NXTVB Podcast By Susan Forbes | Volleyball Recruiting cover art

NXTVB

NXTVB

By: Susan Forbes | Volleyball Recruiting
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The NXTVB Podcast is your go-to resource for the next generation of volleyball talent. Hosted by Susan Forbes, a former D1 athlete and recruiting expert, this show explores the evolving world of college recruiting, NIL deals, and what it really takes to succeed at the next level—on and off the court. Whether you're a top prospect, parent, or coach, you'll get real talk, expert insights, and behind-the-scenes guidance on how to navigate the volleyball journey with confidence and clarity.

From scholarship strategy to navigating transfer rules, we’re talking about the future of the game and how to own your path within it.

© 2026 NXTVB
Volleyball
Episodes
  • 35: Understanding University Athlete: What Evaluations Actually Mean (Part 2)
    Mar 26 2026

    What does it actually mean when you see an “evaluation” on your University Athlete profile?

    In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with Corie Murphy from University Athlete, they break down one of the most misunderstood parts of the platform: coach evaluations. Athletes often assume an evaluation means strong recruiting interest, but the reality is more nuanced. Corie explains how college coaches use tags, ratings, notes, and internal evaluations to organize their recruiting process.

    Susan and Corie also discuss what athletes should actually pay attention to on their profile, how coaches track prospects over time, and why consistent engagement matters more than a single data point. If you’ve ever wondered what those numbers and notifications really mean, this episode will give you a clearer picture of how coaches use University Athlete in recruiting.

    Guest: Corie Murphy

    Corie Murphy is the Director of Operations at University Athlete (UA), a platform used by college coaches across the country to organize and evaluate athletes in the recruiting process. A former collegiate volleyball player at Eastern Washington and assistant coach at the University of Idaho, Corie has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of technology and college athletics. Through her work with University Athlete, she helps develop tools that allow college coaches to track prospects, manage evaluations, and recruit more efficiently throughout the year.

    Chapters

    00:00 – What a University Athlete “evaluation” actually is

    01:00 – The different tools coaches use to evaluate players

    02:00 – How recruiting tags work behind the scenes

    03:00 – Ratings, notes, and internal evaluations

    04:30 – Why athletes see evaluation activity

    06:00 – Can coaches see each other’s notes?

    07:00 – Why an evaluation doesn’t always mean recruiting interest

    08:30 – What patterns athletes should actually look for

    10:00 – What makes a helpful athlete profile

    11:30 – The importance of accurate contact information

    13:00 – New AI matching features coming to UA

    15:00 – How clubs may use UA in the future

    20:00 – Do Power 4 coaches use UA?

    22:00 – What to do if a coach says no

    24:30 – The one thing every athlete should do on their UA profile

    Connect with Corie:

    Website: www.universityathlete.com

    Instagram: @universityathle

    Join Susan for a monthly recruiting lesson January-June inside the Volleyball Recruiting School! Become a subscriber here. Or register for January's class all about highlight film here!

    Click here for a discount on our go-to, and the hands-down best and most affordable Recruiting Tool + Software we recommend every baller has to increase her efficiency in all that she does 👉🏼 PRODUCTIVE RECRUIT

    Want to support your baller in getting her process started and have an experienced volleyball recruiting advisor walk her through it? Enroll in RECRUIT READY: LAUNCH 🚀

    Need help getting unstuck in the recruiting process? Apply for a RECRUITING INTENSIVE.

    Connect with Susan:
    Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
    Follow on Instagram: @hey.susank

    P.S. If you’re an athlete with big goals, a parent who wants to support the journey, or a coach who cares deeply about your players, this podcast was made for you. Hit subscribe and come grow with us.

    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • Understanding University Athlete: How College Coaches Use It (Part 1)
    Mar 19 2026

    If you’ve ever wondered why college coaches spend so much time on their phones at volleyball tournaments, this episode will help you understand what they’re doing. In Part 1, Susan sits down with Corie Murphy from University Athlete (UA) to talk about how the platform works and why it has become an essential tool in college volleyball recruiting.

    Corie shares the origin of UA and explains how it evolved from a simple roster tool into the system many coaches rely on year-round. You’ll learn how coaches use it at tournaments, how they build recruiting schedules, and why athletes don’t need to send court times anymore. If you’re trying to make recruiting easier and stand out, understanding platforms like UA can give you a real advantage.

    Guest: Corie Murphy

    Corie Murphy is the Director of Operations at University Athlete (UA), a platform used by college coaches across the country to organize and evaluate athletes in the recruiting process. A former collegiate volleyball player at Eastern Washington and former assistant coach at the University of Idaho, Corie has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of technology and college athletics. Through her work with University Athlete, she helps develop tools that allow college coaches to track prospects, manage evaluations, and recruit more efficiently throughout the year.

    Chapters
    01:00 – How UA started and why it was created
    03:00 – The technology that changed recruiting at tournaments
    05:30 – How college coaches used to recruit before UA
    07:00 – What University Athlete actually is
    08:30 – How coaches organize recruiting using the platform
    10:00 – How tournament packets work
    11:30 – Why college coaches are always on their phones at events
    12:30 – Why athletes don’t need to email court times
    14:00 – How coaches track recruits over time
    15:30 – Free athlete profiles and how the database works
    18:00 – What athletes should include on their UA profile
    21:00 – What the upgraded UA profile shows athletes
    23:30 – Messaging tools and college matching features
    26:00 – How athletes can use UA strategically in recruiting

    Connect with Corie:

    Website: www.universityathlete.com

    Instagram: @universityathlete

    Join Susan for a monthly recruiting lesson January-June inside the Volleyball Recruiting School! Become a subscriber here. Or register for January's class all about highlight film here!

    Click here for a discount on our go-to, and the hands-down best and most affordable Recruiting Tool + Software we recommend every baller has to increase her efficiency in all that she does 👉🏼 PRODUCTIVE RECRUIT

    Want to support your baller in getting her process started and have an experienced volleyball recruiting advisor walk her through it? Enroll in RECRUIT READY: LAUNCH 🚀

    Need help getting unstuck in the recruiting process? Apply for a RECRUITING INTENSIVE.

    Connect with Susan:
    Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
    Follow on Instagram: @hey.susank

    P.S. If you’re an athlete with big goals, a parent who wants to support the journey, or a coach who cares deeply about your players, this podcast was made for you. Hit subscribe and come grow with us.

    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • 33: Planning on Going to Camps This Summer? Listen to This Before You Sign Up
    Mar 12 2026

    Join Susan for a valuable taste of a lesson you get inside the Volleyball Recruiting School membership. College volleyball camps can play a role in the recruiting process, but many families sign up for them without fully understanding how coaches actually use them.

    In this episode, Susan shares a sneak peek from one of the lessons inside Volleyball Recruiting School, where she breaks down how to think strategically about camps. Rather than treating camps as something you simply “have to do,” Susan explains how they fit into the bigger recruiting picture and why being intentional about where you spend your time and money matters.

    You’ll learn the different types of volleyball camps, how coaches view them from the recruiting side, and the key questions families should ask before signing up. Susan also walks through how camps can help athletes build connections with programs, gain clarity about potential schools, and move forward in the recruiting process when used strategically.

    If camps are part of your recruiting plan this year, this episode will help you think about them in a smarter and more informed way.

    Chapters

    00:00 – A sneak peek inside Volleyball Recruiting School
    01:00 – Why families struggle to plan their camp strategy
    02:00 – The role camps play in the recruiting process
    03:30 – Why you don’t need camps to get recruited
    05:00 – How camps can provide clarity and exposure
    06:30 – Understanding the recruiting “funnel”
    08:00 – The three main types of volleyball camps
    09:00 – Camps hosted at club programs
    09:45 – College camps hosted on campus
    10:45 – Prospect camps vs. general camps
    11:15 – Showcase style camps and evaluations
    11:45 – Why strategy matters when choosing camps

    Join Susan for a monthly recruiting lesson January-June inside the Volleyball Recruiting School! Become a subscriber here. Or register for January's class all about highlight film here!

    Click here for a discount on our go-to, and the hands-down best and most affordable Recruiting Tool + Software we recommend every baller has to increase her efficiency in all that she does 👉🏼 PRODUCTIVE RECRUIT

    Want to support your baller in getting her process started and have an experienced volleyball recruiting advisor walk her through it? Enroll in RECRUIT READY: LAUNCH 🚀

    Need help getting unstuck in the recruiting process? Apply for a RECRUITING INTENSIVE.

    Connect with Susan:
    Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
    Follow on Instagram: @hey.susank

    P.S. If you’re an athlete with big goals, a parent who wants to support the journey, or a coach who cares deeply about your players, this podcast was made for you. Hit subscribe and come grow with us.

    Show more Show less
    13 mins
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