University Southern California Trojans
Q&A with Newcomer Sophomore Transfer Setter Josh Friedman
November 27, 2023 | Men's Volleyball
Friedman is a setter from Newport Beach, Calif. and transferred from Hawai’i.
In an effort to get to know our incoming athletes further, sports information student assistant Malala Pyle sat down with sophomore transfer setter Josh Friedman and asked him a few questions.
Malala Pyle: Where are you from?
Josh Friedman: I am from Newport Beach, California.
Malala: What's your favorite thing about your hometown?
Josh: Sometimes — if you're lucky — when the sunsets, it's kind of like a rainbow sky and you can see a bunch of colors.
Malala: What school did you attend prior to USC?
Josh: University of Hawai'i.
Malala: What is your favorite sport to play that isn't volleyball? Why?
Josh: Tennis. My dad played tennis in college and after college. He basically taught me and my brothers.
Malala: Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Josh: Breakfast.
Malala: What's your favorite meal in that category?
Josh: French toast.
Malala: What is your dream place to live?
Josh: That's a tough one — it might be Newport Beach. It is so nice over there.
Malala: Who is your volleyball or general athlete hero?
Josh: My general athlete hero is probably my dad. I could give you a million reasons why, but it's my dad.
Malala: Favorite show or movie that you grew up watching?
Josh: Grown Ups 1, or 2.
Malala: What's your hidden talent?
Josh: I can dance.
Malala: Why USC?
Josh: Aside from how volleyball led me here, it's a great school with great academia. And it's a lot closer to home, so I get to see my family a lot more.
Malala: What's the most exciting thing about being back in socal?
Josh: Getting to be closer to home and family.
Malala: Favorite memory from U. Hawaii?
Josh: One of our games. We were playing Penn State, and we won a really close set. It was our first sellout of the season, and it was like ear-splitting screams. All the hair on my body stood up, and I was like "Oh, whoa. This is pretty cool."
Malala: Favorite place to go on Oahu (food-wise, scenery-wise, or otherwise)?
Josh: Probably Makapuu Beach — it's really, really nice.
Malala: Are you into podcasts or do you only listen to music? What do you listen to genre wise?
Josh: A little bit of both. I like podcasts, I like The Joe Rogan Experience. But I don't listen to a ton of music by myself.
Malala: Who do you look up to the most and why?
Josh: My dad. Apart from him, his athletics, and playing tennis, also just the man he is. I'm tempted to use the word envy, but I'm not jealous. I do like the family environment that he raised, which is funny because I'm in the family. But we have a good family, nice suburban home.
Malala: What was your best volleyball memory?
Josh: There's a few. Winning the second division of JOs when I was about 16 or 17 was electric, just because winning is an ultimate feeling. And also playing in Israel was an awesome experience.
Malala: What's something you've learned the hard way?
Josh: Sometimes your play time and your position isn't always guaranteed. For example, at Hawaii, I didn't play a single point the entire season — not in the preseason or anything like that. Even though it was an awesome experience and I got to play with those guys — I guess the "learning the hard way" was that you aren't going to be given everything. So, a lot of times you have to go out and earn it yourself.
Malala: What's been the best part of your day so far?
Josh: There was croissant french toast at Little Galen this morning.
Malala: What's your favorite season? Any good memories from it?
Josh: That's tough — Southern California doesn't have a lot of seasonal change. I guess summer. Two years ago I got to play volleyball in Israel which was a lot of fun.
Malala: What was the most interesting place you saw while in Israel?
Josh: We went to the Wailing Wall which was a big one, and we went to Masada which is a religious site in Israel.
Malala: Do you have any advice that you would give to your past self?
Josh: No advice. I wouldn't change where I am now.
Malala Pyle: Where are you from?
Josh Friedman: I am from Newport Beach, California.
Malala: What's your favorite thing about your hometown?
Josh: Sometimes — if you're lucky — when the sunsets, it's kind of like a rainbow sky and you can see a bunch of colors.
Malala: What school did you attend prior to USC?
Josh: University of Hawai'i.
Malala: What is your favorite sport to play that isn't volleyball? Why?
Josh: Tennis. My dad played tennis in college and after college. He basically taught me and my brothers.
Malala: Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Josh: Breakfast.
Malala: What's your favorite meal in that category?
Josh: French toast.
Malala: What is your dream place to live?
Josh: That's a tough one — it might be Newport Beach. It is so nice over there.
Malala: Who is your volleyball or general athlete hero?
Josh: My general athlete hero is probably my dad. I could give you a million reasons why, but it's my dad.
Malala: Favorite show or movie that you grew up watching?
Josh: Grown Ups 1, or 2.
Malala: What's your hidden talent?
Josh: I can dance.
Malala: Why USC?
Josh: Aside from how volleyball led me here, it's a great school with great academia. And it's a lot closer to home, so I get to see my family a lot more.
Malala: What's the most exciting thing about being back in socal?
Josh: Getting to be closer to home and family.
Malala: Favorite memory from U. Hawaii?
Josh: One of our games. We were playing Penn State, and we won a really close set. It was our first sellout of the season, and it was like ear-splitting screams. All the hair on my body stood up, and I was like "Oh, whoa. This is pretty cool."
Malala: Favorite place to go on Oahu (food-wise, scenery-wise, or otherwise)?
Josh: Probably Makapuu Beach — it's really, really nice.
Malala: Are you into podcasts or do you only listen to music? What do you listen to genre wise?
Josh: A little bit of both. I like podcasts, I like The Joe Rogan Experience. But I don't listen to a ton of music by myself.
Malala: Who do you look up to the most and why?
Josh: My dad. Apart from him, his athletics, and playing tennis, also just the man he is. I'm tempted to use the word envy, but I'm not jealous. I do like the family environment that he raised, which is funny because I'm in the family. But we have a good family, nice suburban home.
Malala: What was your best volleyball memory?
Josh: There's a few. Winning the second division of JOs when I was about 16 or 17 was electric, just because winning is an ultimate feeling. And also playing in Israel was an awesome experience.
Malala: What's something you've learned the hard way?
Josh: Sometimes your play time and your position isn't always guaranteed. For example, at Hawaii, I didn't play a single point the entire season — not in the preseason or anything like that. Even though it was an awesome experience and I got to play with those guys — I guess the "learning the hard way" was that you aren't going to be given everything. So, a lot of times you have to go out and earn it yourself.
Malala: What's been the best part of your day so far?
Josh: There was croissant french toast at Little Galen this morning.
Malala: What's your favorite season? Any good memories from it?
Josh: That's tough — Southern California doesn't have a lot of seasonal change. I guess summer. Two years ago I got to play volleyball in Israel which was a lot of fun.
Malala: What was the most interesting place you saw while in Israel?
Josh: We went to the Wailing Wall which was a big one, and we went to Masada which is a religious site in Israel.
Malala: Do you have any advice that you would give to your past self?
Josh: No advice. I wouldn't change where I am now.
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