Sports
DeVries to Dominican: Local Volleyball Star Takes a Big Step
The Davis Senior High volleyball star could have an immediate impact at the collegiate level.
Volleyball star Rachael deVries has finally reached her goal: she is going to play college volleyball. The 5-foot-10-inch 17-year old was part of Dominican University’s five-player recruiting class announced earlier this week.
“I’m looking forward to getting to play volleyball at the collegiate level,” deVries said. “That’s been my goal since the beginning of high school, and I’ve worked really hard to get to this point.”
DeVries co-captained Davis Senior High School’s volleyball team last season while taking her academic courses at Da Vinci Charter Academy in Davis. Her experience leading the Blue Devils in her senior season was the perfect way for deVries to finish her high school career, she says.
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“My career highlight was getting to be able to be captain and starting middle blocker [my senior year],” she said. “Getting to start and playing in every single match was awesome.”
While deVries found success in high school, she will have to continue improving in order to compete at the next level. Not only will she face higher levels of competition next year, she will also be making the transition from middle blocker to right side. Although she played right side during her junior year and at times for the Gold Cal Juniors’ 17 Black club team, she knows she still has a lot to learn.
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“I’ve never had real instruction or in-depth coaching for the right side position,” deVries said. “I’m going to have to learn a whole new spot on the floor, and that is going to be a really big change for me.”
Despite the position change, deVries knows that if she puts in the proper amount of effort, she has the potential to have an impact on the Dominican volleyball team right away.
“I will be one of the only right sides that [head coach Gayle Stammer] will have available,” deVries said. “When I talked to [Stammer], she told me that if I work hard and earn my spot, I have the potential to be a starter. I’m really excited about playing for Dominican, and I hope I can have an impact this upcoming season.”