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.
