Madi Bugg and Molly McCage have been friends for over half their lives thanks to volleyball. Hailing from different parts of the country – Madi from North Carolina, Molly from Texas – they met through the U.S. Youth National Team. While at tryouts, training camps and competitions, they were drawn in by each other’s nerdiness plus love of reading and giggling. Now in their 30s, they’ve maintained their friendship through different colleges, professional leagues and even continents. While not teammates in League One Volleyball, both Madi and Molly are excited to see each other from across the net while helping build a new league at home in the U.S. They recently caught up with host Tiffany Oshinsky to discuss their careers and friendship in and out of volleyball.

Other topics include:

• Half a lifetime of volleyball friendship
• Difference between LOVB and other pro leagues
• Excitement for First Serve
• A sport of community and family
• The importance of well-roundedness
• Getting into higher level volleyball
• Going Pro
• Coming to LOVB

Follow Molly on Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
Follow Madi on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After missing her grandfather’s funeral while playing overseas, Mariena Hayden was ready to come home. The outside hitter from Belle Plaine, Minnesota, had settled in with Greece’s ASP Thetis, but she couldn’t miss any more big moments. Luckily, League One Volleyball called with a roster spot four hours away from home with LOVB Madison. She jumped at the chance. Since, Mariena’s enjoyed life as a pro in the United States and getting to know her new city and teammates. Most importantly, she’s been home, celebrating Thanksgiving with family for the first time since high school. She recently caught up with host Tiffany Oshinsky in the latest episode of Serving Pancakes.

Topics include:

• Home for the Holidays
• Mariena and the Amazonians
• Training Camp at LOVB Madison
• Mariena’s start in volleyball
• Winning a state title with a torn ACL
• A collegiate career of shrinking shoes
• Getting convinced to go pro
• Coming home for LOVB and family
• Mariena’s top reads

and more!

Follow Mariena on Tiktok, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You cannot find someone more determined on the volleyball court than Khat Bell. The opposite hitter from Mesquite, Texas, has nothing but out-battled friends and opponents alike ever since finding volleyball in the seventh grade. In school, she beat out her friend for the final spot on the A team. At Texas, she gritted through a bulging disk to deliver an NCAA title. In South Korea, she finally beat down a seemingly undefeatable foe to become the first foreign player to be named Finals MVP. With the end of her career on the horizon, Khat has come home with LOVB Austin, determined to showcase the sport of volleyball. She and host Tiffany Oshinsky examine that determination in depth in the latest episode of Serving Pancakes. Other topics include:

• Difference between playing overseas and in LOVB
• All the Longhorns on LOVB Austin
• Khat’s seventh-grade obsession with volleyball
• After initial reluctance, Texas is the choice
• Winning it all after a major injury
• Doing it all for mom
• Starting a pro career in South Korea
• Coming back for LOVB
• and more!

Follow Khat on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Host: Tiffany Oshinsky
Senior Producer: Anya Alvarez
Executive Producers: Carrie Stett, Tamara Deike, and Lindsay Hoffman
Theme Music: Pancakes by Eric W. Mast, Jr.
Sound Designer: Daniel Gonzalez

Serving Pancakes is an iHeart Women's Sports Production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.