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.

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