Dominant Westminster Christian volleyball advances to sixth consecutive state final four
Miami Westminster Christian’s girls’ volleyball team has a tradition that all of its players strive to uphold.
None of them wants to be the one to break the streak of the team making it to the state tournament.
That stretch extended to six consecutive seasons on Tuesday night after the Warriors handled visiting Doral Divine Savior 25-10, 25-17, 25-23 in the Region 4-2A final at their home gym.
“We throw out the idea to the team every year and it’s really up to the girls to buy in and keep the tradition going,” Westminster Christian coach Julie Doan said. “It’s not luck. It’s being very intentional all the time. We have a lot of experience and they don’t want to be the ones to end the streak.”
Westminster Christian (20-5) will next face Naples First Baptist (23-4) in a Class 2A state semifinal next Tuesday at either at 4 or 7 p.m. at Polk State College in Winter Haven. Should the Warriors advance, they would face either Ocala Trinity Catholic or Clearwater Central Catholic in the championship game on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
With Westminster extending its streak of state tournament appearances, it will now try to snap a different streak should they advance to the state final for the sixth consecutive time. The Warriors hope to secure their first state title since 2016 and snap a stretch of five consecutive state runner-up finishes.
Westminster Christian hopes its experienced group, which has dropped only one set during three regional matches, will be the one to get it done.
More performances like Tuesday’s dominant win could make it happen.
The Warriors graduated only three players from last year’s squad. Senior and Missouri commit Zoey Matias and junior Gigi Artiles once again anchored the effort both up front and on the defensive end.
Matias, a four-year starter for the Warriors, finished with 17 kills, 21 digs and five assists while Artiles had 21 kills, 16 digs and five aces.
Doan celebrated Matias’ development as the trusted leader of the team on and off the court.
“We trust her and just tell her let it rip,” Doan said. “We know she can make the right calls and the right play at the right time.”
Juniors Chloe Garcia and Alex Washington were huge in terms of setting up hitters as they finished with 27 and 24 assists respectively. Garcia also had nine digs and three blocks while Washington had 10 digs.
Before Tuesday’s game, Washington committed to the University of Oregon to play beach volleyball. Washington has been a key contributor for three seasons for Westminster’s indoor and beach squads.
Also for the Warriors, Lia Gonzalez had seven kills and six digs, Alyana Cadavid had five kills, five digs and two aces, Dani Arroyo had three kills and six digs and Cassie Thomas had 11 digs, three assists and three aces.
