NIACC to celebrate 50 years of volleyball
How it all started?
Joyce Jefson was the first-ever volleyball coach at NIACC, but she doesn't take the credit for getting the volleyball program, which is in its 50th season, started back in 1973.
Jefson instead gives credit to the players on that first-ever squad instead of herself, who at the time was a recent graduate of Sioux Falls College.
"We had a whole bunch of kids from Mason City High School that came to NIACC," Jefson recalled in a recent interview. "I played two years of volleyball at Sioux Falls College.
"It was nothing like the game today. That group from Mason City High School were the core of the team and some others came in, too. They knew so much about volleyball. I was actually just a facilitator."
The NIACC volleyball 50th anniversary celebration (1973-2023) is set for Friday in conjunction with the NIACC volleyball tournament, which is Friday and Saturday in the NIACC gym.
"We are looking forward to celebrating 50 years of NIACC volleyball," current NIACC head volleyball coach Chris Brandt said. "There is something special about the opportunity to share the love of our sport with the amazing alumni who have helped build our legacy.
"We often say 'Trojans For Life' meaning that the time you spend here is an opportunity to grow on and off the court, meet amazing people along the way and continue the journey that begins at NIACC."
That first NIACC volleyball team consisted of Jan Groff, Patty Kiss, Nancy Lichman, Cindy Logan, Amy Modderman, Denise Mott, Jill Patterson, Sue Volk and Della Weaver.
Jefson, who lives in Forest City, was a resident counselor at NIACC when she also became the school's volleyball coach.
"My major in college was physical education," Jefson said, "and when I got out of school jobs were really tight. They weren't too available."
Gus Brandt was the NIACC athletic director at the time.
"He was amazing," Jefson said. "He really encouraged me to get the program going."
The scheduling of matches back in 1973 was tough to compile.
"I just got on the phone and starting calling schools," Jefson said. "I think we had one home match just because we didn't even have a volleyball court.
"I just called all over. Anybody that said they had a team, we'd play. We'd play smaller schools and we did play Iowa State and we beat them and I remember that their coach was really upset."
Jefson was the coach of the NIACC volleyball team for two years. She went back to school to get a degree in English and taught English in different parts of the world before settling in Colorado.
But Jefson continued to follow the sport of volleyball and women's sports in general. She mentioned the Nebraska volleyball team playing a match in front of a record 92,003 fans in the Cornhuskers' football stadium on Aug. 30.
"I don't know if you saw the other night with Nebraska volleyball," Jefson said. "That was amazing. That's what's really happening."
And she still has fond memories of her time as coach of the first-ever NIACC volleyball team.
"It was great," she said. "I feel like I owe them my apologies, because I really didn't know a whole lot about volleyball.
"I'm just being very honest. It was such a beginning. I just have really good memories. They were a super group of kids. I wish I knew then what I know now. We had a great start to the program and it's on the kids."
On Friday, all former NIACC volleyball players in attendance will be recognized before the start of the Trojans' 6:10 p.m. match against Western Iowa Tech.
"This event represents the journey for our team, college, alumni, coaches and families of NIACC volleyball all coming together to share memories, fun stories, hugs and photos," Brandt said. "We couldn't do the wonderful things we are able to do today without the foundation of the last 50 years.
"We humbly thank all who helped in the journey and proudly accept the responsibility of continuing the legacy for another 50 years of NIACC volleyball."