Stark, Alma volleyball picks up steam with solid summer

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

First-year Alma volleyball coach Josh Stark knew the biggest obstacle he was facing had more to do with what’s between the ears rather than who plays what position.

To win at volleyball, you have to step on the court believing in yourself.

“It’s between here and here,” Stark said, pointing to his ears. “We’re taking that out, knowing that we have everything in place to win. It’s just up to the players.”

Alma’s first step over the summer was to learn to compete against more established programs. Stark took the team to camps at UCA and Alma.

“These teams we went against at UCA, I think it really boosted them,” he said. “Then we come home and go 5-and-0 in our camp.”

Alma opens the 2026 season Aug. 24 against Charleston.

The Lady Airedales’ roster includes just a pair of seniors, Jaeda Cahoon and Bailee Oliver, but has several key juniors, most notably right-side middle blocker Josie Welborn.

But even with a hitter such as Welborn, Stark knows she can’t do it alone.

“The first thing I said when I came in was there was no such thing as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors - it’s the best players on the court,” Stark said. “They’re pushing each other; they want to be out there.”

“I’ve known him since my freshman year of playing on JV and from club and FSJ (Fort Smith Juniors),” Welborn said. “With him coming in, I wasn’t as surprised as some other people, but I was very excited because I knew how he coached.”

“We’ve learned a lot, just having fun from doing what we love, but also trying to stay serious because we have a goal we’re trying to get,” junior Chloe Kovalck said. “We all enjoy it and come together, even though it’s still a lot of pressure. With the freshmen coming up, we have so many talented girls.”

In addition to Welborn and Kovalck, the Lady Airedales have a roster full of talented juniors, including Olivia Whipple, a multi-sport athlete who isn’t afraid to launch herself on the court if it means saving a point.

“Coach Stark’s already taken a really big step with us,” she said. “Coach Stark’s philosophy is to go hard all the time, and if you make a mistake, keep working. It means you’re learning the mechanics behind it, and when we go soft, it means we’re not giving our all.”

An outside hitter, Whipple believes a strong start to the season will go a long way in helping the team end an eight-year post-season drought.

“If we start really good, our attitudes will be really high,” Whipple said. “With volleyball, the more momentum you have, the more it (momentum) stacks up.”

Sophomore setter Layla Chancey likes the way the team is trending.

“I feel like we have a really good team and we’re getting reps and getting better and better every day,” Chancey said. “But there’s always room for improvement. Working together and trying new things is what will get us ahead, and also changing the culture is going to be the big thing.”

Stark said he plans to keep the talented freshmen class together

“We looked at maybe moving them up, but I think it’s really important to keep them together, just because they’re just a solid team,” he said. “We’re looking at four of them as maybe making a difference next year, but they’re at practice with us every day, so they’re with us, and they’re pushing my sophomores and juniors.”

“It’s really great scrimmaging against them,” Oliver said. “They have a really good middle (blocker), Bryleigh Moore, who is going to be special.”