You won’t hear much chit-chatting between sisters Emily and Zoey Matias on the beach volleyball courts.

“When we get on the court, we don’t talk very much because when we start talking, we’ll get mad at each other,” said Zoey, the younger sister by two years. “We only talk about the game or our opponents. Afterward, we can talk about whatever, but when we’re on the court, we only focus on what we need to do and win.”

They have done their share of winning the past two years as the top pair for Westminster Christian.

And after another stellar year, the Matias sisters are the Miami Herald’s Dade Beach Volleyball Players of the Year.

Emily, a senior, and Zoey, a sophomore, have been arguably the top tandem in Miami-Dade County and the state overall the past two years since the FHSAA began sanctioning the sport.

They have been the core pair that has helped the Warriors to consecutive years of success, reaching the state quarterfinals last season and then going all the way to the state championship this year before ultimately falling 3-0 to New Smyrna Beach.

“When you’re playing at the level that my and my sister get to play at, you’re playing against girls who live on the beach and are constantly playing every single day in the sand,” Emily said. “You really, really have to work.”

At least being partnered with your sister helps, right? Well, not always.

“It always starts out a little rocky because you’re sisters. You always have a tendency to fight,” Emily said. “But at least for me and her, we have a goal to win. We really want to put our differences aside. It’s like ‘OK, you’re my partner right now. You’re not my sister. We’ve got to work together and we have to win.’”

They did that for two years. Now, Emily is off to FIU while Zoey has one more year at Westminster Christian.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Emily said. “My senior year, I get to finish off with being player of the year with my little sister. Not many people get that opportunity. I’m really grateful for it.”