As a freshman, Stagg’s Katy Zumerchik literally experienced some growing pains.
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Playing varsity right away, she was asked to move from middle hitter to the outside, which took some time getting used to. Plus, she had a growth spurt that wreaked havoc on her knees.
“I had Osgood-Schlatter syndrome,” Zumerchik said about something that hampered her progress. “I got down on myself and I wasn’t able to play to my full potential. But I worked through it.”
And now?
“I feel great,” said Zumerchik, who then accentuated the point by jumping into the air and landing on the court with a big smile on her face.
The 5-foot-10 junior outside hitter had Chargers fans jumping for joy Wednesday night. She produced 13 kills and added a pair of aces in a 25-12, 25-15 nonconference win over Tinley Park.
Nicole Maka, who moved from outside to middle this week because of an injury to Amelia Kadamus, finished with four kills and Hannah Svoboda added 13 assists for Stagg (2-0).
The Chargers played without Kadamus. The Purdue Northwest recruit is nursing an ankle injury.
“We’re hoping Amelia can be back in the few days,” said Stagg coach Erin Moran, whose team competes Friday and Saturday in the Chicago Christian Invitational.
Sarah Aggen led Tinley Park (0-2) with five kills. Grace Samborski came up with two aces.
Zumerchik, meanwhile, didn’t limit herself as a student at Palos South Middle School.
“I tried out for everything,” she said. “Basketball, cross country, drama, soccer, track, volleyball, and I was a dancer. But I decided I really liked volleyball.
“Ever since then, it’s been my main sport and I love it so much.”
Her teammates at Stagg love having her on the team as well. She tallied 23 kills in wins over Oak Lawn and Tinley Park to open the season.
“Whenever the ball goes to her, I know we’re going to get the point,” Maka said. “She always puts the ball down, and I have so much trust in her. I love when the ball goes to her. She’ll finish it off with her power.”
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“She’s just a star on the court in the front row and the back row,” Moran said.
Zumerchik also stood out in grade school. She was conference MVP in seventh and eighth grade.
Peggy Clemens, who is now coaching at Lemont, saw potential in Zumerchik as an outside.
“It was definitely a big adjustment because I was used to going very quick,” she said of playing in the middle. “But I learned patience and how to make different shots.
“It all came together.”
Last season, Stagg had its first winning season since 2017 by going 17-16. The Chargers are hoping to carry that winning feeling into the rest of this fall.
“I’m excited — I think we have a lot of potential,” Zumerchik said. “We still have a lot to work on, but if we work together, we can go far.”
Moran, who is in her first year as Stagg’s coach, is a former player for the Chargers. A back injury halted her college career, but she jumped into the coaching world and was an assistant boys coach at Sandburg in 2025 when the Eagles made it to the Elite Eight.
“This team has excellent chemistry,” Moran said. “They get along and have a lot of fun together, and that chemistry is only going to soar.”
Zumerchik, who entered this season with two years of varsity experience under her belt, also feels the best is yet to come for the Chargers.
“My mindset is that I want to win and do well,” she said. “I want everyone to get kills and I want everyone to touch the ball.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.