Sandburg’s Senior Night Celebration with Aubrey Deverick

On senior night, junior outside hitter Aubrey Deverick made her presence felt for Sandburg. She humorously admitted to not being a skilled singer, yet she gracefully took the stage with a microphone in hand, surrounded by underclassmen for a heartfelt rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The idea originated from watching other teams perform the anthem at games, according to Deverick. Despite her reservations about her singing prowess, others were deemed commendable.

“We thought we should do it. I’m not a good singer but the others are OK,” Deverick shared.

Coach David Vales praised the team’s effort, highlighting their commitment. He trusted his players with the pregame ceremony, and they reciprocated with seriousness and respect for the country.

“Without hearing them practice, I thought they nailed it,” Vales commented.

Deverick’s prowess extended onto the volleyball court, contributing four kills and an ace in Sandburg’s 25-12, 25-21 victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais at the SouthWest Suburban Conference match. Bella Maras led the team with nine kills and three blocks, while Mya Slowikowski added six kills and Ellery Dyra secured five. Harper Yuska delivered four kills for Bradley, complemented by Olivia Woolman’s three.

During the second game, Sandburg’s leading score of 21-12 narrowed to 22-21. Deverick’s decisive kill helped secure a win for the Eagles, offering a crucial edge.

“I feel that was good because our team came out strong for senior night and there was a lot of emotion,” Deverick noted. “It got close but we executed, so that was good.”

Deverick, standing at 5-foot-10, transitioned to varsity as a sophomore, shifting from the right to outside hitter this season.

“She’s an important player for us,” Coach Vales affirmed. “Bella takes a lot of heat and swings, but Aubrey controls the game, makes good shots, and delivers when needed.”

Two years back, instead of advancing Deverick to the sophomores or varsity, Vales chose the freshman team to nurture her leadership qualities.

“You learn leadership staying at your level before moving up,” Vales stated. “Sometimes players elevated too soon miss the leadership learning.”

Maras, contemplating college sand volleyball but attracting indoor team interest, commended Aubrey’s vibrant contribution.

“She brings a good vibe to the team,” Maras remarked. “Being around her and the other girls is fun.”

The Eagles are in search of wins amid a challenging season, facing some of the best teams both in the state and nation. Vales emphasized resilience for the players.

“There are matches we wish we could have back,” Vales reflected. “But the girls are learning resiliency, and that’s important.”

Deverick voiced optimism.

“I think that we need to get over this bump and just push through,” she expressed.

Report contributed by Jeff Vorva for the Daily Southtown.