When Providence’s Kaden Kaczmarek was a freshman, most of the players on his team were about the same size.
Paul Ickes, a Hall of Fame coach who was the longtime leader of Brother Rice’s program, ended up putting Kaczmarek in the middle.
“I was like ‘OK, cool, why not?” Kaczmarek said. “I’ve loved the position ever since.”
However, the 6-foot-1 Kaczmarek didn’t grow to the usual height of a middle hitter.
Still, as a senior, he’s playing a big role for the Celtics. He had 12 kills and four blocks Wednesday night during a 20-25, 29-27, 25-20 nonconference victory over Lemont in New Lenox.
Kaczmarek scored dramatic final points with kills in both the second and third games. Ethan Matton tallied seven kills and two blocks for Providence (13-13). Nico Krabbe totaled 30 assists.
Cael Whitchurch led Lemont (12-10) with eight kills and 12 assists. Michael Patino picked up seven kills and 11 assists, while Amir Biba and Lyle Winterland each had six kills.
Lemont held a 20-19 lead in the deciding game, but the Celtics scored the final six points as Kaczmarek put away four kills and Matton contributed a block and kill.
Kaczmarek doesn’t care if the player on the other side of the net is taller than he is.
“Oh, my gosh, it fuels him,” Matton said of Kaczmarek and his height. “Sometimes, I’m glad he’s on the shorter end because he brings so much fire to the offense.”
“I love going against big middles,” Kaczmarek said. “I love proving that the little guy can do it. It’s awesome. I love it.”
Providence coach Lee Rucinski wasn’t interested in having Kaczmarek switch positions.
“He’s the most undersized middle whenever we play,” Rucinski said. “But he is usually also the best middle in the gym. He’s taken over in all of our big-time matches.
“Our offense rolls through him, and when we are running good, he gets going and the defense has to worry about him. That sets up our pin hitters.”
Rucinski could see good things coming toward the end of last season in a tournament at Warren.
“He took over the entire match and had 15 kills,” Rucinski said. “When you get 15 kills from the middle, you are like, ‘OK, here it comes.’
“And it’s just taken off from there. He’s definitely been our stud from day one this year.”
Kaczmarek delivered those huge kills in the final game against Lemont, Matton, meanwhile, had three major kills in the second game after a 17-17 tie.
“We love Ethan in the front row — he puts up a solid block and he is just a consistent arm,” Rucinski said. “He’s kind of a steady Eddie, and you know what you are going to get with him.”
This is it, though, for Matton and Kaczmarek. Neither plan on playing volleyball in college.
Matton is heading to Dayton to study mechanical engineering.
While Kaczmarek was temped with interest from Dominican, he first decided to go to Saint Louis to study forensics. He then changed his mind and will major in physical therapy.
“As much as I love volleyball, I want to secure a future for myself, Kaczmarek said. “SLU is academically a great school and they have a super-strong physical therapy department.”
He said he would like to stay in sports in some capacity.
Kaczmarek is familiar with being on the patient side of physical therapy.
“I just came off a hairline fracture in my fibula and sat out two or three club tournaments,” he said. “I’ve had an underdeveloped growth plate, which hurts me when I’m swinging.
“So, working with athletes would be awesome. That would be the dream.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
