Aubrey Deverick Shines at Sandburg’s Senior Night

Aubrey Deverick, a junior outside hitter for Sandburg, prefers allowing her performance to speak for itself. She admits singing isn’t her strong suit. Despite this, Deverick took center stage with a microphone during the team’s senior night to sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ alongside underclassmen. ‘We got the idea from watching other teams do it during games,’ Deverick explained. ‘I might not sing well, but the others can hold a tune.’ Coach David Vales agreed, noting their performance exceeded expectations. ‘They assured me they sang regularly and were capable. I needed them to take it seriously and show respect for the anthem, and they did,’ Vales said, adding they delivered flawlessly without prior practice.

On the court, Sandburg excelled, securing a 25-12, 25-21 victory against Bradley-Bourbonnais in the SouthWest Suburban Conference in Orland Park. Deverick contributed significantly with four kills and an ace. Bella Maras led with nine kills and three blocks. Mya Slowikowski achieved six kills, and Ellery Dyra added five. For Bradley, Harper Yuska finished with four kills and Olivia Woolman added three.

Sandburg had a 21-12 lead in the second set, which slipped to 22-21 before Deverick’s kill clinched the gap and restored momentum. ‘Our team came out strong for senior night, full of emotion,’ said Deverick. ‘Though it got close, execution paid off.’

The 5-foot-10 Deverick, initially playing as a right-side hitter in her sophomore year, transitioned to outside hitter this season. ‘She’s vital for us,’ Vales stated, noting Maras often receives the spotlight, but Deverick maintains control and makes decisive plays. Two years ago, Vales saw potential in Deverick but opted to keep her developing on the freshman team. ‘Remaining at the proper level helps in developing leadership,’ Vales said. ‘Early promotions can hinder leadership growth since players are usually guided by veterans.’

Maras, who considers playing college sand volleyball but gains attention from both indoor teams, commended Deverick. ‘Her energy uplifts the team. It’s enjoyable being around her and the others.’ Nevertheless, the season has been tough for Sandburg. ‘We hoped for a better record, yet faced strong competition,’ Vales mentioned. ‘There’s time to improve as we aim for resilience.’ Deverick expressed readiness for the team to progress, saying, ‘We need to move past this phase and push forward.’

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.