STATE OF JOY: Members of the Stuart Country Day School volleyball team are all smiles as they pose for a photo this season. The Tartans made history this fall, going 11-8 on the way to making the semis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B state sectional in their first appearance in the tourney. (Photo provided courtesy of Anna Kachmarski)

By Bill Alden

Having been the head coach of the Stuart Country Day School volleyball program since it started varsity play in 2017, Anna Kachmarski has guided the Tartans through some ups and downs.

“Having a smaller school can always be challenging going up against some competing public schools who have hundreds in their classes,” said Kachmarski, the STEM curriculum coordinator at the school, who played volleyball in high school and college. “We have been through a few rebuilding years starting the program and getting it off the ground because when we started the program we actually had a high number of students who were seniors and left after the first year.”

Making steady progress, Stuart went 11-6 in 2023, posting its first double-digit win season.

“I would say that the last three years were our key seasons and transitions into us being a successful program,” said Kachmarski. “We were navigating a schedule that was challenging for us, but also to allow the girls to be successful. It was also to look at how are we building a program and how are we maintaining interest in the girls.”

But heading into the 2024 season with only two seniors on the roster, Kachmarski wasn’t sure how successful the team would be this fall.

“Coming into this year, my assistant coach (Annie McGonigle) and I were of the mindset that this could be another rebuilding year having such a young team,” said Kachmarski. “They really took it upon themselves to really push themselves.”

The young players stepped up, producing a superb playoff push as the Tartans advanced to the semis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B state sectional in their first appearance in the tourney.

The Tartans caught fire after a 1-2 start, going 7-1 as they got into a rhythm.

“That was the point where we had named our libero (freshman Georgia Glanton), we worked out the kinks and they really started to form as a team,” said Kachmarski. “This year, we had a young team and it was navigating that with a senior setter (Alex Durish). She was working out how to communicate with them. We started to do a lot of bonding outside of practices. That is when they really started to form together and to say we can actually do this.”

A 2-1 loss to Gill St. Bernard’s in the Prep B state tournament in mid-October proved to be a good experience for the young squad.

“Going into it we knew it was going to be a good game,” said Kachmarski. “Gill as a team is generally strong defensively and we are offensively strong. We knew that it was going to be tight and it would just come down to the last few points.”

Making its debut in the (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B state sectional, Stuart won the key points as it defeated Timothy Christian 2-1 in the quarterfinal round on November 8.

“The girls were so excited and so energetic,” said Kachmarski. “No matter if they are playing or on the sidelines, they just wanted to cheer on their teammates. No matter what happened we have gotten to this place. I vividly remember that they had one of the best warmup sessions of their season. They said we can do this, we want to do this. Our girls were in the mindset of we want to win this and we just edged them out. It was a great experience for them. Coming off of that, they started to see themselves as a real volleyball team that is able to actually be successful.”

While the Tartans fell 2-0 to Bishop Eustace in two tightly-contested sets in rhe Non-Public semis three days later, the setback left them hungry for more.

“They were into watching video coverage of the teams that they play and they knew coming in what their challenges would be,” said Kachmarski. “We came into it with a very honest mindset. We are overjoyed to be here but these are the things that we need to do in order to win. As a team, they worked very well together. There was a little more offensive strength coming out of Bishop Eustace in that game. We missed a few blocks and key serves overall. Coming into next year, the girls really want to play Bishop Eustace in season.”

Going 11-8 with a lineup that featured three freshmen and five sophomores, Kachmarski believes the program is in a very good place.

“Overall, we are looking at this as an extremely successful season and also as a way forward for us,” said Kachmarski “Looking at our future, it is looking very bright.”

Stuart will miss its two seniors, Durish and Sophia Feng. “Alex has been our setter for four years, she trained in back of Eva [Nester] who was our setter and graduated last year,” said Kachmarski. “Alex probably had the most experience of any setter we have graduated. She was a player who at her core was not just a good teammate, but she is very Sacred Heart. Alex has centered us, beginning our matches with prayer and making sure that our girls are always reflecting Stuart in the best way. Sophia started out as a not so confident player but slowly grew over her four years to a state now where on her senior night she had a seven-point service run against Hun. Having the girls see her as an example of this is how you can grow and improve at Stuart is something we really value.”

Sophomore Vlada Sokol gave the Tartans value on the front row.

“Vlada joined us last year as a freshman and made a strong transformation over the summer,” said Kachmarski. “She was trying to find her position when she came to us. We really built her up, saying we think you are going to be a middle hitter based on your strength and the technique you are showing. She had a great season.”

Having starred for the Stuart basketball team over the years, junior Taylor States has emerged as a force on the volleyball court.

“Taylor has shifted to finding joy in volleyball and wanting to actually pursue it in college at the D-II or D-III level,” said Kachmarski. “She is really coming into her own. She always brings the ability to make smart plays. She was very pivotal in our quarterfinal game against Timothy Christian. We had scouted them and the girls resonated with the idea that they leave back corners open. Taylor had the raw strength to push that ball deep corner. She has a keen eye where she can just see the holes immediately. She is a really strategic volleyball player.”

Freshman Georgia Spirko-Noto developed into a strong performer this fall.

“Georgia is new to our school this year, she came to us as a middle hitter as well,” said Kachmarski. “We were working with her as a middle and possibly an outside hitter. Georgia comes to us with a lot of blocking experience, that is something that really helps us.”

Taking over the key libero spot, freshman Glanton made a big impact.

“Georgia said very early on as a freshman, this something that I love, this is something that I am going to pursue going into college,” said Kachmarski. “She said, ‘I am very short and realize that I have a strong hand.’ I think for Georgia, the biggest thing is that she has so much power in her body. She just has the very clear mindset that I will sacrifice my body. She is still learning. I always say a libero in year one, it is not going to be their best season. I always look at year two, year three as probably their peak season. Coming into next year we talked to her about what we can do and what we can work on.”

A pair of sophomores, Brie Starghill and Maeve Wall, gave the Tartans some good work this fall.

“Brie had a really great season in terms of her defense and ability for coverage,” said Kachmarski. “Maeve, who is our other setter, has really allowed us to be able to set some plays to feed some of our stronger players. She is very much leading our program into being even more offensively strong than it currently is. She is also a key for us on the back row because of her defensive abilities.”
In reflecting on the program’s progress, Kachmarski is looking to inspire her players collectively and individually.

“This is a team that we are going to have for the next two, three years and it is how can we not just be a successful program but make them successful volleyball players,” said Kachmarski, noting that assistant coach McGonigle focuses on guiding the defense while she leads the offense. “Our mindset has always been how can we get these girls to be the best they can possibly be and learn the most about the sport that we love and they love.”