Beach volleyball preview: Expanded field gives South Florida more chances for titles
Numerous Miami-Dade and Broward County schools have been playing beach volleyball for several years as a club sport.
In this, the fourth season of the Florida High School Athletic Association sanctioning the sport, it will see a boom in participation from South Florida schools.
That’s because beach volleyball expanded to three classifications this season after teams competed in only one for the first three seasons.
Some of the familiar powerhouses such as Miami Westminster Christian and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas remain among the best programs overall.
But the expansion will give an opportunity to several other schools to chase state titles.
Here’s a look at several of those contenders as teams try to make it to the state finals, which will be held May 9-10 once again on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee.
STILL THE FAVORITE
Westminster Christian, a state runner-up in 2023 and a state qualifier all three seasons since the FHSAA sanctioned the sport, is once again expected to be Dade’s top team and perhaps the best in South Florida overall.
Senior Zoey Matias, a Missouri commit, and junior Gigi Artiles, are hoping to make it a state championship double after leading the Warriors to an indoor state title last November.
The duo have been among the strongest in the state for three years and last season were the Miami Herald’s beach volleyball Players of the Year as well as splitting those honors last fall for the indoor season.
Backing up that duo are juniors Alex Washington and Lia Gonzalez. Washington is one of the breakout stars on the beach side in South Florida and Gonzalez earned first team All-Dade honors for the indoor season.
Although Vero Beach and St. Thomas are in Class 3A, the Warriors still face a challenging road in Class 1A that will include Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian and Cardinal Gibbons in their region.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
With the expansion of the sport’s classifications, more public schools in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties will be competing in the FHSAA series for the first time.
Coral Gables was the first Dade public school to start a beach volleyball program. With a year of experience in the state series, the Cavaliers will now compete in Class 3A which includes several of their fellow public schools which have started their own programs.
Junior Bianca Benson and sophomore Natasha Macau are Gables’ top pair with juniors Angelina Levi and Eva Block following as the No. 2 pair.
One team to keep an eye on in Class 2A is the Reagan Doral Bison.
Reagan is led by coach Cindy Lopez and will be led on the court by the sibling duo of seniors Aiyanna and Belle Delany, who transferred from Pinecrest Prep. Senior Jennifer Buaiz and sophomore Samira Persad are others to watch.
MORE OUTLOOKS
▪ Lourdes hopes to follow a historic season on the indoor side during which it advanced to the state final for the first time with a strong year in beach. The Bobcats are led by senior Isabella Santamaria and juniors Ellie and Emma Muniz. Seniors Amanda Rodriguez and Kaylie Cueto add depth.
▪ True North returns an experienced group looking to build off last year’s regional finals appearance. The bulk of the Titans’ roster has played together for four seasons and is led by their lone senior Sam Rodriguez, who has signed to play at Louisiana-Monroe.
▪ Carrollton returns only one senior in Luciana Lee, but has plenty of talented underclassmen which should propel the Cyclones to the postseason. Lee and sophomore Maria Fernanda Bracamontes are Carrollton’s top pair with freshman Francesca Sperman and sophomore Cristina Cuervo after that. Bracamontes is the first Cyclones player to play club beach volleyball.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons doesn’t have a lot of height, but hope their ability to control the ball takes them on a deep playoff push this season in Class 1A. The Chiefs are led by junior Ava Flores and senior Jordan O’Loughlin. Senior Catalina Sasone and junior Avery Paton are their second pair.
▪ St. Brendan figures to be one of the stronger squads in Class 2A led by junior Priscilla Sanchez and freshman Gabrielle Hernandez at the top. Junior Isabella Quijano and sophomore Kristin Sotolongo form the Sabres’ second pair.
▪ La Salle has an experienced squad led by several seniors, which could be primed to make a postseason run. Senior Grace Blanco, who has been playing beach volleyball for six years, and junior Sara Moreno lead the Royal Lions with seniors Helenn Montilla and Paola Marin adding depth to their lineup.
▪ Monsignor Pace will be led by a quartet of seniors in Carra Pierre-Louis, Maria Isabel Castillo, Valerie Delgado and Mariana Cardwell.
▪ Sagemont Prep has long had success in girls’ indoor volleyball and is trying to build something similar in beach volleyball. Sophomore Maria Bortoluzzi and senior Milani Billings lead the Lions’ top squad and are hoping for a breakout season. Sophomore Ailani Leon Billings and senior Imani Mendez are their second pair.
▪ Florida Christian is another program looking to carry over the success it has had on the indoor side to beach volleyball. The Patriots are led by indoor standout Skye Willems, a junior, who will pair up with sophomore Amelia Gomez. Senior Frances Vinuela has played beach for four years and will form Florida Christian’s second pair with junior Allison Mantecon.
▪ Western is hoping to compete for a postseason run in the new Class 3A bracket. Senior Kally Aceto is a four-year standout and will team once again with junior Carolina Olivet at the top of the Wildcats’ lineup. Seniors Emily Marier and Summer Thomas make up their second pair.
▪ Cooper City is entering its inaugural year in beach volleyball and has two seniors on its roster - Giuliana Tesone and Maya Vezina.
▪ Chaminade is looking to rebuild coming off a 1-10 season. Sophomore Ava Dinda and junior Ava Garcia are at the forefront of those efforts.
