Playoff hopes still alive for MHS volleyball

The Maricopa High School volleyball team kept its playoff hopes alive Wednesday by defeating South Mountain, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20, at the Maricopa gym.

“Last night’s loss hurt,” said Ram’s head coach Julia Jefferson after the win over South Mountain. Maricopa had dropped a 3-1 decision to McClintock on the road Tuesday. The Rams are now 7-9 with two matches remaining and must win both to remain alive in the playoff hunt.

“We have to win Thursday at Mountain Pointe and Saturday at South Mountain to have a chance,” she added.

Jefferson was also excited about the victory over South Mountain, which came on Senior Night. It was the Rams’ first win in several years in their last home match, and came despite the fact that several seniors were not available to play for a variety of reasons.

Maricopa won the first set going away after battling the Jaguars even through much of the set. Leading 19-16, MHS ran off four straight points with help from a kill by Tiffany Brown and a service ace by Tatum Winter.

The second set went right down to the wire with neither team managing more than a three-point edge until a block to give the Rams the win, 25-23.

Maricopa again controlled the late stages of the third set. With the score tied at 19, MHS got a point when the ball fell among three South Mountain defenders. After the two traded kills to keep the Rams in front, 21-20, Maricopa ran off the final four points, the last on an ace, to take the set, 25-20.