Sydney Evans doesn’t have a quit setting.

Not unless she is forced, that is.

The Aberdeen Central senior has emerged as a defensive leader for the Golden Eagle volleyball program this season, guiding the squad to a 5-4 record to begin the 2022 campaign.

In fact, Evans’ competitive drive is precisely what landed her on the sidelines for a recent match. Evans, Central’s starting libero for the past couple seasons, collided with teammate Madison Miller during the fifth set of Central’s match against Huron. Both players were diving after a dig when Evans’ temple and Miller’s nose tried unsuccessfully to occupy the same space.

Miller ended with a broken nose; Evans landed in concussion protocol.

“Sydney just does a little bit of everything,” said Central coach Jackie Bindenagel. “She is just naturally in the right place. She’s really fun to watch. She’s not super flashy because she just positions herself so well and makes it look easy when it’s not an easy job.”

That’s an especially telling statement considering Evans used to be a front-line hitter before moving to the back row as a freshman.

“It was nerve-wracking,” Evans said of those matches early in her career. “I remember I just went in to serve for the first half of the season. And by the end of the season I was playing (defensive specialist) for three rotations. I’d never played that position before. So it was a whole new thing.”

Evans said she got a lot of help from then-senior Kayleigh Fauth, who guided her through that transition from front row to back row, and eventually into the libero spot.

“She really helped me through that, and she told me where to go,” Evans said. “It was nerve wracking, but I think I got the hang of it.”

Clearly. 

Evans had a career-best 41 digs in the Huron match before leaving and recently recorded her 1,000th career dig in Central’s match against Sioux Falls Lincoln.

“That’s a big honor,” Evans acknowledged. “Especially at the Class AA level. You don’t see a lot of people doing that. It was a real moment for me, because I didn’t think I’d ever get to 1,000 of anything. So it was a really great moment.”

Still, sitting out of a match because of injury – only the second time in her career that she has missed seeing the court – stung.

“That was pretty tough,” she said. “The only thing I could do was try to encourage my teammates.”

While acknowledging the ups and downs the Golden Eagles have faced throughout her career, Evans said she has high hopes for this year’s team.

“I think we can make it to state,” she said. “I know we can. When we play well, we play really well. We have all the pieces, and we’re going to continue to grow. I don’t doubt that we have all the effort and all the heart and that we can do great things.”

For her part, Evans is trying to lead by example, and if that means a dive into the stands here or there, well, then so be it.

“It’s nice to have her back just for some leadership,” Bindenagel said. “She does a lot that isn’t on the stat sheet. She’s a good leader out there for our younger ones. She will be missed next year, that’s for sure.”