
Mark Burik (20:56.236)
I think Abby only did five years in college, but there's girls doing six, seven years in college. so you're like, once you, when you're in college, you're not really, I don't think you're really a full adult until you leave and you're post college and stuff. And you have to kind of figure it out on your own. and so it's been cool to show her that cause she's also one of my great friends too. So it never felt like I was like talking down to her or like bossing her around. And I would be like, I hate that. I'm like telling you what to do. She's like, no, I need to know. Like I want to get better at this stuff. I need to know. And so.
And that's kind of gone on the court too. Like, you know, she'll come to practice and be like, I don't want to be here. I have no motivation. And it's like, okay, like maybe we should work with the sword psych and like talk through that because you once that, you know, now that this is your job and this is what you're doing, like you got to find the motivation somewhere, right? When, when it's not always, you know, fun to go and train when it's cold or when it's raining or when you're tired or you're, you're, you're sore, like all kinds of stuff. And it's cool to see the progress she's made and like,
The adjustments she's made. also switched sides at the very end of season, which was like a total game changer. And I think actually we were playing so well with me on the right and her on the left. And then we switched one game randomly just to throw off the other team. And it actually like benefited us so much. So now I'm on the left, which I, I love being on the left. Hi. Sorry. The male guys here. and, so.
That's been a huge, huge thing for us too, is being able to switch sides when we need and switching sides is, you know, putting me on the left and putting her on the right. Like she has this gnarly cross body like cut shot from the right. So it's a lot on and off the court. It's been cool. got it. also have a great coach. We're working with Dan Weiner, Weiner Rock. He's amazing. He's Brazilian. So he's gotten us in really good shape too. He's kind of kicked our butt. gotten us in good shape and he's the most supportive.
guy and so having someone on your team like my partner is so supportive and then my coach is so supportive like that trust is important because I haven't always had that and so that's like really really positively impacted my game and probably Abby's as well. yeah and anytime I look back at my practices with Dan because that would turn with the best dude I would leave just ready for a nap. yeah. Just going home and crashing. yeah. Yeah yeah he'll get you right.
Mark Burik (23:14.024)
that's cool. So thinking back, feels like you've done a lot of growing the season. and I think that was, I'm guessing that was set up with a really good off season that you had. so, so thinking back to this past off season, what did you do to kind of create and set up yourself to have the season that you did and be in the shape that you were to be able to perform well and things like that?
I haven't changed a ton on court except for, know, I started working with Dan because funny enough, actually rekindled my friendship and partnership with Tony Rodriguez beginning of this year because we had a kind of a falling out and we're in a great place now, which I'm so happy about. Partnerships like, and it puts a strain on your relationship sometimes if you don't have the correct communication styles or the correct, like, you know, you're just you're just different and that it really drove us apart and
it's nice to have to have been able to reconnect with her, but I actually went and was playing with her in March in those like challengers in Brazil. And so I actually was training with her a bit, which is interesting. So like, and then me and Abby, we picked up Dan, I want to say in May, it was right before the Huntington AVP we picked up Dan end of April, early May. And he's been awesome for the on court adjustments. Like, you know, he just, he's on his technical. And so we had the freedom to like,
He doesn't care where we pass, how we get the ball to this location. He just wants it there so we can run this offense. We started doing more, you know, spread passing so we can option more. Haven't like fully developed the jump setting, but we work on it all the time and just expanding the offense there. But for me, the biggest shift I made in the, in the preseason was, cause when I'm in off season, like December, I don't do anything. Like I literally do nothing. It's important for me to just like totally decompress, enjoy the holidays.
put on a couple LBs like that's just how I am. Like I want to do that. But in the preseason, it was a big shift in my mentality because I've been so hard on myself. Like we all are. And so I actually read this book called the confident mind. If you guys ever listen to Stan, like people talk about it all the time. And that's been so transformative in my volleyball career. Just, you know, and they have all these little exercises that they have you do. But the biggest thing for me was just the positive self-talk. Like after you make a mistake, like, you know, when I'm
Mark Burik (25:38.574)
when it's 19 all I'm like serve me the ball and sometimes you don't actually feel that way because you're nervous and you're like, but like, it's almost like fake it till you make it. Like I want the ball, like, or you get blocked. Like if I get blocked, I'm probably going to swing the same swing and try and beat like, and so I used to be not be like that. I used to like go towards a different, know, I used to get inside out ruts cause I'd get blocked and then I go to a shot cause I didn't want to get blocked again. And then the defenders are
picking that up and you my ten on the right side, my Tennessee was so wrist away, wrist away, wrist away. And so I started just getting more like going for my cut shot more on the right side and then going for the swing more swinging for high hands. And if you miss the hands, then so what like, you know, volleyball is a game of mistakes and everyone makes mistakes. And I just had to trust that I regain points in my defense. My defense has always been my strength. And so just trying to like be
more confident in my my side out. That's where I was lacking was was my side out and I passed I passed like a boss like that's another day I was a libero and indoor so I passed pretty well but like I was not confident at all in my in my offense transition for some reason was fine it was just the side out the pressure of being able to side out. And so yeah that book was really helpful and just you know reminding myself like errors are.
okay and like you got to go don't be tentative with your shot like go for the shot because if you're tentative you're probably going to make more errors and just having that like even if you say it out loud like serve me i played with day two years ago and she would go serve me and i was like what is this girl doing like this is so weird and i love it like whoa like it's like a fake confidence that i think is so awesome and i kind of took that one that one from her and
you know, from the book and just like when the game's tight, you want it to be in your hands. You want it to you want it. And if you blow it, if you blow the game, that's you're only learning and growing from that experience, which is sometimes a tough pill to swallow. You get stuffed on match point. That's happened to me a lot where they'll serve Abby the whole match and then switch to me and I make an error on match point because you're just you're not in a rhythm. You're you're your partner's on a setting rhythm. You're not in a passing attacking rhythm. And that's tough to swallow. But.
Mark Burik (27:54.934)
I've always found that being aggressive and doesn't mean swinging all the time, but just being aggressive in your decisions like and what the set gives you and what you see and what you hear. Like go for it. Don't be hesitant. Don't be tentative. So I work with the sports side at USA volleyball too. And he's been good for me just to talk through things and help on that as well. yeah, definitely the mental side has been the biggest shift for me, I think. Man, yeah. And by the way, all these guys know about the Comfort Mind because
Travis recommended it to me because I had so many losses last season. There were like two point losses. Going to extra innings and I was just so frustrated. I was so fed up. I was even fed up enough to put the my losses that were two points like in the round to get in and things like that as my screen saver. But then I like go back to the confident mind and I read it and they're like stop reminding yourself of the things that are bad.
areas of your life that you don't like, you know, like remind yourself yourself of the top 10. And so for you, Savvy, you had a lot of top 10 moments this season that you can like draw back on really for the rest of your career. And so maybe maybe list off a few of those top 10 that you like to remind yourself from the confident mind exercise that you like to remind yourself.
of when maybe you start losing that confidence. Like how do you reel it back in whenever with that top 10? You guys are just hyping me up so much. is what I yeah, we're gassing you up. That's what this is about. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, obviously like, you know, I have the Denver win and in the Virginia Beach when those were big beating Kelly Chang and Sarah Hughes this year was big. I've found that in my career, my professional career, I like may not have had the best.
finishes overall, but I'v good people like I beat. team that took bron I don't know why there's a Yeah, but was a know, we go sometimes los playing against Taron and
Mark Burik (30:17.838)
That could be up there too. Obviously a win would be great. And then I've beaten right after the Olympics in 2021, me and Megan Kraft beat Sarah Sponsel and Kelly Chang in Atlanta in my first ADP that I qualified for. So that was like a huge, it was our first match. They were like the ones in rear of the 16 or the two in the 15 and we went and upset them. And it was so hot and like.
We just played the day before. so that is like a special, that was my first ever AVP. So that was like a really special moment for me. that was in 2021. And then in 2022, me and Emily Day beat Maria Fey and Taliqua, who were the 2021 silver medalists. were in Portugal and we had to face them in the, I want to say the.
quarterfinals maybe in that same tournament we ended up losing is in two sets, but it was like, you know, 22, 20, 21, 19 and really great battle there. So yeah, like I've beaten a lot of really good teams and it's cool to see this year that like that's translated to more wins and better finishes because I usually if I've been facing these good teams really early on and then I upset them and then I play a team that's not as good and I lose and it's so frustrating. I also feel like I have a tendency to bring my best game when I play the top players.
Which is great, but I need to have that as well for everyone. It's it's like keeping that that consistent. I think it's kind of maybe like you have nothing to lose like when we played Kelly Chang and Sarah Hughes in Manhattan, we're like. We got nothing lose. That's the game we switch sides on our coach Dan. is Matt. You'll know Dan. He's so funny, but we're playing you know Kelly Chang and her husband Jordan is very analytical and. Very computer based and and Dan roomed with him in Paris at the Olympics.
And Dan was like, let's just mess him up. He's going to have this whole game plan for you. Let's just switch sides to the first play. And then we started signing out. So yeah, and we stayed the whole game and it worked super well. And so then we kind of just stuck with it. And that was that was that that game was really special in Manhattan and our friends and family. That's probably that that may be number one. That is awesome. Yeah. The Denver and Virginia Beach ones were like big. They were wins, but.
Mark Burik (32:37.742)
you people will say, it's not a real AVP win. whatever I counted as a win. Like, you know, if I win Chicago or Manhattan, it'll be, it'll feel better. So to be there's some, just because the teams we were playing in those tournaments were not the top, whatever teams, like it doesn't like the women's side is so stacked. Even the men's is so stacked, like so low in points even in like, it's so cut throw. And so that's a huge victory for us to go and like, you know, we have the, the target on our back.
We're the number one seed or the number two seed. And that's just pressure in itself. We're trying to qualify for the event that we know we should, you know, Manhattan, Chicago, like we should, deserve to be there. And so to go and win those is big, although it wasn't the top, whatever teams, it's still really good competition and was really, really big for us. Yeah, that's huge. And going back to your Dan and Cheng comparison, I mean, those are just the two absolute extremes. Extremes.
of coaching. Yeah, you have like Dan over here is like he's I call it be again mentality in coaching. You mess it up. Do it again. Like just do it over and over. He's the best. He's just instills so much confidence in it. And like, because he'll, if I look at him and we're down, he'll go he'll do this. Like your spin serve, he wants me to rip my serve.
And almost every time I get an ace when he does that and he's in the box like cheering so loud and it's cool to see like have a coach that's like pushing you to do things that may not be in your comfort. It's in my comfort zone, like giving you that confidence to do that and then supporting you. The most when you when you do it, even if I miss my start, like he is like so stoked that I just went for it. I ripped it and that seriously like he's been. He's been so important to us and where we're at, we wouldn't have done things that we did this year without.
him. He's so cool. That leads me to my next question. Whenever you feel like you were just in a rut, maybe that's siding out and just struggling to do your part. What do you feel like is something that you need to hear from maybe Abby or like, if I'm remembering correctly, at least in the Denver match, in the Denver final, they served Abby more.
Mark Burik (34:56.342)
Is it was that true? then? I remember I definitely got served a lot. It's like, interestingly, I got served a lot.
In the finals, don't remember as much. I got served a lot in Denver and Virgin Beach. I got served a lot. Abby got served more in Wapaka. Kind of depends. It's cool when people have to, you know, switch off because we're siting out well. I want to say I got served a little bit in the beginning and I was like super revved and so they switched to Abby some and then I think they went back to me at the end if I remember correctly. Gotcha. Gotcha. Yeah. So with that, it's like one thing that Travis hopped on here and said was he had to learn really fast, not
the golden rule in partnerships. Like don't give people what you need. Give them what they need. And so for you, what do you need? What do you need? And then for your partner, Abby, like what did you learn that she needed or what does she communicate with you? Cause I'm sure that's a conversation that goes on pretty often. sure. What do I need from you? Things like that. we're very similar.
in what we need. very similar people are both super emotional and like get really fired up, which leads to some like, know, high highs, low lows, you know, on and off the court. And so we both need like, I feel like I more so need someone if I'm struggling usually to side out, like I need someone to just say just effing rip it, just come in aggressive and like stay aggressive. Like Abby needs more of like
We're actually very similar. Like, stay aggressive. that's the confidence from your partner. Like, I don't care if you get blocked. I'm gonna cover you. I'm gonna set you. I'm gonna give you a call. When we both, it's funny because we're so similar. When we're both struggling to side out a lot of times, it's like, we're not listening to the call. When you're kind of panicked, sometimes the call is hard to hear. And you kind of want to go with your instincts. Or like, your partner gives you a line call and they run a four. It's easy to like...
Mark Burik (37:05.39)
not want to trust that call the next time. And so the biggest reminders we have for ourselves is, hey, hey, I'm giving you a good call. My call is on, like listen to my call. And if my call is off and not spot on and the defender's juking a lot, I'm like coming in and rip. The defender's like moving around the ton. My call is not great. Go and swing for high hands. And then, you know, like adding onto that, like if they're running fours every time, or if the defender's sitting middle and your chop angles open, like communicating that with each other, cause
you when you're struggling, your vision tends to go. So communicating with the other teams doing defensively. And then the next piece is also like, hey, move the set, move the, move the set around, go behind. Like almost every time we run a back set when we're in trouble, we side out. So it's like, go behind. Abby likes to go to the pin more. So she'll, she's going to, she, she may even say, I'm going to go to the pin here. I like to go behind cause that kind of messes up the defense and makes the defender shift and stuff. So yeah, it's just, just.
Couple cues like remembering to move the set around, communicating about what the defense is doing and then reminding each other to come in aggressive and swing if you have to. When in doubt, just rip. Even if you're playing blocker, you can tool them, you can beat them with speed, that kind of stuff. there's a lot, it kind of is game dependent. Depends on who we're playing and stuff like that. A lot of times, Abby just wants to know what the other side is doing.
A lot of times what I want to hear from her is like, just rip it or hey, my call is super good. Like listen to my call. There's no better feeling when you're struggling than when your, when your partner gives you a good call and you listen and it goes down. You're like, thank God. You're like, thank God. Hi, how's practice? Good. so yeah, that's what I would think. And then again, we're super similar. Like, and I think the men's game is a little different because some men are so gnarly and they're like,
They like yell at each other. The women's a little, little different and all women are different too. But, I definitely don't need someone going like, come on, side out. Like that's not what I need. Nor does Abby nor do a lot of the women. Some women do like someone they're gnarly and they're like, you know, they just start fighting with each other and it works for them. That's just not how, how mean Abby are really. Yeah. That's, that's big insight. I've never heard. I guess.
Mark Burik (39:26.058)
It's a simple thing yet so effective where you're like, hey, my call is on. You know, like if you're really struggling right now, my call is on point. That was a big thing we learned at UCLA. used to practice. So at UCLA, wouldn't do, we wouldn't give a line angle call. We'd give a left right call because if you came out of the middle or you went behind, it got kind of confusing. And so we would do, we learned like when and when you're hitting like left and right, and that's hard skill to like.
It seems so easy, to listen to that versus a line angle is tricky. and so that was something that we practice a ton at UCLA and a big reason I think we won games and, know, in the college level, shoot a lot more. So you're like, you know, you're listening to the, to the call a lot more. and that's kind of something that we've carried over to now is the importance of a call. Like, because I don't think Abby and I are the best vision players. Like we've definitely.
our vision, but we're Kristen Nuss who can literally like look at the other side while she's hitting the ball. And sometimes like if it's windy, that's the most important time to listen to call because the set's unpredictable and like a lot of times you run underneath it and like a lot of times when people are struggling, they come into approach early and they're under the ball. And so that's the best time to listen to a call. And so that's, that's a huge one that, that we do. that's something that,
is a tough thing though, cause when you're struggling or when you want to use your vision, it's hard to like try and see or feel while hearing. It's like multitasking. It's, hard to do, but if you and your partner can perfect that and have that trust, cause being a good caller is a tough skill. Like, because a lot of people look at the open space and then the defender runs the open space. You got to be watching the defender and then be able to like give a good set, come into cover, give a call. It's like, we really practice it at UCI and it's a skill that think people need to work on more.
because you can just destroy people with a good call. Like it's, you know what I mean? So that's a huge, that's a huge thing that we do. Wow. So it's left, right and nobody are your calls. Yeah. Me and Abby, like since college, we started doing line angle bit more too, but like whenever I'm out of the middle or like in transition when the play's funky, I like the left, right, because every once in a while you have a transition ball and I hear line and I go the wrong way. She's like, I meant the other way. Like, I'm sorry. And I'm like, just in those times, give me a left, right.
Mark Burik (41:43.75)
so we can, we do line angle left, right. it's just easier sometimes, like I said, like when you go behind or you're out of the middle and it's kind of a funky play to set her back setting, like stuff like that, to have the left, right. Cause then it, then it's very clear. You're not questioning, which way is my line? Like I'm out of the middle. I came behind, like which way is my line now? and you can do it different ways where you and your partner just decide like, every time you go behind, you know, that becomes your line angle or, know, if you, if you.
are on this half of the court. I don't know why I keep thumbs up. But like, this half of the court, you always go, you always go, you know, line is always that way or whatever. that can be, that's, you know, partner specific as well. But left, right makes it easy to like, you never really question which way. Left is always left and right is always right. yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I am such a habitual line caller.
Like I'll set it and just be like, live without even looking. Everyone does the same thing because everyone runs, you know, one blocks to start. Like ones and fours are probably the most common play. so it's everyone calls line. No one's first initial call is angle. And you always hear line, line, line, But if you can meet up, start doing something to where you go after you set, go and this is a UCLA thing too. You say and.
And so you, holds your call a little bit longer so that you're not saying something. Cause that messes me up when I hear some of the initial call, usually I go with, and then I hear a switch. sometimes if you can just hear the switch late enough to where you just flub it like middle, it usually works, but it's hard that you're hearing that line call early. Then you hear angles. You're already committed to something. Especially when you're struggling, when you're coming in slow and you're tentative, like it's hard to like, to adjust there. Yeah.
Percentage wise, when you're signing out, are you, like percentage wise, what are you relying on? Call and vision, like percentage wise, how would you split that? That's a really good question. I also think that's kind of game dependent. Like when I'm like in my flow and I'm like feeling good and like feeling confident and been signing out well in the match, a lot of it's like, in a weird way, it's like feel.
Mark Burik (44:00.236)
Like I take a look, my vision's gotten a lot better. I take a look kind of like as I'm approaching. But if people run fours and threes on me, then I can't see that. You know, I don't know if anyone really can, but a lot of it like, is you just cut, like when you're feeling good, you guys all know, like when you're feeling good and you come and rip, like you feel like you have the whole court open. And so when I'm like confident and feeling good, like I think the percentage, like, you know, I listened to the call good bit, but it's mostly just feel, especially if I'm swinging more.
I'm just carefully looking at the defender and noticing where the blocker is lining up and just taking the swing, like going and getting it. Like, because usually when you're feeling good, like your timing on your approach is good. Your hand on ball is good. When you're kind of struggling or you're not as confident, you're getting picked on and you're not, you're not signing out as well. Like I listened to the call a lot more. I'm either coming into swing or I'm listening to the call, because you just don't have that confidence to like your, your,
your feel like you're just not feeling. don't know. Like it's kind of this kind of giving chase freshman a but like, you know, it's like your feet like we all kind of have a sense of the core and what's going on. And sometimes your partner gives a line call and you just feel like your cuts open and it is so when you're when you're feeling good, like go with your gut, go with what you see, go with what you feel and listen to the call if you need. But you know, when I the percentages change when things are going well or when they're not, you know what I mean? And when I'm really struggling,
like really shooting the bed, I just start swinging because that's like my, you know, like if I get blocked, he blocked. Like I hate getting dug on shots. Like then you're just scrambling to get back in transition. Like that's my least favorite thing. I hate it. Like I'd rather get blocked. I'd rather hit it out. I don't know why I just like, you know, when you, when you hit a line shot and the defender walks into it, it's so defeating. You're like, gosh. So,
When it, when I'm really struggling, just start ripping and maybe I should do it more. Cause usually it works. Just come in and rip. love that. love that. He will hit ball. I love it. We should all do it more. We all probably help all of us. You don't know what mean. So just hit the ball. Hit the that's cool. And, and like you said, I feel like that is something that changes based on defenders too. just as if, if you're
Mark Burik (46:19.468)
the opposing defenders very mobile and moving a lot back there and making a lot of jukes. And it's like, just, just try to read where the block is and just, yeah. Okay. Next question. So thinking about moving forward, cause I think we only have about 10 more minutes of your time. Moving forward. Obviously you mentioned the international events coming up and whatnot.
what are some big goals that you were striving for? and also kind of coupled with that, what are some of your phrases that you use from the confident mind that you're going to use to go after those goals? yeah, I mean, a big goal of mine right now, all transparency is just getting my mind right and getting, getting to a place where I like want to be going to practice. I want to be going competing like, cause these challengers in November or in Asia.
China, India, Philippines. And that's like tough travel for anyone. And I don't really like traveling. I don't like flying. And so right now my number one priority is getting my mind right and getting to a place where I'm like feeling refreshed, not waking up tired every day, which is just kind of the life of an athlete too, but like getting to a point where I'm feeling confident in myself off the court. Cause right now I'm not in that phase right now and it'll come with time, but just, you know, working on.
Getting back to me myself, I don't really feel like myself right now and it'll just take time, but that's number one priority. And then in terms of volleyball, I'm excited to get back to train with Abby and get more left, more reps on the left side, because that's something we haven't been doing a ton of, but I think it's going to be really cool. And, or being able to switch sides, like, you know, getting reps to both at practice. So when we play certain teams, like maybe we play Hawaiian style, maybe we, you know, come out this way and that way.
be equally comfortable doing both. So think that's a huge advantage that we can have over people. I want to continue to improve my defense, my transition. I mean, there's a lot of things to work on, but I think the biggest thing is just getting my mind right and then getting excited to get out there and go train. And the cues for me right now, and this is kind of on the court and off, is like you're good.
Mark Burik (48:41.422)
you just put the positive self-talk like this is gonna pass. Like, so whether you're in a life right or a side out rut, you're like, I'm gonna get out of this eventually. you know what I mean? So just reminding myself that it'll pass and keep going and stuff like that. The confident mind, the big one for me that you brought it up earlier that I forgot to mention was when you're watching film, instead of harping on like the mistakes you made, like go back and rewatch film of all the good stuff you did. And like,
go into trainings and go into games with that confidence of like, okay, I played so well this match. did these things, right? Versus harping at all the bad, like go over the good stuff too. And what you, what you crush and then what you want to bring into, your next competition. Love that. Yeah. That's so good. And another piece, just in addition to that, about the confident mind, another piece that was my favorite is, excitement and nerves.
give the same response or like are the same feeling in our body. so it's such a cool thing that we can define what that feeling is. And then that causes our body to react in a way of looseness and relaxed compared to if it's nerves, it's really tight and tense and scared. And I think that's such a cool thing. And I'm sure you felt that a lot this past season with
MVP Denver in the finals. I that's a lot of people watching. Yeah, it's crap. Me when people are watching. I love it. I've learned to love it so much this year. But prior to this year, I wasn't confident or confident enough in my skills to like be enjoying that moment. But it just it's such an enjoying thing or enjoyable thing whenever you decide to call it excitement rather than nerves. so
It's a total mindset shift and that's something that again, Dan, like I'm so vulnerable. So I'll be like when I'm before a game, I'm like, I'm so nervous right now. Like I literally verbally expressed that because it helps me and Dan's like, you're just excited. I'm like, Dan, you're so cute. really, I'm actually really nervous, but I appreciate the shift in mindset because it really is.
Mark Burik (50:56.042)
It really is a shift and we all know when we play like usually after the first couple of points, you kind of settle in and it kind of is what it is and you may get you may get tight again at the end of the game if it's close, but you know, you settle eventually and I I do love that shift. The excitement versus the and it's OK to be nervous and I've learned that sometimes my best games are the games were like prior to the match. I'm almost throwing up, which is not healthy by any means, but just reminding myself that like I can be this nervous. Bye bye. Someone just said bye.
I can be this nervous, still compete at super high level, sometimes my best. Like I get more scared when I'm not nervous, because I'm like, whoa, I am like, that's concerning for me. I'm not like on. So nerves are good. And if you frame it as excitement too, especially like that's, it's all positive. It's all good. Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, awesome. Let's close with maybe a funny moment. If one pops up your head from this past season that you're like, that is just so funny.
and I know there's, there's not many people in the meeting right now. think they all had it off, but because it saves as a recording and then we may or may not post this as a podcast. don't know yet. Yeah, do whatever. Yeah. funny moment. Yeah. From this past season.
Okay, it's not really, it's not really volleyball related. I might think of a volleyball one, but this is, goes back to the engagement. I'm in the gym and I gotta be cautious because Logan's a babber, but Logan, you know, we're talking about engagement stuff and him and Abby and I'm with Timmy and some talk to me about him and Kyle. And I'm like messing around about like, Evan hasn't proposed yet. And I'm like not the type of girl that's like,
I need to be engaged by this day and have this plan. I was just like, whenever you want, I'm good. And I was messing with Logan about it and talking about like, I wonder when Evan's going to do it. And he literally did it and they knew he was going to do it. He did it like a couple of days later. Like he did it like three days later and, seeing them after the engagement party and then being like, do you understand how hard it was to hold that from you all? Same with that. And Evan are driving to.
Mark Burik (53:09.414)
up in Palace Verde is where he proposed. We're going to brunch. That's what I thought. I'm texting Abby and I'm like, Abby, Evan's acting really weird. Is Evan gonna propose? And Abby was like, no, he would have told us, da da. Meanwhile, she's driving to Terranea to come take pictures and stuff. And so it's just funny, like everyone trying to keep a secret. It's hard to keep a secret from me, cause I'm so like, wanna know what's going on in everyone's head. And I wanna know, like, it's hard to keep a secret from me, I think.
And they all did such a good job. So that was definitely like the funniest moment when I saw them at the engagement party. Like, my gosh, I was literally talking to you guys about this three days ago. How did you keep this all under wraps? That was, that was a good one. then volleyball. I, I suck at secrets. cannot do secrets. I'll probably think of a volleyball one later. I can't think of it right now. Maybe.
Maybe a funny practice. We did a really fun practice with we had a three team practice. Me and Abby Kelly Chang, Sarah Hughes and Kim Hildreth, Tegan Van Guns the day before Hermosa. And there's three of us on a team and two of the girls had to hold arms and like touch the ball and it was a super fun and funny drill that like, you know, they had to hold, hold hands for the whole rally and then they could each touch it, but they only had their one hand to touch it. And some of us were like trying to, you know,
have one platform and then the other platform coming together. And so that was a super fun warmup at practice that I loved. that would be so funny to watch from the strand. so people were probably like, Alex, is going on out there? Alex Wangari, the guy from Italy, was in town for the Hermosa Open. And he was staying at this guy's house on the strand. And he was watching us. He was like, what was that warmup? He was like, what? And we were just on the ground laughing so hard. It was so fun. That was definitely a fun moment. Definitely a fun moment.
It's TIA. This is America. Yeah, exactly. He was like, what is going on? like, what happens in America? Yeah, so fun. man. Well, thank you guys so much for this. has been so much. Jenmarine, thanks for coming out. This has been awesome. Yeah, of course. Thank you so much for joining. Of course. It's awesome. And if you feel like you want to use the podcast, you guys can do whatever you want with this. Totally open to whatever. Awesome.
Mark Burik (55:26.51)
Where can people find you? On my Instagram, guess. can't promise a quick response. I'm trying to be less on the social media front, but I'm open to communicate with whoever. Come find me at tournaments. I'm open to chat at tournaments. I'm not the type of player that needs space at tournaments. Come find me at tournaments. Come take a picture. Come talk to me. DM me on Instagram. Get my contact from Maureen or Matt. don't care. I'm not like...
trying to hide from people. want to, the biggest thing with my anxiety is I want to help people. I'm still trying to figure out how to myself, but like I want to be vulnerable and talk about it too so that, you know, this becomes more of an open thing to discuss because it's becoming more common, you know, anxiety and depression and stuff to commonly talked about and just happening more frequently. I probably big in part to the phones and social media. Don't get me started. There's a whole thing, but I want to.
I want to help people and that because helping people helps me as well. So I'm open to talk about that. I'm open to talk about volleyball like more about my personal thing, more about, know, anything like that. And maybe I'll do some bad coaching stuff. Evan and I have been trying to figure out our schedule for the rest of the year. So we haven't committed to any, any coaching stuff because we've been, traveling so much just to play and also trying to take some time off too. So maybe we'll, we'll end up at a bad camp or something, but yeah, thank you guys so much. You can access me anywhere. Get my contact from whoever I'm.
open to chat. Love it. sponsor or anything you want to throw out too? Yeah, I am sponsored by Centerpoint Securities. Well, they go by Clear Street now, the head of the division. They're a financial services company and they've helped me making craft, Paul Lottman, Miles, Partain, Andy Benesh, a ton. Oakley sponsors me too. I'm not wearing my glasses right now. I think this is my PT Davis and DeRosa. They're based in Hermosa Beach. They're awesome.
And then yeah, root and fruit nutrition, her name's Sarah. She's a genomist and nutritionist and she's been helping out a ton with my anxiety and stuff. did a gene test and then a neurotransmitter and hormone test. And so it's really cool to see like where my levels were. This was back in December. It was really cool to see like where my levels are and stuff and see like what can be improved and what foods I can do, supplements, stuff like that. So yeah, yeah.
Mark Burik (57:47.872)
Awesome. Savvy, thank you so much for your time. And just thank you for being such an incredible human being and friend to everyone and just a great example for anybody to follow. I love you guys. We love you too. Thank you so much for having me anytime. This is awesome. Yeah. All right. Have a great day. Bye.
