In this episode, I talk with Savvy Simo about her indoor and beach career at UCLA and her promising future as a professional beach volleyball player. Savvy is deep and has the ability to process her experience that makes her wise beyond her years, yet is so down to earth and relatable, it’s easy to learn from her stories. From being suspended from volleyball for five weeks her freshman year to her lifelong struggle with anxiety, she opens up and tells some of her tougher stories and what she has learned from them. It’s easy to see why she is one of the most promising up-and-coming professionals on the beach. We are going to see great things for years to come from the great athlete and even better human.
Guest Bio
After competing both indoor and on the beach for UCLA, Savvy made a huge impression in her first year as a professional in 2021. Even though her athleticism is incredible to watch, her blend of tenacity as an athlete and sensitivity as a human has made her a joy to get to know. Her willingness to be transparent and share her story, which includes an understanding of what it means to live with anxiety, makes her an even more compelling and relatable athlete to watch in the years to come.
Key Points, Top Takeaways and Memorable Quotes
“I think that their parenting styles are based off how they were raised.” 3:03
“I want to be the most flexible partner, not only physically in playing left or right, as a teammate as a partner, emotionally and mentally I want to be able to communicate with them.” 3:53
“I play my best when I play with someone that I have good chemistry with, someone that I get along with.” 4:33
“If I have good chemistry with someone or the same qualities, and we can have fun off the court, I think that’s really huge.” 5:36
“You graduate high school and you’re like the best on your team or the top whatever on your team. Then you go somewhere like UCLA and you’re like I’m gonna go play all the time and I’m gonna dominate, and that’s not always the case.” 6:06
“I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason. I made a stupid mistake that I learned from, but if I didn’t have those 5 weeks to just go be a freshman and go party and go be dumb and do my thing, I don’t know if I would be where I am today.” 7:58
“When I’m on the B side my goal was to fire them up and take down the A side.” 9:36
“A lot of what I learned at UCLA was it’s not always how you imagine it to be, but I wouldn’t trade my experience one bit.” 9:54
“I learned so much more through those seasons that the team wasn’t that great or I had a slump in my game. It was really challenging for me trying to lead a team feeling alone or not feeling like I could be the true full leader that I wanted to be.” 13:00
“I think that when people imagine a leader, they imagine the captain of the team and the person who plays all the time, but you can lead by example in the weight room even if you're not playing, you can lead when you're on the bench, you can cheer super loud, you can be supportive.” 14:28
“You can still be a leader whether you're a freshman or a fifth year. You can be a leader whether you play or you don't. As long as you're working hard, as long as you can get respect by working hard, showing up on time everyday, and you are being a good person, people will respect you and listen to you no matter what age you are, no matter how talented you are, and I think that people forget that.” 14:50
“Don't push your body past it’s limits because then you’ll be out longer!” 19:16
“If I’m watching tv, why am I not on the floor stretching? And that’s what I’m continuing to learn.” 22:45
“My athleticism will only take me so far. I have to get smarter on and off the court, take care of my body, make sure, do I really need that glass of wine tonight with dinner? No, probably not.” 23:37
“When I have a couple beers, I sleep terrible!” 24:03
“As long as I surround myself with people who are doing the same thing, which a lot of us are, it’s really helpful.” 29:33
“If I go to a competition and I’m like this is my job and I need to make money, and I play like that, then I'm not gonna perform. I need to play because I love it.” 30:13
“There is more to life than sports and if you're not feeling it, you have to take time to heal. Just as you would take time to heal an injury, you have to take time to heal your mind.” 33:09
“Everyone’s process is so different. Where I am at 23, hopefully I’m still playing in 10 years or more. I might not be the same person when I’m 33, but at least where I’m at right now, I love the game and I’m doing it because I love it.” 34:47
“My favorite thing to hear is ‘I just love how much fun you’re having. I loved seeing you smile.’” 36:19
“What other sports are there where the pros are on vacation with these random guests?” 39:38
“I feel people are going to follow me and support me and like what I’m doing if it’s authentic.” 42:45
“As long as I have a good attitude and I don’t let that get to me and I continue to play because I love it, not because of the certain partner that I want, then it’s all going to work out the way it is supposed to.” 44:40
“There are days where I get asked to go play with people who are better than me and I’m like I have to go prove myself. But if I wanna actually improve and get better, working on vision stuff, holding on defense, and all these things that I need to do to get better. If I’m working on that stuff, I’m not going to be at my best because I’m going to get worse before I can actually improve at that.” 50:08
“It’s all finding the balance.” 53:53
“You never know who you’re going to meet that might help you.” 55:13
“If you don’t love soccer the way I love volleyball, you shouldn’t play in college.” 57:55
“Enjoy the process.” 1:06:09
“Continuing to remember, you’re playing a sport and it’s meant to be fun and just keep enjoying the process, keep having fun, and keep being grateful for the opportunities you have. You’re healthy. You’re able to play beach volleyball, and not many people can say that.” 1:06:25
“I am physically and mentally able to go play a sport that I love. I have a healthy family and healthy friends, and I’m living in an amazing place.” 1:06:55
“Have fun, enjoy life, it goes by quick.” 1:08:00
Show Notes
1:11 - Where do you come from?
3:03 - Parenting Styles
3:52 - Being a Positive Partner
6:02 - College Career and Highlights
6:48 - Freshman Year Suspension Obstacle
9:03 - Sophomore Year and My Role
9:54 - What I Learned at UCLA
10:26 - Senior Year and COVID
13:45 - Learning to Lead
15:36 - Pac-12 Pair of the Week Clips
17:38 - Back Injury Rehab
22:05 - Discipline to be a Good Patient/Next Level Athlete
24:00 - Oura Ring and Sleep
26:09 - Diet
27:04 - Article on Why You Shouldn’t Look at Your Phone Before Bed
28:30 - How diet is affected by sleep
28:55 - How there is a time and a place for things - moderation
30:10 - Finding the balance of being 23 and having super high hard goals
30:57 - Netflix Tennis Documentary by Marty Fish
31:58 - Savvy’s struggle with anxiety
33:33 - Lifelong Love for the Game
37:43 - SOB Volleyball Vacations
39:54 - Volleyball Community in Hermosa Beach, CA
41:11 - The Struggle with Social Media
43:40 - Points and Partnerships
46:35 - AVP Manhattan Open with Zana Muno
48:40 - Expect to Learn
50:08 - Invitation to Play Up
51:16 - First Generation from NCAA
52:58 - Financial Priorities and Balance
54:37 - Finding Sponsors and Support
57:40 - Siblings
1:01:14 - Rally Highlight in Atlanta
1:03:55 - Karaoke nights - Jeff Samuels and Good Directions by Billy Currington
1:05:04 - Wrap Up and Thanks
1:05:50 - Takeaway for the Younger Generations
Links & Where to Find Savvy
IG - @savvysimo
South of the Border Vacations - sobvolleyballvacations.com
Featured Athlete - https://bebetterwithwendyjones.com/featured-athletes/