SandyNoles: An FSU Beach Volleyball Podcast

Jess Horwath Has Found Her Perfect Fit at Florida State

Welcome back to the SandyNoles Podcast, where assistant coach Travis Mewhirter sits down with transfer Jess Horwath to talk about her transition to Tallahassee, and the seamless, perfect fit it has been thus far at Florida State. 

Maddie Trusty Has Entered Revered "Unk Status" at Florida State

Welcome back to the SandyNoles Podcast, where assistant coach Travis Mewhirter sits down with redshirt senior Maddie Trusty to chat all things FSU beach volleyball. They cover:
- Trusty's breakout junior season, where she and Gella Andrew starred on court two
- Embracing her final season in Tallahassee, where she has become "Uncle Trusty" 
- What it's like being the elder statesman on a still young team
- Her appreciation for her parents, who drove and drove and...drove some more to tournaments and practices throughout her youth career, and who are still driving today to get to her NCAA matches
GO NOLES!

Rachel Heilbrun: An FSU Blessing That Has Been 'More Than You Can Ask, Think, or Imagine'

Welcome back to the SandyNoles podcast! This week's episode features Rachel Heilbrun, a junior transfer from Houston Christian who chats about her decision to come to Florida State, the not-so-easy but incredibly fulfilling first few months in Tallahassee, how much improvement she has seen in herself, and the new role she is taking on a team replete with depth. 
GO NOLES!

Alexis Durish’s “Dip” Into Professional Beach Volleyball Changed Everything

Welcome back to the SandyNoles Podcast! This week, Alexis Durish sits down with assistant coach Travis Mewhirter, chatting about:
- Her huge summer playing professionally for the first time, where she won two golds and two bronze medals
- Why she doesn't set goals (and maybe it's a bad thing, maybe not)
- Her partnership with Audrey Koenig, and how they worked through the ebbs and flows of a season together
- How she's beginning to find her voice as a leader
And much more. 
GO NOLES!

Bailey Higgins, And An Insatiable Curiosity That Will Never Be Quenched

Welcome back to the SandyNoles Podcast, where sophomore standout Bailey Higgins sits down with assistant coach Travis Mewhirter, discussing:
- Her insatiable curiosity, and the importance of asking questions
- The imposter syndrome she experienced throughout her freshman season
- How she was able to overcome that imposter syndrome and accept her role on the team
- What she's expecting from the upcoming 2025-26 season
And a whole lot more. 
GO NOLES!

Gella Andrew: Florida State's Resilient Leader by Example

Welcome back to the SandyNoles Podcast, a podcast about all things FSU Beach Volleyball. This episode features sophomore Gella Andrew, the CCSA Freshman of the Year who sits down to chat with assistant coach Travis Mewhirter. They cover:
- Andrew's first season in Tallahassee, and what it was like to make the jump from juniors all the way to court two
- Why resilience means so much to her, and how she displayed it in spades throughout her freshman season
- Her attitude of "If you're not smiling, what are you doing?" 
- How she has embraced her "weird self" and how the FSU Beach Volleyball culture has encouraged that to happen
And much more!
GO NOLES!

Elena Lam is Playing Volleyball Her Own Way -- Whether You Like it Or Not

Welcome to Season 2 of the SandyNoles Podcast, where we chat all things FSU Beach Volleyball. Our first episode is with assistant coach Travis Mewhirter and freshman Elena Lam, who plays beach volleyball with her own distinct style and is unapologetic about it. 
On this episode, they chat about:
- How, somehow, being home schooled in high school and attending a massive university like Florida State isn't much different
- Her discipline, which has her measuring every morsel of food and waking up at 5 a.m.
- The singular reason she decided to come to Florida State: To win a National Championship
- How she doesn't want to model her game after anyone, but to develop her own unique style
GO NOLES!
 

Nick Lucena, Brooke Niles, And The Building of An NCAA Coaching Legacy

This episode of SandyNoles features the full FSU Beach Volleyball coaching staff: Nick Lucena, Brooke Niles, and Travis Mewhirter, chatting all things NCAA Beach Volleyball and the 2024 season. 

Makenna Wolfe, Madi Trusty, And Wolfe's Home Away From Home

Welcome back to the SandyNoles Podcast, where players and coaches on the FSU Beach Volleyball team chat about all things Florida State beach volleyball. Today, Makenna Wolfe and Madi Trusty chat about the upcoming weekend at Cal Poly, a home tournament of sorts for Wolfe who wrestles with wondering: Where is home, truly? Is it in Tallahassee, Florida, where she has spent her last four years, or is it home in northern California, where she spent the first 18 years of her life? 
Fun one with two close friends. 
Enjoy!

Alexis Durish And Carra Sassack: A look-ahead at LSU's Death Volley Invitational

Alexis Durish and Carra Sassack, the most dynamic of FSU Beach Volleyball duos, are back again, chatting life, ice-breakers, and a look-ahead at this weekend's Death Volley Invitational at LSU, where the 'Noles will play UCLA, Stanford, USC, and Long Beach State.