Maggie Jett has decided to step down as head coach of the Aberdeen Christian volleyball team.

In three years, Jett transformed the program into one of the best in Class B, guiding the team to its first ever state tournament this past season where the Knights finished sixth.

“She’s obviously done a really good job with the program. It’s sad to see her leave,” said Christian athletic director David Rohrbach. “Getting a team to their first state tournament, she’s obviously had success on the court, but just a really good coach. She continued to have a good rapport with the girls just on and off the court. It’s just a big loss all around.”

Jett, a former standout volleyball player herself, was able to advance the program each season as the Knights established new school records for victories each of the last two years. Christian went 24-5 this past season.

“The thing was they got better every single year that she was here,” Rohrbach said. “That’s one of the signs of a good coach is just that continual growth.”

Assistant coach Terri Fites, who came in with Jett three years ago, is stepping away from her position as well.

Rohrbach said the two made a good tandem.

“They worked so well together. People don’t realize how much time they put in year around,” he said. “They were constantly in their office game planning and figuring things out. They put so much time in. It’s a big loss losing both of them.”

This past season, the Knights were ranked for the first time in program history, defeated perennial power Northwestern in the region for the first time ever, and won a SoDak 16 match for the first time to advance to its inaugural state tournament.

“They really accomplished some cool milestones,” Rohrbach said.

A search for a new coach will begin immediately.

“I don’t know that there’s a huge rush but the search will begin right away,” Rohrbach said. “You obviously want to make sure you find a great fit both with the values of the school and also someone who will come in and continue to build upon the success of the program as well.”