Stagg freshman Katy Zumerchik isn’t short on showing her emotions during the course of a match.
A loud kill to the floor will bring a smile and a fist pump. An ace serve usually earns a jump and a yell. She brought her hands to her face and flashed a sheepish grin after her lone service error.
She doesn’t miss celebrating a teammate’s good play, either. It’s all out there to see.
“If I don’t show my emotions, then it’s just like, ‘What am I doing out here?’” Zumerchik said. “I could look down, but no, I have to show some emotion.”
She had her emotions in motion Monday night for the Chargers during a 25-21, 25-21 nonconference victory over visiting Tinley Park in Palos Hills.
Zumerchik was the star with nine kills, two aces and a block for Stagg (3-8). Tylar Bumsted added four kills, while Magdalena Gasienica had nine assists and four aces. Abbi Lujano made five digs.
Mia Taglioli led Tinley Park (5-5) with seven kills. Kaylah Forrest added five kills, while Loyola softball recruit Megan Piotrowski picked up four kills.
Zumerchik, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, had a pair of aces to pull Stagg back from an early deficit in the first game. She was swinging free from the left side for much of the match.
She had back-to-back kills in each game and followed up her second set of kills with a block. She also looked as comfortable, confident and aggressive as a senior would out on the court.
“Honestly, it’s my teammates,” Zumerchik said. “I love playing with them. Ever since the first match, they’ve made me feel comfortable.”
Zumerchik has 51 kills for the season, along with 26 service points and nine aces. On defense, she has chipped in with 39 digs and six blocks.
She’s been an official member of the varsity since the opening of tryouts. Well, except for a few brief moments.
When the players arrived the first day, all four classes assembled separately. She was with the freshmen when the players were being assigned to their respective gyms.
But not for long.
“I had gone to camp and played in summer league with them,” Zumerchik said. “I was waiting for my number on the first day, and then coach (Peggy Clemens) gave me my number and told me to go to the gym where the varsity and JV were going. I was really excited that day.”
For Clemens, it was a no-doubt decision.
“Oh, I definitely expected her to be on varsity,” Clemens said. “I had watched her the last two years playing for her grade school team, so I knew she had the talent to be on varsity.
“It was just a matter of where she would fit in. But the second she joined us, she wasn’t shy at all. She jumped in with the older girls, was talkative and made friends. There was never a question she could handle it.”
Clemens had a lot to watch during Zumerchik’s last few years at Palos South.
In sixth grade, she played up on the school’s second-place team in conference. In seventh grade, she was the MVP as the team won all but one match and won conference. Then in eighth grade, she was again the MVP on an undefeated team.
She was definitely the star there too.
“Yeah, I felt like a star in that moment, but I knew that high school would be way different,” Zumerchik said. “But when I got to Stagg, I felt really supported. A lot of people knew me and respected me. And when I’d see my teammates in the hallway, it made me happy.”
The respect was earned.
“Dynamically, Katy brings us a ton of talent,” Bumsted said. “She brings so much positive and good energy. And she really brings dedication.
“Every time we do any drill, she’s dedicated to what she’s doing. She wants more reps. She wants to get it done. And she’s not afraid to push us to be our best. She puts in that work.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
