At 5-foot-5, freshman libero Brooke Butvilas is one of the littlest fish in the pond of varsity players at Shepard.
But that’s not what she was during a recent match when Astros coach Tess Rybowiak issued a challenge.
“We were down our starting setter,” Rybowiak said. “I just told Brooke, ‘I need to you be a shark. I need you to make the choice to go.’ Defensively, that was one of the best nights I had ever seen her play. Nothing dropped on her and she made plays happen.
“That’s when I knew I made a good choice. In that moment, I could see the future. She is our future, and that night solidified it.”
Butvilas was very much delivering in the present Thursday, sparking Shepard to a 25-18, 26-24 South Suburban Red victory over visiting Evergreen Park in Palos Heights.
Millikin recruit Parker Crims led the way with seven kills for the Astros (15-7, 10-1). Jenna Powers added six kills and eight digs, while Butvilas made a team-leading 12 digs and Sarah Egan contributed 42 assists.
Fiona Buchanan paced Evergreen Park (17-10, 8-3) with eight kills and two blocks. Imani Walker tallied five kills, while Madison Majka had 11 digs and Neve Hayes added 16 assists.
For the season, Butvilas has a team-leading 83 digs. She’s also one of the Astros’ top servers with 13 aces.
The little fish became a shark in a short period of time.
“It’s been tough sometimes,” Butvilas said. “But I try to be positive for everybody else — and myself.”
Butvilas is following in the footsteps of her sister Kaila, a 2022 Shepard graduate. As a youngster, Brooke spent many nights watching the Astros in volleyball.
“It was really cool coming to see her play,” Butvilas said. “She was really good, so it was fun to watch her. I was going to be a setter like her, but I eventually came to be a libero.”
Kaila — who went on to play at Moraine Valley — provided some sound advice for her younger sister. Brooke came to summer camp with no expectations but a determined mindset.
“I worked really hard at camp,” Butvilas said. “I really tried to pay attention to the coach and be a good team player.”
She got word that she made the varsity while she was at home.
“I was in my mom’s room all night, waiting on my phone to hear something,” Butvilas said. “When I got an email from coach telling me, I was very excited.”
To those around her, Butvilas was a bit of an unknown quantity.
Crims, the team leader, didn’t know her. Neither did Rybowiak, who had just moved to the area after coaching in California.
“I met her for the first time at my first summer camp,” Rybowiak said. “I just asked her, ‘Where are you from?’ She said she was going to be an incoming freshman.
“As the camp went along, I could tell she was going to be a good contender. Not only did she pass well, but she can set as well. That puts us into a good rhythm for offense as a defensive player. With her, we can stay in system when we’re out of system. She creates those moments for us.”
Crims is most impressed by her composure. Butvilas is tough to rattle.
“She shakes off every point she doesn’t make,” Crims said. “I guess the way to describe it would be that she keeps pushing ahead. She never worries about making a mistake. And when the coach tells her to fix something, she’s going to fix it.
“Brooke is never afraid to put her body on the floor. That’s the best part about her being our libero. She’ll get down and get any ball that she can. That girl will get down and get dirty.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.