Better Together

Merritt Beason reflects on confidence, self-talk, vulnerability, and the reality of competing at the professional level. A candid conversation about growth, coaching, and embracing the work behind the scenes.

Merritt shares the unseen work of professional volleyball—from travel and recovery to nutrition, self-care, faith, and giving yourself grace. Practical perspective for athletes, parents, and coaches.

Merritt discusses confidence, accountability, self-talk, and finding your voice while growing as an athlete, coach, and person. Featuring lessons young athletes can carry beyond the game.

In Part 1 of our conversation with United's new Programming Coordinator, Celeste Walton, we get to know the person behind the coach and hear about the volleyball journey that ultimately brought her to United.

In Part 2 of our conversation with United Programming Coordinator Celeste Walton, we're diving deeper into what it means to coach the athlete in front of you.

In the final part of our conversation Celeste shares what ultimately brought her back to Alabama, what stood out to her about United, and why our commitment to creating opportunities for athletes at every level made this feel like the right place for her.

What do college coaches really look for during the recruiting process? In this special Better Together recruiting recap, we’re revisiting conversations with Tristan Johnson, Kaleb VanDePerre, and Betsy Freeburg to hear recruiting from the coaches’ side.

Alicia Krichev, Eli Hester, Audrey Cagle, and Audrey Krichev share four different recruiting journeys, from starting the process later than expected to choosing a school based on academics. It's a reminder that recruiting doesn't follow one set timeline or formula.

Coach Kae shares her volleyball story, from an accidental tryout to becoming a head coach, with lessons on confidence and learning from mistakes.

Coach Kae reflects on her Coach of the Year season, her relationships with players, and how she defines success, and looks ahead to her next season.

Maycor Carrion shares his path from the Dominican Republic to Huntsville, including his recruiting experience and his transition from player to coach.

In Part 2, Maycor Carrion digs into reading the game: understanding the court, communicating with confidence, and growing as a player and coach. He shares his path through several positions to libero, how he reads opponents' tendencies, and how coaching changed the way he sees volleyball.