Notice: Trying to get property 'post_title' of non-object in /home/ofzfvenynm4q/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-rss-feed-to-post/includes/wprss-ftp-display.php on line 109
After one of several successful diving digs Thursday night by Lockport junior Kevin Rodriguez, one of his teammates yelled out “all-state libero.”
Even though Rodriguez has made those type of big plays the past couple of years, he can still make the Porters’ jaws drop, according to junior right-side hitter Josh Bluhm.
“He gets to every ball that you wouldn’t think anyone would get to,” Bluhm said. “People are like swinging the ball at 50 mph, and he’s just making the play like it’s nothing.
“I’m still amazed every single day.”
Rodriguez and Bluhm helped host Lockport end an amazing stretch of 15 matches during a 17-day period with a dominant 25-6, 25-10 nonconference victory over Oak Lawn.
Rodriguez led the Porters (12-3) with seven digs and a pair of aces, while Bluhm had eight kills and four aces. Nate Nacino added six kills and Evan Dziadkowiec tallied 18 assists and three aces.
Simon Komperda paced Oak Lawn (6-6) with three kills.
Lockport coach Nick Mraz was not the one from the bench saying that Rodriguez should be all-state, but come the end of the season, he will be making that argument.
“Other coaches see it as well,” Mraz said. “If he’s not an all-state player at the end of the season, we’re not showing liberos the respect they deserve.
“We’re so lucky to have him just to watch him. He moves so well and covers so much of the floor. Nothing hits the floor. We almost take it for granted he is going to get to every ball.”
The 5-foot-8 Rodriguez played basketball and was a setter in grade school.
But in coming to the realization that he wasn’t going to grow any more, Rodriguez made a career decision to give up basketball and focus on being a libero.
“I have a mindset of not letting any balls drop,” he said. “I just react. If you see it’s there, you just go for it and not be scared of the floor.”
Some view the libero spot as a thankless position, but Rodriguez is thankful to find a spot on the court that allows him to shine.
“It’s a rewarding position to play,” Rodriguez said. “You get that dig, and then you get to see that big kill by one of the hitters, and it’s great.”
The Porters had their best performance of the season in limiting the Spartans to only 16 points.
Lockport jumped to leads of 8-1 and 19-4 in the first game and broke open the second game with a 15-4 run to take a 19-8 lead.
The team now has a six-day break away from competition, and Mraz is happy with the results from a front-loaded schedule to start the season.
After losing in two games to Joliet Catholic in the opener, Lockport recovered. The Porters’ other two losses were a three-game setback to Lincoln-Way East and a two-game sweep by Lyons.
“That first match against JCA was a humbling, eye-opening moment for coaches and players alike and they really handled us,” Mraz said. “We answered the bell and took third at (the Marist Invitational).
Daily Southtown
Twice-weekly
News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday
“We played 12 matches during spring break, and that’s a tough time to play. We have a team of all juniors and we’ll take 12-3.”
Bluhm believes, in the long run, this period will boost the Porters.
“In our losses, we made some unforced errors,” Bluhm said. “We are a team pretty much made of juniors, so we don’t have the experience that some of these senior-heavy teams have.
“We’re not all 100% mature yet.”
Rodriguez, meanwhile, has been smiling through it all. Whether the team is winning or losing, he’s determined to have fun.
“I’m just enjoying the moment,” he said. “If we’re down and someone gets a big kill, I’m excited for that. I take it point by point.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
