HAWTHORNE – It’s not always apparent who Maria Barreto is when she’s on the floor with the rest of the Harrison girls volleyball team.
On Wednesday, the Blue Tide and many of their fans were heard cheering on “Faustina” every time she stepped back to serve or hit the ball against Hawthorne.
“I prefer to go by my middle name,” Barreto said. “But Maria’s my real name.”
She responded to either in the aftermath of a 10-kill, 17-dig performance that helped No. 19 seed Harrison upend No. 14 Hawthorne, 23-25, 26-24, 25-23, in the first round of the Group 1 state tournament.
The Blue Tide (15-10) won a postseason match for the second straight year and advance to face No. 3 Verona in Friday’s round of 16.
