CRESTON, Iowa — The countdown to another season of Southwestern Community College volleyball is nearly complete.
In early August, the Spartan volleyball team will report to campus to begin preseason practices, marking the start of a new chapter for the program under first-year head coach Alyssa Jeffrey and assistant coach Madisyn Havermann.
With a blend of returning student-athletes and newcomers eager to make an impact, the opening weeks of preseason will focus on building chemistry, establishing the team's identity, and preparing for a challenging 2026 schedule.
Jeffrey takes over the Spartan program after building a reputation as an energetic leader with a passion for player development and creating a competitive team culture. She emphasizes accountability, communication, and daily improvement while helping student-athletes reach their potential both on the court and in the classroom.
Joining Jeffrey on the sidelines is Havermann, whose collegiate playing experience and enthusiasm for mentoring student-athletes provide another valuable resource for the Spartans. Together, the coaching duo brings fresh energy and a shared vision as they prepare Southwestern for the upcoming season.
"We have a returning group who is hungry for success and freshman who are ready to get in the gym and compete." Jeffrey said. "Practices kick off with 3 a days, focusing on skill development, building trust, competing against and with each other, and holding ourselves to the Spartan volleyball standards we have set."
The Spartans will have little time to settle in before opening competition later in August. Southwestern begins the season at the Opening Weekend Tournament in Rockford, Illinois, before continuing its early-season road schedule against quality NJCAA competition.
The home schedule begins Wednesday, Sept. 2, when the Spartans welcome Iowa Lakes Community College to Creston for their home opener inside the Student Center gymnasium. The home slate also includes several Iowa Community College Athletic Conference matchups as Southwestern looks to continue building momentum throughout conference play.
Throughout August, the coaching staff will emphasize conditioning, team chemistry, and establishing the competitive standard they expect throughout the season. Fans will also get their first opportunity to meet many of the program's new faces as practices begin and the excitement surrounding the fall sports season returns to campus.
With a new coaching staff leading the way and a motivated roster preparing for the challenges ahead, anticipation continues to build as Spartan volleyball officially returns to the court.
The complete 2026 Southwestern volleyball schedule, including match times and live streaming information, is available on the Southwestern Spartans athletics website.