Junior outside hitter Aubrey Deverick prefers to let her athletic performance speak for her at Sandburg. While she admits singing isn’t her strength, she took the microphone on senior night to lead her teammates in ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ ‘We got the idea from watching other teams do it, and even though I’m not the best singer, our team did well,’ Deverick shared.
Eagles coach David Vales supported the idea, emphasizing the importance of taking the pregame ceremony seriously to honor the country. ‘Without even hearing them practice, they did great,’ Vales said.
Deverick also played a significant role during the match, achieving four kills and an ace, contributing to Sandburg’s 25-12, 25-21 victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais in the SouthWest Suburban Conference. Bella Maras led with nine kills and three blocks. Mya Slowikowski added six kills, and Ellery Dyra five, while Harper Yuska registered four kills for Bradley.
Despite losing a second-game lead, Sandburg held on, thanks to a key kill from Deverick. ‘It was an emotional night, but we executed well,’ Deverick remarked.
The 5-foot-10 Deverick was a sophomore varsity promotion, initially playing on the right side but transitioning to outside hitter this season. Coach Vales values her contributions. ‘Aubrey controls the game, makes strong shots, and plays her part perfectly.’ Her development was strategic, as Vales initially placed her on the freshman team to nurture leadership skills.
Maras, eyeing a future in college sand volleyball, praised Deverick’s team energy: ‘Aubrey’s vibe uplifts everyone.’
The Eagles have had a challenging season, with Vales aiming for better results. ‘We’ve faced top teams, and the focus is on learning resiliency,’ he stated. Deverick believes they’re ready to turn the season around. ‘We need to push through and make an impact.’
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