By Randy Whalen
Correspondent
Coming off the worst season in program history in 2023, Sandburg was not going to settle for anything less than better results this year.
Past the midway point of this season, however, the Eagles had a record of 11-8. But they closed the regular season strong, winning 11 of their last 15 matches, including their final six, to finish 22-12 overall and 5-3 in the SouthWest Suburban Conference.
One of those wins was a 25-22, 25-23 victory at Lockport on May 16, a triumph that preventing the Porters from finishing with an undefeated conference record.
That showed what Sandburg was capable of as they head into the postseason.
“We want to click at the right time,” Sandburg coach David Vales said. “We went young last year and had some growing pains. At the beginning of the season we still had them, but it’s all starting to pay off.”
Last season, Sandburg was 18-18, ending a run of 26 full seasons with 20 or more victories that went back to the inaugural year in 1995. But playing the formidable Porters (30-5, 7-1), which had already clinched the SWSC title and is ranked No. 5 in the state by Illinois Prep Volleyball, the Eagles brought their best.
“We needed something to salvage from this season,” Vales said of getting the big win. “We needed something to hang our hats on.”
Jeremiah Aro made sure that happened as he had a match-high 12 kills and two blocks. The junior right side hitter hammered his final kill to polish off the upset.
“I kind of had a feeling that he would go to me,” Aero said of Easton Donausky’s match-winning assist. “So yeah, I wanted that moment.”
Donausky, a sophomore setter, had 23 assists against the Porters and was glad to help provide that moment.
“It felt good,” Donausky said. “I was confident in his ability.”
Seniors Myles Aquino (eight digs), Wale Opakunle (five blocks, one kill), Zach Supanich (five kills, one block) and junior JT Snider (three kills, three blocks) also contributed to the victory.
Aro was confident the Eagles could beat Lockport and believes they can keep the momentum going.
“I mean, we knew they were good, but I think we’re better,” he said. “We knew it wasn’t out of our reach. We knew we had a shared goal, we just had to play our game.
“Nothing is promised. But all I know is we will play our best and we think we have a great group.”
The Eagles are seeded No. 4 in their own sectional and opened the postseason with a 25-9, 25-13 win over Acero/Soto on May 20. The victory was Vales 400th as a boys volleyball coach.
Vales has served two stints as Sandburg boys coach (2003-2010 and 2017-2024). He has a record of 468-161 in 17 seasons (2007-23) as the Eagles girls volleyball coach.
Sandburg is scheduled to play Reavis or Hubbard at 6 p.m. May 23 in the Sandburg Regional semifinals as it seeks its 26th regional championship.
“A lot of team bonding has helped with our chemistry,” Donausky said. “At the start of the season, there were different cliques on the team, but now we’ve bonded as one big unit.
“It was really exciting beating a really good team in Lockport. Now everyone is pumped to possibly win a regional and a sectional.”