BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL MEDIA DAYS

August 3, 2026

Jen Flynn Oldenburg

Hannah Jones

Na'Vea Gauthier

Ohio State Buckeyes

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We welcome in Ohio State. Coach, we'll give you the floor.

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: Thank you to Big Ten, Big Ten Studios for hosting another amazing event. We're very fortunate to be here in year five already, which is crazy to think. For us at Ohio State, we are excited for the season. Lots of new faces, but really competitive environment and ready to go.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for the Buckeyes.

Q. (No microphone.)

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: Yeah, I mean, talk about the ripping the Band-Aid off. Blood everywhere right now (smiling).

That decision was hard. What is the right thing? What is the best decision? If I look back at it, I still think it was a good decision. Investing in the youth and bringing in young talent that were excited to be Buckeyes. Was it hard to let go of those seniors? Absolutely. If I had a crystal ball, probably would have made a different decision, right?

At the end of it, we are about development. I am about development as talent, as people. Yeah, everybody has to feel my pain this year. I don't know another way to say it.

There's a lot of challenges with this. Like, just so much movement right now in the collegiate space with five for five, the '22 class, what does that mean if they're coming back, can it happen. There's so much going on.

As we head into the season, we're going to focus on this team. We talk about Team 57. I don't have that same problem of having seven seniors which are starters. That's helpful for us. Our roster management is in a much better space. So yeah, I can speak on it, but I think what everybody's going to do is whatever they think is good for their program and what their beliefs are.

I will stand behind my belief of developing players and humans.

Q. (No microphone.)

HANNAH JONES: Kind of going off what she just said, my focus this year is on Team 57. Honestly just being the best person, the best teammate, the best friend, the best leader I can be for this team and focusing on what's ahead going into this season right now.

Q. Looking at the two players beside you, talking about player development, what are you expecting from them this year in trying to turn a new chapter for this coming season?

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: We expect a lot, not only these two, but everybody in our gym. These two are part of our leadership council. They're going to be a part of the liaison between our team and the staff. They're going to work hard. That's the expectation in our gym, but they're going to model the way. We talk about that a lot.

I think the experience they got inside the Big Ten last year will only suit them for success this year. So I'm excited.

Q. (No microphone.)

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: The only way we know how is to attack it. We got into the portal out of need in the off-season. We had six returners, six join us in the spring, five new faces this summer. It was where do we want to be, what do we want to be about.

It's about creating culture that's gritty, that's competitive, that is putting the team first. We have the athletes and people that are willing to do that right now. I'm rejuvenated, I'm excited. I feel like the first couple days of practice has been the most competitive we've been in a long time.

To have the depth, some experience, some really fiery people, I'm excited for what we can bring this year.

Q. (No microphone.)

HANNAH JONES: I've seen a lot of the freshmen that have come in. They are competing. As well as the new girls that were here in the spring. They're still bringing the same competitive fire they were bringing this spring.

Overall everyone is competing really hard. I mean, it just speaks for itself, kind of like what she was saying, we all have that competitive, like, mindset.

Honestly all the new people, all the new faces, I don't doubt there's one day they're not going to compete. They show up and give their 100% effort.

NA'VEA GAUTHIER: I think everyone, it's anybody's game of who is going to start. The people on the bench know they need to be ready to come in and play.

Everyone's going to contribute. It's going to take everyone this season to do what we want to do.

Q. (No microphone.)

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: For me it's a no-brainer. I'm going to have them answer this.

NA'VEA GAUTHIER: I think it's like another person on the bench that has been through it. She knows what it's like. As much as J'FO went through it, the times are a little different than when she went through it.

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: So kind, though. Such a nice way to say it (smiling).

NA'VEA GAUTHIER: It is nice because she was in it with the social media world. You can go and talk to Lonny about literally anything, volleyball related or not volleyball rated. She is just always in our corner.

HANNAH JONES: Kind of what she said, she is a big reason why I came here. She's my why. I look up to her a lot. She's a mentor to me and everybody else around. You can talk to her about anything, whether it's volleyball related or not. I feel like she's going to be a really good asset to help us be successful this year.

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: How did you come up with that name (smiling)?

Q. (No microphone.)

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: Awesome.

Q. (No microphone.)

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: We had Nerd Day the other day.

Q. (No microphone.)

HANNAH JONES: I would say just me smiling because sometimes I don't show, like, a lot of expression. When I am smiling, I hit that click, the people around me are encouraging me and giving me that confidence. Honestly me smiling and doing my celies, my celebrations.

NA'VEA GAUTHIER: I would say just no thought, I'm just in the zone again, like, smiling, not super serious, but not willy-nilly.

Q. (No microphone.)

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: Burnout is real. It's something we're talking about with the calendar. What makes sense for all of us, for our athletes, in terms of playing and practice season, in terms of the recruiting calendar, where does that fit into that playing and practice season.

We are looking at those things to make our calendar make sense because right now it doesn't. We're talking about, yes, we need to refuel and recharge, how do we do that, when do we do that. We're looking at the portal windows, when does that fit in.

I think in the college world right now, whether you're a coach, player, administrator, you're in an athletic department, you have to love what you're doing because it is a lot. The people that want to go 9:00 to 5:00, this isn't that kind of job. Sometimes I don't even know what day of the week it is. But that's okay, I love it. I have a family that supports that. Our team's engaged, loves it. I have a department that supports us.

It's a real thing, something we're talking about. You also have to love it to be in it. I'm fortunate enough to still love it.

Q. (No microphone.)

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: I think our mission is the NCAA tournament. If we take care of what we need to in the regular season, we're going to make the NCAA tournament. Then the Big Ten is a bonus. You have two shots to win the Big Ten, regular-season champs and tournament champs. It not like I hope we make it. We're driven to be there playing in Fishers, Indiana for the first-ever Big Ten tournament. That is an exciting place to be.

Q. (No microphone.)

NA'VEA GAUTHIER: I think the same as J'FO said. The goal is to be in the NCAA tournament. The Big Ten tournament is just an addition. If we handle what we need to in the regular season, then we get to play in the Big Ten tournament, which is more competition to get us ready for the tournament.

Q. What might the fans see from the portal, and what impact might they have?

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: I think, like, Na'Vea said, our depth is there. I think we have a few defensive players that are fighting for that 'bro jersey. I think the additions with Kelly McAuley in the outside add some depth to our outside pin position. And Kalli from Texas Tech Kalli Ravva, she's part of the French connection. We now have two French players on our team. Everybody is elevating the level in our gym. I think we got some knocks, like who are these players, what are they about, we don't even know them. Great, I'd rather you not know them. Means we get to sneak up on you.

The underdog mentality is real in our gym, and we're ready to compete and get after it.

Q. How has that fueled you, players?

HANNAH JONES: Honestly, it's helped and encouraged us to push each day in and out. We do a good job of doing 100% of everything we do, whether it's in the weight room with our new strength coach, she has done a really good job of conditioning us and keeping us in shape, things like that. I think we're overall pushing and elevating every day. It's a continued good process.

NA'VEA GAUTHIER: I think there's just a new excitement in the gym. Everyone is super excited to be there. We're all really young. Just super excited going into lift and everything. There's a lot of energy, yelling. It's super nice.

Q. (No microphone.)

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: Tell me who to play and when to play. That's the mentality, right? We can determine our non-conference, but as we enter the Big Ten, here is the schedule, great, we get to go play there, good. We get to play at home, good. Just another chance to compete.

How does it work in our favor? I don't know if it works in anybody's favor playing everybody once. Here we are. Let's get excited about it. Regardless of who is across the net, we have to be better than them. Our group has to be better than the six across the net.

Q. (No microphone.)

HANNAH JONES: I don't even know where to start. I love her. Mia, honestly being on a team with her, even when I came here to Ohio State in the spring, Mia has done a really good job of letting me know and embracing me and our relationship on and off the court is what has really helped me, developed me to be the person I am.

She's just a really good person. I think the way her character, who she is as a person, contributes to the volleyball court and helps her be her full self. Me and her are able to look, bounce off each other a lot, like a duo, which I think is really good. Overall me and her's relationship is a good relationship, like contributing to the team success. I love her, yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

JEN FLYNN OLDENBURG: I've known her since a young age. Her growth as a human, as a person, is on track with how she was raised, who she wants to be. So that's been really fun to be a part of, to see her from a 10-year-old to now, 21- to 22-year-old.

As a player, she continues to improve. She's one of the hardest workers in our gym. She models the way, like we talked about earlier. Incredible leader. I think her drive to be better not only as an individual but for this team, to get back to the tournament, like that's on the forefront of her mind.

As a Buckeye, she is a Buckeye for life. She had the opportunity to join me on the Buckeye Cruise For Cancer this year. To miss a week of training, I would think about my coach if I ever wanted, Hey, Jim, what do you think about missing a week? No chance I would even ask him that.

Mia was a little bit nervous to ask me that. To me it was no question that she belonged on that cruise because of the relationship she would build, not only for our program but for her future. I mean, it's a big deal.

She's a huge ambassador for our program. We're really lucky that she's a Buckeye.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you all very much.