Southwest’s Perez and Diaz are the Miami-Dade Boys’ Volleyball Coaches of the Year

Andre Fernandez
·2 min read
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Southwest Miami’s boys’ volleyball program has been about tradition for over two decades.

The Eagles have had several alums direct their teams to success in recent years dating back to their first state championship team in 2003.

The main architect of that first title and their second one in 2008, joined with a young coach on the rise, played a vital role in helping Southwest end its state championship drought.

With longtime coach Mauricio Diaz back on the sideline, joined by Joshua Perez, the Eagles broke through and won their first state title in 15 years and third for the program - a county record.

Diaz and Perez watched as their team led on the court by Diaz’s son, Juanmarco, who is the Miami-Dade County Player of the Year, went 28-2 and finished the season on an 18-match winning streak. The Eagles also won their first GMAC title in five seasons, and avenged their only two losses to Miami Belen Jesuit and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons along the way, beating the latter in four sets in the state championship match.

The duo helped guide Southwest through a tough start this season in which they dealt with injuries to other key players and therefore are the Miami Herald’s Co-Coaches of the Year for Miami-Dade County boys’ volleyball.

Juanmarco Diaz’s return from a broken tibia and fibula he suffered last season during his freshman year was the catalyst for the Eagles’ run. Diaz’s skills as an outside, middle and as a setter where he totaled over 600 assists pushed Southwest to a higher level.

Once the Eagles were at full strength by mid-April, their attack clicked on the court resulting in multiple dominant victories.

Southwest developed a strong core led by senior libero Alejandro Leon and hitters Marlon Albornoz, Andrew Ovalle and Mitchell De Leon as well as setter Erick Pinzon.

Southwest returns Diaz, Albornoz and Ovalle next season hoping to reload for a run at what would be back-to-back state titles for the first time in program history.