Maitlen returns home to guide Spartans

Creston native Brianna Maitlen has returned home to take on the challenge of rebuilding Southwestern Community College volleyball.

It’s no small task, but Maitlen isn’t a stranger to rebuilding efforts. She spent the last six years in Sioux City working as a middle school counselor and a volleyball and track coach at Sioux City West High School.

West struggled through seasons of 1-27, 4-25 and 6-14 during her first three seasons as an assistant coach. Her three teams as head coach went 12-13, 16-10 and 14-12 before accepting the full-time volleyball coaching position at Southwestern in January. She finished the school year in the counseling position while also beginning to put her Spartan team together.

Maitlen was on a track and field scholarship at Northwest Missouri State University after a stellar four-sport career in Creston. She was the school’s 2013 Outstanding Female Athlete as a versatile jumper and sprinter in track with four state meet appearances.

Maitlen was also second on her Creston volleyball team in digs and kills with a 90% serving percentage, and was a varsity regular in both basketball and softball.

While track and field earned her a college scholarship, her passion for volleyball never waned. Her assistant coach at SWCC will be her sister Cayla, a Spartan volleyball player on the 2018 and 2019 teams. Cayla Maitlen is in her second year as a teacher at Creston Community Elementary School.

The daughter of Steve and the late Sue Maitlen, Brianna has several family members in Creston. One of them, sister-in-law Caitlyn Maitlen (executive director of SWCC Education Foundation), first contacted her about the volleyball opening after the coach that was hired to succeed Taylor Shipley resigned in late 2023 shortly after accepting the position. The program was in danger of being suspended for a year without a coach.

“Cait told me they had hired a coach from Texas after coach Shipley resigned, but that person had backed out,” Maitlen said. “I had been in my position at the (Sioux City) middle school for six years, and when I heard about the opening I thought it would be a chance to be close to family again, and a great challenge coaching the sport I love.”

Maitlen gained valuable experience at West High School in a similar rebuilding project.

“I won a lot in track and I knew I could go higher in scholarships for that,” Maitlen said. “But, volleyball is a sport I love as well. It just has so many aspects to it. Your feet and body have to be at the right angle, you have to be able to read the other side of the court. You have to create plays to get around their blocks and see what’s open. It’s a fast-paced game and that’s what I love.”

Rebuilding effort

Like at West High, Maitlen knows a turnaround won’t magically happen overnight on the court named after legendary SWCC coach Rita Schroeder. In fact, she has Schroeder in mind in trying to establish a successful culture in her hometown.

“I still remember going to Rita’s camps as a kid, going to their games and meeting those girls,” Matilen said. “I want to get the program back to something like that in this community and get people wanting to come out and watch us.”

Southwestern has languished in recent seasons, far from the national tournament contention of Schroeder’s Spartan squads often built from her southwest Iowa camp participants. Southwestern has gone 17-121 over the past five seasons, including 3-20 last year with a 1-10 mark in ICCAC play. The previous two years were 2-25 and 3-26.

“I want to build their confidence,” Maitlen said. “We have talented girls. They just need to have a coach who believes in them and have confidence in themselves. We will look to have fun on the court and show our love for the sport. I want to build a family atmosphere, on and off the court.”

Current roster

Only three sophomores return along with eight freshmen on this year’s team that opens the season Saturday in Columbus, Nebraska, against Central Community College and Southeast Community College of Nebraska. The home opener is a league match Sept. 4 against Southeastern (Iowa).

Beatriz Goncalves of Brazil returns as a setter and right side hitter, but she injured a knee in a scrimmage Monday and may sit out some early competitions. The other sophomores are defensive specialist Emily Strait and outside hitter Sophie Lyle.

Freshman outside hitter Audrey Boban of East Mills was recruited by outgoing coach Shipley, but the other seven freshmen were brought in by Maitlen. Taking the job late, she wasn’t able to physically observe players much in high school or club tournaments, so most connections were made on scouting and recruiting applications.

“Cayla and I have already talked about getting out to see teams play on our off weekends this year,” Maitlen said.

With Goncalves possibly sidelined for awhile, the setting duty falls on freshman Cadence Perkins of Bedford.

Strait returns as the back row defensive leader, joined by quick passer Ruby Hernandez-Clavell and Crystle Cordero of Texas.

Middle hitters expected to bring a lot of firepower to the front row are 6-2 Whitney Hollins of Aurora, Colorado and 6-0 Skyelar Lawal of Miami, Florida. Maitlen said Hollins’ brother played basketball at Southwestern and the family loved the experience.

“We’ll run much of our offense through those two, and we’re working with different rotations at outside and right side hitters,” Maitlen said.

She knows there will be some bumps in the road in trying to establish a program. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in coaching and sports psychology; as well as a master’s degree in education and school counseling, she will use that experience in her day-to-day efforts.

“Several of our players want to go on and play at four-year schools,” Maitlen said. “One of my huge goals is for them to improve themselves, and not just worry about wins and losses. We’re going to play with energy. We’re working a lot on mental toughness, to throw that last error away. It’s a huge momentum game. I’m excited to get started!”

Roster

Sophomores — Sophie Lyle, 5-9, OH/OPP, Pella; Beatriz Goncalves, S/OPP, 5-10, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Emily Strait, DS/L, 5-7, Fountain Green, Utah.

Freshmen — Audrey Boban, OH/DS, 5-9, Glenwood (East Mills); Skyelar Lawal, MH, 6-0, Miami, Florida; Carly Roberts, MH/OPP, 5-9, Stanton; Ruby Hernandez Clavell, S/DS, 5-2, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; Cadence Perkins, S/OPP, 5-7, Bedford; Crystle Cordero, DS/L, El Paso, Texas; Danica Chamberlain, OH/OPP, 5-8, Waterloo; Whitney Hollins, MH, 6-2, Auroro, Colorado.