Nikodem Opiola, Rolling Meadows’ boys volleyball middle blocker, has been on a scoring streak this season, dominating both in high school and in the U.S. Boys U17 National Team. “Yeah sure. It feels amazing representing Rolling Meadows for the USA volleyball team. I always wanted to do something big for the sport I play and this is a huge step towards that,” Opiola said.

Opiola didn’t get here overnight. When he first joined the team, he was still figuring out the speed of the game and timing his jumps. He worked hard to improve his footwork and consistency.

Last year, he was mostly known for his blocking. This year, he’s become one of the main scoring options too. In the recent NORCECA match against Cuba, Opiola scored 13 points with 10 kills and 3 blocks, helping the U.S. get only their second-ever program win, 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-19).

Playing internationally has also opened his eyes. “Playing internationally really changes how I see the game. One thing being is how much more work I need to put in. Seeing how the best of the best play in other countries and even in my own team makes me see how much more I need to step up my game. Another big change internationally is the energy during these matches. Playing against Mexico for third everyone was screaming and yelling at us every single play. Drums were going off and even air horns. Anything to try to throw us off. The only thing it made it do though is make the game way more fun than it had to be. Playing internationally has to be one of the most fun and best experiences I have ever had,” Opiola said.

In the Cuba match, the U.S. dominated at the net with 14 total blocks compared to Cuba’s 5, and Opiola was a big reason for that.

With the season still going, Opiola has a real chance to lead RMHS to one of its best finishes in years. His experience on the international stage has given him confidence and momentum heading into the rest of the season.