Archbishop McCarthy’s Perez is the Broward Boys’ Volleyball Coach of the Year
It’s been quite the school year for high school volleyball teams coached by Robert Perez at Archbishop McCarthy.
This past fall, Perez guided the Mavericks’ indoor girls’ team to its first ever appearance at the state final four.
Six months later, Perez was back at the state tournament, this time with the boys’ indoor team.
It was that program’s first trip to the final four since 2019 as they were seeking their first state title since 2016.
Although McCarthy fell short of that goal, it was a major step for a program inching closer to the top.
Perez is the Miami Herald’s Broward County Boys’ Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Perez guided the Mavericks to a 20-9 record with district and regional championships along the way. McCarthy earned a berth in the Class 2A state final four in Winter Haven this past May.
The Mavericks battled to four sets against Winter Park Lake Howell before losing in that round. Lake Howell went on to repeat as champs after beating Miami Belen Jesuit in the final.
But along the way, McCarthy resembled its strong teams of the past. The Mavericks won 10 consecutive matches heading into the state final, defeating rival St. Thomas Aquinas twice along the way.
Led by junior and Miami Herald Player of the Year Nicholas Castillo, McCarthy was a force down the stretch that few could slow down.
Castillo is expected to return next season as the Mavericks build toward another potential run to state under Perez’s leadership.
