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Women’s Volleyball
work ethic has been amazing.” Coaches today usually have to put out all
kinds of little fires, do a lot of babysitting. “With this group, I
haven’t had to do any of that,” he added.
“Folkl is the perfect package of ability and skill, and has a great
attitude. Sharpley has been a great leader and has led us to some
unbelievable stats. Ifejika has been as consistent as anyone we’ve had
in the program. She just comes in and gets the job done.”
The year didn’t start that well. Three of the players were recovering
from surgery knees for Sharpley and Gregory, and right shoulder
for Walsh. Even when Walsh did return to the lineup, her right arm’s
strength was limited she had to serve left-handed for a while.
Their difficulties clearly hampered the team in its two losses of the
year to Penn State.
Undoubtedly Folkl, Stanford’s two-sport star, was the team’s power
leader. Although her volleyball eligibility ended in December, Folkl has
another year of basketball after this season, if she stays for a fifth
year. Last year, hoops Coach Tara VanDerveer persuaded her to come back
to the team after the volleyball season finished.
Very few athletes, male or female, are two-sport stars. She now has an
option that didn’t exist when she arrived as a freshman: two
professional basketball leagues and the Olympic Games of 2000.
“She’s used to choices,” Shaw said, “but now they are going to start
involving a lot of money.”
Folkl, Shaw said, “just keeps getting better you can’t defend
her.”
After this year’s volleyball championship match, Penn State’s Coach Russ
Rose second only to Shaw in his winning percentage said,
“Stanford is very hot right now. In the recruiting world, we’re looking
at Stanford choosing, not recruiting. Matches like this certainly don’t
hurt what they’re doing.”
Shaw’s recruiting and choosing result in a tightly knit family. “A lot
of it has to do with being close,” Folkl said. “We know that everyone is
there for each other. Knowing that you have help, that you’re not alone,
puts you at ease. I’m not sure where you really find that in life, once
you’re outside of sports.”
That’s how dynasties are built. ST
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