Aquinas’ Bear and Zayas are the Broward Beach Volleyball Players of the Year
Both Emma Bear and Violette Zayas enjoyed the freedom that playing beach volleyball brought them as competitors.
While both were familiar with the indoor game, they enjoyed the challenge of covering more of the court and relying on themselves as a duo to secure victory.
It’s why the two became a force on the overall St. Thomas Aquinas squad this past season, leading the Raiders to the state championship match in Class 3A.
Zayas, a senior, and Bear, a junior, are the Miami Herald’s Broward County Beach Volleyball Players of the Year.
“The freedom and more touches on the ball attracted me to the sport,” Zayas said. “Beach volleyball has more responsibility, and I feel it’s more fun because you have the entirety of the court. It’s just you and your teammate.”
Zayas, who is headed to FIU, and Bear, a junior, have both been standouts on Aquinas’ indoor girls’ volleyball team. They stood out even more on the beach volleyball side as the top pair for the Raiders, who made it to the state championship game for the first time.
The duo put together a 17-2 record in their matches this season while leading the Raiders to district and regional titles.
Only a 3-0 loss to Neptune Beach Fletcher kept Aquinas from claiming its first state championship in Class 3A.
“I started with indoor volleyball, but when I switched to beach volleyball, I felt more at peace with the sport,” Bear said. “Playing this sport is about you and you can pick your partner and you always get to play.”
Bear returns next season, along with a talented core of juniors, which includes Dior Ferguson, Alexa Raymond and Isabella Vergara as they try to lead the Raiders to that elusive first state championship.
