Rams volleyball coach, seniors expect to contend for state championship

The Maricopa High School volleyball team has been building the program from the bottom up the past five years under head coach Julia Jefferson. This year they expect to realize the fruits of their labor and compete for the state championship. 

“When I took on the program five years ago our record was 3-14,” Jefferson said. “Since then my staff and I have been diligently building the program. We have added summer weights and conditioning, the girls have been playing club ball in their offseason and we have worked extremely hard to keep our athletes here in Maricopa.”

The team finished 9-9 last season, their best record in over a decade.

They are 1-1 through two games this season with a victory over Tempe High and a loss to Scottsdale Saguaro.

“This will be the first season since I took over the program that we will actually have a varsity team consisting of true upperclassmen,” Jefferson said. “Almost our entire varsity roster will be returning; we only lost two seniors.”

The Rams are hoping to make their first postseason appearance since 1988.

“I expect to make the playoffs and challenge for state this season,” Jefferson said. “The seniors have been working toward this opportunity since their freshman year. They have put in the hard work, sweat and tears, and now it’s time for them to feel the glory.”

The goal is simple according to senior captain Taylor Holz: “We want to make it to the state championship game.”

***ADVERTISEMENT***MHS Girls’ Volleyball 
(All matches at 6 p.m. unless noted.)
Sept. 2 @ Tempe W (3-1)
Sept. 3 @ Saguaro L (3-0)
Sept. 9 vs. Estrella Foothills 
Sept. 11 @ Casa Grande 
Sept. 13 @ Greenway Tournament (Time TBA) 
Sept. 16 @ Coolidge 
Sept. 18 @ Marcos de Niza 
Sept. 23 vs. Skyline 
Sept. 25 @ La Joya Community  
Sept. 30 @ Mountain View Marana 
Oct. 2 vs. Vista Grande 
Oct. 7 @ Canyon del Oro 
Oct. 14 vs. Flowing Wells 
Oct. 16 @ Marana (6:30 p.m.) 
Oct. 21 vs. Ironwood Ridge  
Oct. 23 vs. Catalina Foothills (Senior Night) 
Oct. 24-25 @ Florence Tournament (Time TBA) 
Oct. 30 @ Poston Butte