Revere boys volleyball team sets eyes on another GBL title in 2024

By Dom Nicastro

As the first serves of the 2024 season arc over the net, the Revere High School boys volleyball team looks to build on an already impressive legacy. At the heart of this quest is veteran coach Lianne O’Hara Mimmo, who carries over two decades of teaching and coaching wisdom onto the court. With a track record that speaks volumes – capturing their first Greater Boston League (GBL) title just last season – the Patriots have set the bar high for what promises to be a thrilling journey.

O’Hara Mimmo, who sparked life into the boys program four years ago, has shaped a team known not just for its on-court prowess but for its off-court character. This season, alongside a roster brimming with potential, she faces the unique challenge of blending seasoned leaders with young talent hungry to make their mark.

As the Patriots braced for their season opener this week against Lynn English, we sat down with Coach O’Hara Mimmo to delve into the team’s preparation, highlight the stars of the squad and explore the goals that will define their 2024 campaign.

  Advocate: Years coaching for you in this position/your coaching background:

O’Hara Mimmo: I taught in Revere for 21 years and have been coaching almost all of them. I coached the girls program for six years and began another degree and didn’t think I would have the time to do both. I am trying to do both this boys season. I started the boys program four years ago. Last year, in our third year, we were able to capture the first GBL league title.

  Advocate: What are your team’s main goals for this upcoming season?

O’Hara Mimmo: Our main goal is to improve every day; ultimately, they’d like to win another GBL title, but know we have some tough competition.

Advocate: Can you share some highlights or key achievements from the last season?

O’Hara Mimmo: Going 16-4 in the regular season, winning the GBL title, having the GBL MVP and three league all-stars.

Advocate: How has the team prepared in the offseason to tackle the challenges of the new season?

O’Hara Mimmo: We played fall ball at O’Bryant High School. We had weekly open gyms; many played club volleyball during the winter season.

Advocate: How many players on the final rosters for all levels?

O’Hara Mimmo: Varsity has 10 with three players that will swing to play JV games; 10 on JV and six on the freshman team.

Advocate: Who are some players to watch this season, and what makes them stand out?

O’Hara Mimmo: Our returning senior captain Ruben Rodriguez will be a key player in our system this year. He has been playing since his freshman year of high school and has competed in two seasons of club volleyball. He excels at the outside hitter position and his defense is one of the best on the team.

Kawan Dias and Lucas Jiminez are junior front-row attackers, and this will be their second season on the varsity team. We will be relying on their blocking and spiking skills as the season continues.

We have a large class of sophomores that will play an integral role. Our two setters Larry Claudio and Isaac Portillo are tasked with running our offense this season as well as contributing defensively as well. Chris Choc Chavez is a returning defensive specialist, and Juan Perez Aristizabal is developing as an outside attacker as well.

Advocate: Tell me about the captains and what they bring.

O’Hara Mimmo: Ruben Rodriguez is the solo captain right now. He is knowledgeable, vocal and a driving force in the success of our program in three short years.

Four other athletes are completing “The Team Captain’s Leadership Manual” and will assist Ruben with the leadership task.

Advocate: Are there any promising newcomers on the team that you believe will make a significant impact?

O’Hara Mimmo: We have a couple of freshmen who will practice with varsity but will play on game day with the JV squad. They are Joao Almeida and Omar Solano Garcia. Both have great potential and volleyball instincts.

Advocate: How do you foster leadership and teamwork among the players, especially with the mix of veterans and new talent?

O’Hara Mimmo: My captains must read “The Team Captain’s Leadership Manual” by Jeff Janssen. They must also conduct interviews focused on character, composure, confidence and commitment. During the summer and preseason, our athletes are given the opportunity to lead open gym and drills during the season. I expect my captains to be extensions of me on the court, so during each huddle they should be communicating with the team about things to fix, strategy and giving energy and spirit.

Advocate: What would you say is your team’s greatest strength and biggest challenge this season?

O’Hara Mimmo: Greatest strength would be commitment and chemistry. Biggest challenge is that we are undersized.

Advocate: How do you plan to address any identified weaknesses or challenges?

O’Hara Mimmo: We have been working on different strategies to score and being better defensively. If we can improve our serving consistency and speed, other teams would struggle to hang with us.

Advocate: Are there any teams in the league that you see as your main rivals? Who looks good in the league?

O’Hara Mimmo: We love playing with and competing against Malden. Our boys often show up to each other’s open gyms, and the compete level is high; they have a great team and program.

Advocate: What do you enjoy most about coaching this team?

O’Hara Mimmo: This group of boys are hardworking, have high energy and love to play volleyball. The team chemistry is good and improving every day.

Advocate: How has the team evolved under your leadership, and what are your long-term goals for the team?

O’Hara Mimmo: We started off our program during the Covid year, and we ended up going 11-4 in the first season; second season we went 14-7 and last season we went 16-4 in the regular season. We’re looking to improve each season, develop players and build confidence.

Revere boys volleyball roster

1 Isaac Portillo

3 Kawan Dias

4 Lucas Jiminez

5 Jacob Lopez

8 Ruben Rodriguez

9 Melih Yilmaz

10 Christopher Choc Chavez

11 Rayan Echelh

12 Medhi Echelh

14 Joao Almeida

16 Juan Perez

30 Omar Solano Garcia

Preston Kimemiah