October 31, 2024

All great teams have a combination of players who bring out the best in each other as well as bring a high level of skill to the table. For Princeton, they continue to have an extremely solid core and also continue to infuse talent from younger players over the past few years. Junior Kaelin Bobetich, who started as one of those special young talents has now emerged into a core role on the Princeton attack, bringing her A game to the court in every match this season.

Princeton (23-1) continued their onslaught on the best teams in New Jersey these past two weeks. They have left the NJ elite in a pile of destruction taking convincing wins over Old Bridge, Williamstown, Union Catholic, and Paul VI. They had already beat Southern, IHA, and Notre Dame earlier in the season with their only blemish in a 2-1 loss to Notre Dame where they outscored the Irish overall but lost the last two sets 25-23. To accomplish that series of wins against that caliber of teams in just unheard of. This is a special team that has the courage to load their schedule and show no fear.

For Kaelin, its just par for the course. The success this club has had since her emergence as a freshman is unheralded. She is a key member of this years squad along with Naomi Lygas, Lois Matsukawa, Pearl Agel, and Charlotte Woods. Princeton is a fine tuned machine with each person knowing their role and making heavy contributions in every match.

Losing senior setter Lois Matsukawa after this season may change the dynamic on this team for next year. But Kaelin is an accomplished setter on her club team and Coach Patty Manhart will have some flexibility and choices for 2025. We sit down with Kaelin as state playoffs are about to begin and discuss her team, her family, and her future in volleyball. Here is our interview with Ms. Bobetich…

Hi Kaelin… 

What a great run Princeton has had over these past years since you joined the team. Tell us about your best experiences while playing high school volleyball?

Some of my best experiences have been the social aspect, particularly the team bonding through these years. Our team goes out together to do fun things, like going to haunted houses and having dress up competitions. My best playing experiences have been winning the 2023 State Final match last year and playing against Immaculate Heart, Williamstown and PVI this year. All of these matches were filled with fire and that has been when I have had the most fun playing volleyball.   

Tell us about your family?

I am an only child.  My dad works in education but is passionate about volleyball.  He played club volleyball in college and has coached at the college level.  My mom is an attorney who loves art and music and loves encouraging my artistic side as well as my athletic side.  Both my parents attend almost all of my games and cheer me on.  And I have amazing grandparents, all of whom live pretty far away, but are so kind to me.        

In 3 varsity seasons, you have put up 410 kills, 69 blocks, 292 digs, and 142 aces despite having a world of talent around you accumulating superior statistics. You must have recruiters lining up from some of the best programs in the country. Tell us about your goals after high school.

I definitely want to play in college. I love volleyball so much and I cannot imagine my life without volleyball playing a major part in some way. I am going through the recruiting process right now with both beach volleyball and indoor volleyball. I play beach volleyball for Stars and Stripes all year round, except during the indoor high school season. 

Who is your role model?

I would definitely say that my role models are my parents. They are both incredibly hard workers, but are always there for me and do so much to help support me, whether for school or volleyball. 

What inspired you to start playing volleyball?

My dad was who definitely inspired me to start volleyball.  When I was growing up he had me try a variety of sports and hobbies including, gymnastics, skiing, soccer, ballet, tennis, basketball, lacrosse, baton twirling, and volleyball. I tried pretty much everything. I gravitated to soccer and played since I was about five years old in the West Windsor Plainsboro Soccer Association.  I also added basketball as a grade schooler, playing for HEWYBL, which is a basketball league in East Windsor where I was mainly a point guard or center.  I played both these sports at the Cranbury School through 8th Grade. I tried out for, and joined, the Princeton Volleyball Club when I was in 5th Grade and was hooked. When I entered high school as a freshman, I decided to focus my energy on volleyball because it was my favorite.  

The team will be graduating some amazing players after this season including setter Lois Matsukawa. Libero Pearl Agel, Zoe Nuland  and middle Anya Haeberli. How do you expect the team to adapt after losing such key players?

All of our seniors are going to be a huge loss for us, but that just gives an opportunity for other players to step up. We have a lot of underclassmen that play volleyball at Princeton Volleyball Club that will now have a great opportunity to develop over this year and help fill the void left by our seniors. 

With you, Naomi Lygas, and Charlotte Woods entering your senior year next season, can another Group 3 title come to fruition?

I think that we definitely have a shot for a Group 3 title next year. It will really depend on our underclassmen stepping up and taking on that bigger role on the varsity team, especially since we are losing a lot of key players. I am really excited to see what we can do next year. 

You are recognized as one of the hardest hitters on the NJ girls’ volleyball landscape. Do you do anything special to build strength and power in your workouts?

I have a personal trainer that I see once or twice a week during high school season. She is a volleyball coach herself and she provides volleyball-specific workouts to build strength in places that will enhance my playing. 

Your Dad, Kevin, has coached at the club level with Princeton VBC and at the collegiate level with Newbury College and Boston College. How has he helped shape your volleyball career?

He is definitely the one person that has made me into the volleyball player I am today. I have a volleyball net in my backyard, so whenever I want, I can practice. When I was younger, whenever it would be too cold to play outside my Dad and I would sit on the floor and set in my kitchen before and after school. He has helped me so much, everything from buying practice equipment for home to coaching my club team and flying me out to tournaments and showcases. 

Tell us about your coach Patty Manhart?

Coach Manhart has taught me so much, not only about volleyball, but about life. She has taught me so many life lessons and I respect her so much as a coach. One thing I love about Coach is whenever a call does not go our way Coach Manhart always has a way to diffuse the situation and get as focused on the next point. She does a great job keeping her cool in high pressure situations. Also, I really like how Coach asks for our input. Coach Manhart is very approachable, loves hearing our ideas, and really listens to us. I always feel that I am being heard. 

Tell us about this year’s Princeton team.

This year’s team is so special. The chemistry is electric. I feel like I am on a team with all of my best friends. We are such a small tight group and I am going to miss the seniors so much.  It is not going to be the same without them. We only have 11 members on Varsity this year, so I feel close to every single player. Lois Matsukawa and Pearl Agel, our captains, are an amazing duo. They keep the energy level high and go out of their way to support us. I look up to them as role models and If I ever have an opportunity to become a team captain, I hope to be half as good as they are. 

NJP’s group and sectional rankings clearly indicate that Princeton should dominate its sectional bracket in Central 3, and then must take on other sectional winners at the Group 3 level which could include Ramapo, North Hunterdon, Cliffside Park, Millburn, Shawnee, and Moorestown. Who do you expect to present the largest challenge?

I believe that North Hunterdon will be the biggest challenge because they are a highly ranked team that has also beaten other top ranked teams, like Westfield and SJV.  Another team that might present a challenge is Millburn because I know that they just won their conference. 

Who would you say are your top influencers/mentors?

One of my mentors is Gillian Hauschild. She also played volleyball for both Princeton High School and Princeton Volleyball Club. She is also a Right Side and she is in her 5th year playing at Colgate. Before I started high school, she would help train me in my backyard.  Gillian has inspired me to mentor other players now too. I work with other younger players in my backyard, coaching them and passing on the lessons that I have learned from my mentors and role models. 

What else would you like us to know about you?

In addition to my mentoring other younger players, another thing that most people do not know about me is that I am also a Setter, in addition to Right Side, on my Princeton club team. In fact, I started out playing volleyball exclusively as a Setter. I have been coached by many great coaches throughout my year of Volleyball. One being Coach Joe Schweitzer who has coached me for many years at Princeton Volleyball Club and John Bracco, and Christopher Wong and Megan Blair who have coached me at Stars and Stripes beach Volleyball club. All of these coaches have pushed me hard, and shaped me into the player I am today and I appreciate them so much for it. I also absolutely love the high school season because I get to see, and play against, all my club and beach volleyball teammates. One of my beach partners is Gia Sergi, who is the libero for SJV and a Seton Hall commit. She is an amazing player and one of the reasons why I love playing beach volleyball. I’ve also partnered on the beach with Emily Duessing, the libero on my club team and libero for Notre Dame.  I love that we can be on the same team or opposing teams. Volleyball is a wonderful community and I feel so lucky to be a part of it.