Maricopa High School head volleyball coach Jeckson Quinonez (center) with seniors (from left) Aki Buckmister, Angelina Miller, Yecksanira Quinonez and Morgan Peters. Photo by William Lange

Jeckson Quiñonez may be a new face at Maricopa High School, but he is very familiar to those who played in the district’s middle school volleyball program.

For five years, Quiñonez coached at Maricopa Wells, where the volleyball team won the league championship four times. This year, he is stepping up to coach the high school varsity team after Lashieka Holley stepped down.

“We are going to focus on the positive rather than the negative,” said Quiñonez, a native of Puerto Rico. “We are encouraging them to believe in themselves.”

The MHS varsity season starts Tuesday as Maricopa hosts Vista Grande.

He said the girls are “very receptive” to what he is teaching them. Coaching has been like changing from being the father of three daughters to the father of 40.

“I love the reaction when they try something I tell them to do and it works,” he said.

The Rams have five returning seniors. Quiñonez said the girls all understand everyone is equal when it comes time to pick his starters.

Among the upperclassmen are Morgan Peters, Angie Miller, Bailey Abel, Rosa Marrufo, Aki Buckmister and Yecksanira Quiñonez. Juniors are Chalise Bell and Lissete Duarte. Among the sophomores are McKenzie Ford, Ashleigh Tuke, Carli Rieman, Taylor Barchus and Yanishka Quiñonez.

Height has never been an asset of Maricopa volleyball teams, but they are coached not to let a little opposing height bother them.

“They have a lot of potential. This is a building year,” the coach said. “We have strong hitters, strong setters, and they are passionate about the game.

“That’s the most important thing, that fire.”

Jeckson Quiñonez said he wants to develop the Rams’ game to give the girls the opportunity for student success. That means putting “student” before “athlete.”

“We want everybody educated so they can be successful in the future,” Quiñonez said. “Education is the key. Sports helps.”

Quiñonez is working on his master’s degree from Grand Canyon University. He played volleyball in Puerto Rico, where he was a cop for 10 years. He moved to Maricopa in 2006 after his siblings convinced him to follow them. Three of them are in the U.S. Air Force and have since had to move away.

But Jeckson found a home in Maricopa building the volleyball program. He’s looking for passion and a good attitude in his players.

“I would rather coach an average player with a good attitude than a superstar,” Quiñonez said.

He wants the Rams to be more confident in themselves, be more aggressive and not afraid to hit the ball.

“They work well together,” he said. “We are in for a good season.”

Volleyball
Date        Location        Time        Opponent
Aug. 30       Maricopa        6 p.m.        Vista Grande
Sept. 1        Phoenix         6 p.m.        Paradise Valley
Sept. 6        Maricopa        6 p.m.        Mesquite
Sept. 7        Maricopa        6 p.m.        McClintock
Sept. 8        Glendale        6 p.m.        Glendale
Sept. 10      Phoenix            TBA        Greenway Tournament
Sept. 13      Gilbert            6 p.m.        Williams Field
Sept. 15      Maricopa        6 p.m.        Betty H. Fairfax
Sept. 20      Maricopa        6 p.m.        Poston Butte
Sept. 21      Maricopa        6 p.m.        Casa Grande
Sept. 27      Maricopa        6 p.m.        Apollo
Oct. 3           Phoenix         6 p.m.        Sunnyslope
Oct. 4           Glendale       6 p.m.        Raymond S. Kellis
Oct. 11        Maricopa        6 p.m.        Ironwood
Oct. 13        Glendale        6 p.m.        Apollo
Oct. 18        Maricopa        6 p.m.        Sunnyslope
Oct. 20        Maricopa        6 p.m.        Raymond S. Kellis (Senior Night)
Oct. 21        Florence        TBA            Florence Invitational Tournament
Oct. 25        Tempe            6 p.m.        McClintock