Daniels and Barrios Roll to Day 2 of State Championships

VC's No. 1 beach volleyball pair of Shai Daniels and Viola Barrios rolled through the first day of the 3C2A State Pairs Championships Friday before falling in heartbreaking fashion Saturday in the Round of 16 at Mt. San Antonio. The Pirate duo won three matches, all in straight sets, in pool play before their 3-set, 2-point setback in their final contest of the year.

Daniels and Barrios, the Western State Conference champions and the No. 2 -ranked team from Southern California, came out swinging in pool play Friday.  They defeated the South No. 10 team from Palomar in the opener, 22-20, 21-17, before easily defeating the South No. 18 pair from San Diego Mesa, 21-14, 21-12. In their final match on Friday, they won against the North No. 7-seed from Feather River, 21-8, 21-13.

In Saturday's Round of 16 match, the Pirates' pair was matched up against the No. 1 team from Moorpark, who they had split with in the regular season and defeated in the WSC championship match.  Daniels and Barrios came out strong taking the first set 21-17 before dropping the second against the Raider pair 21-14. The third and deciding set was a battle with VC falling in the end 18-16.

Daniels and Barrios, who finished fifth in the state a year ago, completed one of the most successful seasons in program history. They were 30-4 on the season, including the WSC title and the runner-up finish at the Southern California Regionals.  They finished the season tied for the No. 9-ranking in the state as a pair.