Aubrey Sands, Senior Group Recruiting Coach | Volleyball

University of Illinois at Chicago

[email protected]

(312) 429-4604

I am a Chicagoland native and former NCSA Student-athlete who grew up playing all different sports but fell in love with Volleyball at age 11. Being tall for my age, middle hitter was the obvious position for me, but when I stopped growing around age 15, I knew I would have to change positions if I wanted to compete at the Division 1 level. During my 16’s season, I was moved down to the second team, where I worked hard to become a successful rightside attacker. After one season of training, I was promoted back to the 1st team (Open Level) where I would go from an average middle hitter to overall Most Outstanding Attacker at Prep Classic, later helping my club team take Bronze at AAU’s.

With the help of NCSA, I received a Division 1, full-ride scholarship to the University of Illinois at Chicago to play for renowned coach, Coach Katie Schumacher Cawley (2024 NCAA National Champion, Penn State). I studied Industrial Design and Business Management. In 2012, I finished my senior season being voted the team’s Most Improved Player (after overcoming a rare medical diagnosis), received the Athletic Academic Achievement Award for having the top GPA on the team, and was named to the 2012 All-Horizon League Team. UIC finished 2nd in the Horizon League, leaving us one win shy of playing in the NCAA tournament. I was thankful to be asked back as an interim coach in 2017.

In recent years, I have coached multiple seasons at a nationally ranked Chicagoland volleyball club, 1st Alliance VBC, as well as started my own business as a multimedia designer before returning to NCSA. After 12 years in Chicago, I now call Naperville, IL home where I reside with my husband and two children. I am excited to be working as the Sr. Group Recruiting Coach for the Volleyball Program where I can help the sport of Volleyball impact your life as much as it has impacted mine! I look forward to seeing you on Zoom.