January 20, 2025

Season outlook: SWCC volleyball looks to keep pushing the envelope

By CARTER ECKL

The 2018 Southwestern Community College volleyball team poses for a photo during the team's photo day. In front, from left: Lyann Mena Rodriguez, Ashley Porter, Cayla Maitlen, Chelsey Trautloff, Taylor Miracle and Halee Wallace. In back, from left: Danica Sunderman, Emily Williams, Kailey Miracky, Payton Jellison, Jentri Hullinger, Hannah Ryan and Jada Perkins. (CNA photo)

Under new leadership the Southwestern Community College volleyball team looks to pick up where it left off and continue putting together a more successful season.

Casey Quiggle takes over on the bench, replacing Aleesha Cleaver who took a head coaching role at William Penn University.

The Spartans lose sophomores Ashley Kopplin, Taylor Damewood and Sydney Maynes as well as 6-3 freshman Kelcie Shields who transferred to Grand View during the offseason, following a 20-21 season a year ago.

The first-year coach has his eyes set on athleticism, defense as the Spartans continue to push the envelope.

“We’re really athletic, but we are lacking in height,” said Quiggle.

The athletic abilities of the Spartans are a staple to the kind of game play any viewer can expect to see on a night in, night out basis.

SWCC’s speed will be instrumental in keeping the Spartans in points in which opposing teams show plenty of offense.

Quiggle is looking to their defense-first approach in efforts to frustrate teams that can’t end points quickly, before SWCC can counter with its own hitters.

The starting rotation will be a 6-2 with two setters and two opposite hitters. Mainstays in that lineup will be sophomores Emily Williams, Jada Perkins, Hannah Ryan, Ashley Porter and Kailey Miracky.

Williams and Miracky will be the starting opposites. Perkins and Ryan are expected to be the outside hitters with Porter being the starting libero.

Porter was also voted team captain by her teammates.

Creston’s own Cayla Maitlen is also expected to see a significant amount of playing time as well as an outside hitter.

Quiggle added that Danica Sunderman, Jentri Hullinger and Payton Jellison all have a chance to compete for time on the floor in the middle position.

All three are local products as Sunderman is a Corning native, Hullinger is from Leon and Jellison hails from Seymour.

Another local player on the team this season is Halee Wallace from Lenox.

“It’s nice to have them (returning players) back and kind of showing leadership,” said Quiggle.

Five returnees lead SWCC into its season that has started with five consecutive losses, three of which have come in straight sets.

The most recent loss came against North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) as the team’s first conference contest by a score of 25-15, 25-19, 25-23.

As with most sports, the ICCAC features numerous talented teams and Quiggle knows that no conference matchup is ever a cakewalk.

“It’ll be interesting to see what conference play will be like. Our conference is pretty tough with Kirkwood and DMACC at the top and kind of everyone else a little bit in the middle,” said Quiggle.

The Spartans get another quick test in Coffeyville on Saturday who was ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA Div. II preseason poll.

“I’m excited to face Coffeyville. I mean a team like that that’s had success for years ... just for the girls to kind of see that level of play,” said Quiggle.

Southwestern’s first home match comes Wednesday, Sept. 5 against Iowa Central who was ranked No. 9 in the NJCAA Div. II preseason poll.

The Spartans play just eight home games this season, but Quiggle doesn’t expect the travel to wear too much on the team with the number of girls who played travel volleyball before stepping foot on campus.

As far as the head coach’s goals for the season, Quiggle thinks breaking even is the next step.

“My goal is to go over .500 and my conference goal is to finish in the top three and at the regional tournament to see what happens,” said Quiggle.