CIF honors Downey High volleyball player and coach

Downey High coach of the year Robert McCarthy. Photos courtesy DUSD

DOWNEY – On June 11, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced that Downey High School student athlete and recent graduate, Matthew Brito, was named the Boys Volleyball CIF Division 3 Player of the Year. 

Along with this accolade, DHS boys volleyball head coach Robert McCarthy was named CIF Division 3 Coach of the Year.

Matthew Brito

Brito was the 2017-18 DHS boys volleyball team captain, assisting the team in winning the San Gabriel Valley League Championship and ultimately taking the helm to bring home the title of CIF Southern Section Division 3 Boys Volleyball Champions.

A 6-foot 6-inch middle blocker, Brito will have his jersey retired and hung in the DHS Hall of Fame along with other Vikings who have received CIF recognition.

Finishing the San Gabriel Valley League play undefeated, McCarthy has led the Vikings to countless victories since being named head coach in 2016. He has coached various successful college and high school volleyball teams prior to joining Downey unified, 10 of those teams being ranked in the top 20 in California.

McCarthy will continue his journey at DHS with the main goal of winning another CIF championship title next season and Brito will be attending Long Beach City College in the fall.