Even at home, Lockport’s Evan Dziadkowiec always seems to have a volleyball in his hands.
That’s a good starting point, but it’s not the only reason why the 6-foot-2 senior is considered to be an elite setter. He studies film. And he works at his craft as much as he can in the Porters’ gym.
“Day in and day out,” Dziadkowiec said about how much and how often he tries to get his sets in. “I have hundreds of volleyballs at home and I always have one in my hand.”
Do those sets ever hit the ceiling?
“If I do that, I get yelled at,” Dziadkowiec said.
Has he ever broken anything?
“Maybe once or twice,” he said, smiling. “But I don’t think my parents know anything about that.”
Dziadkowiec, who broke onto the scene as a freshman, heads into his senior season with 1,872 career assists. This spring, he has a chance to break into the state’s top 20 for career assists.
That list that includes Jordan Vidovic (Brother Rice) and Kyle Exline (Oak Lawn). Vidovic is the boys and girls volleyball coach for Marist, while Exline is the men’s volleyball coach at NCAA Division III power North Central College.
NCC, Loras and Carthage, three teams ranked in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, all have been recruiting Dziadkowiec.
While opposing coaches in the south suburbs may bemoan that Dziadkowiec has seemingly been around forever, he confirmed that his high school career has moved along rapidly.
“Blink of an eye,” Dziadkowiec said. “I remember being told my freshman and sophomore year to enjoy it while it lasts because it goes by fast. I didn’t really believe it at first.
“But now that I’m here, it’s gone by incredibly fast.”
Lockport’s Evan Dziadkowiec (15) sets the ball against Lincoln-Way East during a SouthWest Suburban Conference match in Lockport on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
It also has gone by fast for Lockport coach Nick Mraz.
“It’s our last go here,” Mraz said of his setter’s tenure. “He’s been running the show since his freshman year. He is a competitor and wants to win, and it’s a great energy to have in the gym.”
Mraz believes Dziadkowiec is one of the top two senior setters and one of best overall in the state. He has been a perennial all-state selection and twice was named first team by the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association.
“He is a full package,” Mraz said. “He has all of the skills. It’s impressive what he can do.”
Between club volleyball with Frankfort-based Ultimate and playing basketball this winter for the Porters, things have been pretty busy for Dziadkowiec.
Lincoln-Way East’s Brenden Sanders (30) drives to the basket against Lockport’s Evan Dziadkowiec (30) during a SouthWest Suburban Blue game in Frankfort on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
It would have been easier on him to give up basketball, but he wanted one more season.
“Basketball was my first love and I could play that since I could walk,” he said. “I was thinking of giving it up, but I wanted to manage my time and do both. That’s a quality of growing up.
“I still love basketball, so I didn’t want to give it up just like that.”
While Lockport finished 9-21 in basketball, Dziadkowiec started at guard and enjoyed playing that sport for the last time.
In volleyball, the Porters have a ton of experience and are looking for a huge season. They will have a change of venue, however, moving from the historic gym on the Central campus to the East gym.
The boys volleyball team was the last one still playing at Central, but a ceiling collapsed and the school has been shut down.
“My first month of the season, I played here during COVID and it wasn’t that big of a problem,” Dziadkowiec said of the East campus. “We’ll be fine. Because of the memories, the other gym is more nostalgic for us.
“But we will work as hard here as we did there.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
