DePaul University Athletics
Where Are They Now Wednesday: Brittany Maxwell
9/30/2020 1:00:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Maxwell recovers from ACL surgery after her first season overseas
CHICAGO – Welcome to a fun trip down memory lane as we present a series of feature profiles known as "Where Are They Now Wednesday."
In the middle of each week as we navigate our way around a deadly pandemic, we will bring back a little normalcy into your world reminiscing about some of those favorite Blue Demon players that you cheered on in the days when we could all get loud and rowdy at a packed arena or stadium where no one ever heard of social distancing.
We will get the DePaul community and Blue Demon nation caught up on the life and times of familiar faces who brought you good vibes during their playing days in Lincoln Park.
Some continue to pursue their dream of playing in the pros, both overseas and in this country while others have launched successful careers and started raising a family of their own.
One thing they all share is a deep, abiding sense of kinship and gratitude for the impact on their lives from the DePaul experience and the willing sacrifices of coaches and athletics personnel to kick-start a successful journey while unlocking their vast potential.
We shine this week's spotlight on volleyball standout Brittany Maxwell, a three-time All-BIG EAST standout from 2015-2019.
The native of Macomb, Mich. certainly left an indelible mark on the DePaul volleyball program. Maxwell ranks fifth all-time in program history in kills with 1,457. Maxwell closed out her career with a .266 hitting percentage to finish seventh all-time in DePaul history. Â
Upon graduation and completion of her senior season, Maxwell signed a contract to play overseas in Finland for Polkky Kuusamo. In her own words, she brings you up-to-date in this Q & A session.
How many years have you played overseas?
Just half of a season.
What country are you playing in and for what team? When did or does your season start?
I'm not currently with a team, I'm recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus. I was in Finland playing for Polkky Kuusamo.
What are some of the highlights of your most recent season?
I was MVP of a match which was exciting.
Tell us about the challenges of living in another country and adapting to a different culture.
I think the hardest part was the language barrier and the adjustment to their food. American food has a lot more sugar and is more processed, so my body had a hard time adjusting to it.
Where are you living, do you have a roommate, and what's the community like where you live?
I was living in an apartment with two roommates who were also teammates. The community was a lot of young families and retired couples. Not too many people our age lived in the area.
What is the food like over there? Have you sampled any of the local cuisine and do you have a favorite?
I was able to eat a lot of French food during one of our road trips and it was delicious. Almost everything in Europe is fresh or handmade. Finnish food is good; it was just kind of plain. A lot of potatoes all the time.
What American food do you miss the most?
I honestly just missed the way we season our food. I had my mom make all of my favorite meals when I finally made it back.
Through this experience abroad, what have you come to appreciate about life in the USA?
Online shopping is so much more expensive in Europe, and not every store ships outside of the US. That was honestly the hardest thing.
How is the situation with the coronavirus in your country? What precautions are being taken to keep you healthy?
I actually left Finland right as COVID was hitting Europe hard, but they were barely affected. I think they closed their borders to non-residents but the town I lived in didn't even quarantine and I haven't seen anyone wearing masks.
How has COVID-19 affected your season?
It actually cancelled our season right before playoffs starts, but I was injured at that time so I wouldn't have played either way.
How do you keep up with the news back home---sports and otherwise? Who do you stay in contact with the most?
Social media always helps keep me in the loop. My family and my closest friends were the ones I talked to the most. I also talked a lot to my former coach, Marie and my agent Ryan.
Have you experienced homesickness? If so, how did you mitigate that feeling?
I had really bad homesickness my first couple of days, and then randomly throughout I would get homesick. The best way to mitigate it is to distract yourself. I would cook or read. I read a ton while I was in Finland.
What did you learn from your DePaul experience that is helping you now?
I think DePaul helped prepare me by getting me to a high level athletically and also instilling discipline and mental toughness in me. It's hard being in a different country where the routines and the way they handle sports medicine are so different.
What are the best memories you have of being a Blue Demon?
Honestly, spending time with my teammates was the best memory. Whether it was in the airport, at someone's dorm or house, in the van on our way to a tournament. Whatever we did, we always had fun.
What message would you pass onto current Blue Demons considering a pro career overseas?
If you can't imagine your life without your sport, and you aren't ready to give it up, go for it. My advice would be to make sure you know how to take care of yourself both mentally and physically because their philosophy for training is much different overseas than it is here.
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In the middle of each week as we navigate our way around a deadly pandemic, we will bring back a little normalcy into your world reminiscing about some of those favorite Blue Demon players that you cheered on in the days when we could all get loud and rowdy at a packed arena or stadium where no one ever heard of social distancing.
We will get the DePaul community and Blue Demon nation caught up on the life and times of familiar faces who brought you good vibes during their playing days in Lincoln Park.
Some continue to pursue their dream of playing in the pros, both overseas and in this country while others have launched successful careers and started raising a family of their own.
One thing they all share is a deep, abiding sense of kinship and gratitude for the impact on their lives from the DePaul experience and the willing sacrifices of coaches and athletics personnel to kick-start a successful journey while unlocking their vast potential.
We shine this week's spotlight on volleyball standout Brittany Maxwell, a three-time All-BIG EAST standout from 2015-2019.
The native of Macomb, Mich. certainly left an indelible mark on the DePaul volleyball program. Maxwell ranks fifth all-time in program history in kills with 1,457. Maxwell closed out her career with a .266 hitting percentage to finish seventh all-time in DePaul history. Â
Upon graduation and completion of her senior season, Maxwell signed a contract to play overseas in Finland for Polkky Kuusamo. In her own words, she brings you up-to-date in this Q & A session.
How many years have you played overseas?
Just half of a season.
What country are you playing in and for what team? When did or does your season start?
I'm not currently with a team, I'm recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus. I was in Finland playing for Polkky Kuusamo.
What are some of the highlights of your most recent season?
I was MVP of a match which was exciting.
Tell us about the challenges of living in another country and adapting to a different culture.
I think the hardest part was the language barrier and the adjustment to their food. American food has a lot more sugar and is more processed, so my body had a hard time adjusting to it.
Where are you living, do you have a roommate, and what's the community like where you live?
I was living in an apartment with two roommates who were also teammates. The community was a lot of young families and retired couples. Not too many people our age lived in the area.
What is the food like over there? Have you sampled any of the local cuisine and do you have a favorite?
I was able to eat a lot of French food during one of our road trips and it was delicious. Almost everything in Europe is fresh or handmade. Finnish food is good; it was just kind of plain. A lot of potatoes all the time.
What American food do you miss the most?
I honestly just missed the way we season our food. I had my mom make all of my favorite meals when I finally made it back.
Through this experience abroad, what have you come to appreciate about life in the USA?
Online shopping is so much more expensive in Europe, and not every store ships outside of the US. That was honestly the hardest thing.
How is the situation with the coronavirus in your country? What precautions are being taken to keep you healthy?
I actually left Finland right as COVID was hitting Europe hard, but they were barely affected. I think they closed their borders to non-residents but the town I lived in didn't even quarantine and I haven't seen anyone wearing masks.
How has COVID-19 affected your season?
It actually cancelled our season right before playoffs starts, but I was injured at that time so I wouldn't have played either way.
How do you keep up with the news back home---sports and otherwise? Who do you stay in contact with the most?
Social media always helps keep me in the loop. My family and my closest friends were the ones I talked to the most. I also talked a lot to my former coach, Marie and my agent Ryan.
Have you experienced homesickness? If so, how did you mitigate that feeling?
I had really bad homesickness my first couple of days, and then randomly throughout I would get homesick. The best way to mitigate it is to distract yourself. I would cook or read. I read a ton while I was in Finland.
What did you learn from your DePaul experience that is helping you now?
I think DePaul helped prepare me by getting me to a high level athletically and also instilling discipline and mental toughness in me. It's hard being in a different country where the routines and the way they handle sports medicine are so different.
What are the best memories you have of being a Blue Demon?
Honestly, spending time with my teammates was the best memory. Whether it was in the airport, at someone's dorm or house, in the van on our way to a tournament. Whatever we did, we always had fun.
What message would you pass onto current Blue Demons considering a pro career overseas?
If you can't imagine your life without your sport, and you aren't ready to give it up, go for it. My advice would be to make sure you know how to take care of yourself both mentally and physically because their philosophy for training is much different overseas than it is here.
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Players Mentioned
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