Latest news with #Artiles
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Westminster Christian's Matias and Artiles are Dade Beach Volleyball Players of the Year
Westminster Christian's Zoey Matias and Gigi Artiles have been at the heart of one of the best volleyball eras in their school's history. As indoor players this past fall, they finally experienced the thrill of winning a state championship. This past May, they weren't able to repeat that feat, but put together another memorable season as they led Westminster to a state runner-up finish. Over the past couple of seasons, they formed one of the most dynamic duos on the sand that could match up with just about anyone in the state. It's fitting that for the second consecutive season, Matias and Artiles are the Miami Herald's Miami-Dade County Beach Volleyball Players of the Year. Matias, who teamed with her sister, Emily, in prior seasons, shared the award with Artiles both on the indoor and beach side. They lost only one match this season to Tampa Berkeley Prep in the state final. For the two standouts, it was their final season together as Matias is off to play college volleyball at Missouri. Artiles, who is committed to the University of Georgia, has one more season to attempt to lead Westminster Christian to its first FHSAA state championship. The Warriors had won state titles in the sport before it became sanctioned by the FHSAA in 2022. Artiles will try to end the title drought next season. And it's possible as the Warriors lose only two seniors, including Matias, and return a talented group led by Artiles as well as sophomore Alyana Cadavid and juniors Cassie Thomas, Alex Washington and Lia Gonzales.
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Westminster Christian's Guso is the Miami-Dade Beach Volleyball Coach of the Year
At schools with such a high standard like Westminster Christian has in girls' volleyball, it's hard to live up to expectations. The Warriors continually do or get really close. On the heels of a state championship season for the girls' indoor team in the fall, Westminster Christian's beach volleyball team put together an unbeaten march to the state championship match in Tallahassee in Class 1A this past May. Unfortunately for the Warriors, it ended with a loss to Tampa Berkeley Prep. But it was another example of the consistency that's made Westminster Christian one of the best programs in the sport in the state year after year. Sylvia Guso has been a part of that tradition as both a player and coach. Guso, a former University of Miami standout, has guided the Warriors to at least the state quarterfinals each season since the sport was sanctioned by the FHSAA in 2022. This season, Guso is one again the Miami Herald's Beach Volleyball Coach of the Year for Miami-Dade County. Guso took an experienced and talented team, which was led at the top by Missouri commit Zoey Matias and Georgia commit Gigi Artiles, to the top ranking in the state. Along the way, the team bonded, often saying words of encouragement such as 'together' or 'connected.' 'The whole idea is that we're playing for something bigger than just ourselves,' Guso said at the state tournament. Matias, who is the Miami Herald's Beach Volleyball Co-Player of the Year along with Artiles, graduated as did Frenchie Pazmino, who was part of the Warriors' No. 5 pair. But Westminster returns the rest of its squad led by Artiles with the hopes of securing the school's first FHSAA state title next season.
