New coach sees bright future for MHS volleyball team

From tenacious defense to efficient setting to powerful hitting, first-year head coach Julia Jefferson is confident that her Maricopa High School volleyball team has what it takes to compete against the rugged opposition in the Class 4A-II East Sky Region.

“We have a good shot,” said Jefferson, who brings more than 10 years of coaching experience to Maricopa and is the owner of the AZ Heat Volleyball club team. “We’re definitely not going to be the team people walk over anymore. If they (the opponents) want to win, they’re going to have to earn it from us.”

While the Rams won just one match in 2009, Jefferson believes this year’s team has the talent, depth and work ethic to establish a new and successful tradition.

“It comes down to the fundamentals, the basic skills, as well as teamwork, the energy within the girls, the energy as a team, working together,” Jefferson said. “It is not an individual sport. Only six are on the court, but it takes all 14 girls to make it happen.

“I know our conference is tough,” Jefferson added. “But these girls want to do well. They want to play in a program that they’re proud of.”

Jefferson will rely upon senior hitters Beth Liddell and Ruby Lizarraya, along with junior Julia Dickerson, to provide the Rams with strong play on the front line.

“They’re my powerhouse hitters,” the Maricopa coach said.

Jefferson said that Liddell, Lizarraya and Dickerson bring skill, versatility and height to the area around the net.

“I’m really excited we have a very tall front line, very interchangeable,” Jefferson said.

The Rams will look to junior Chyenne Anderson and freshman Madi Byrd to provide consistency as setters, while Maricopa’s backcourt defense will be led by junior Madalina Cutajar and senior Alex Zuccarello.

Jefferson also will be looking for contributions from seniors Raili Barney and Kearsten Jensen, as well as from juniors Cori Teller, Stevana Herring, Amelia Mataele, Shinasha Bedonie and Paige Provost.

“Anyone, at any point in time, can totally step in,” Jefferson said.

In addition to the 14 members of the varsity, the volleyball program has 13 players on the JV squad and 11 on the freshman team.

“Our JV is going to be really strong, too,” Jefferson said. “We have a lot of talented sophomores on that team, and we have a lot of potential in our incoming freshmen. So our program that we’re trying to create here is starting off very well.”

The MHS volleyball team will begin the season Tuesday with a match at Buckeye Youngker. The Rams’ first home match will take place Thursday, when Apache Junction will make the trip to Maricopa.

Scheduled start times for this season’s home matches are 4 p.m. for the freshman team, 5 p.m. for the junior varsity and 6 p.m. for the varsity.

The volleyball team held a car wash and rummage sale on Aug. 21 at the Sonic Drive-In on North John Wayne Parkway to raise money for the purchase of uniforms, shoes and equipment bags.

“The team and the coaches would like to thank the Maricopa community for their support at our car wash and rummage sale,” Jefferson said. “It was a huge success. I am truly proud to be part of this community.”

Photo by Tom Kessler