Waldorf: small school, big volleyball success
They bump and serve and spike, but the girls’ volleyball team at San Francisco Waldorf might as well play musical instruments.
“They’re quite an orchestra,” athletic director Bryan Anderson said.
The team’s five seniors at the tiny private school have attended Waldorf since kindergarten and have played volleyball together since the sixth grade.
UCSB-bound Tallulah Froley, Eliza Wolcott, Lily Windholz, Viola Wallace and Jacqueline Rutherfurd have won 100 of 126 varsity matches, three straight Bay Counties League Central titles and 2014 and ’15 Northern California Division 6 titles.
Last year, because of competitive-equity rules, the Wolverines were moved up to Division 5 and reached NorCal’s final four. This season, they are 14-6, 6-0 in BCL Central play.
They’re much more than a winning volleyball team, Anderson said.
“They’re remarkable collectively as a group of friends and also remarkable individually,” he said. “They’ve jelled as friends and teammates to become this totally cohesive unit. They know their roles so well. They’re so unselfish. They support each other fully off and on the court. It’s really a joy to see.”
With 41 of the school’s 85 high school-aged girls in the program, volleyball is a big deal at San Francisco Waldorf, a co-ed school of 160.
Here’s a thumbnail look at the core five, with comments from Anderson: Froley (5-foot-11 outside hitter): The 2016 BCL Central MVP was selected as one of the top 150 senior players in the country by PrepVolleyball.com. “You can’t say enough positive things about Tallulah. She has natural instincts you can’t coach. She can play the net, she can dig and her court vision and athleticism (are) amazing.” Wallace (5-9 setter): “Viola is a natural setter, a quarterback on the court who reads everything. As a senior, we’ve asked her to do other things and she excelled in every aspect. She accepts every challenge.” Wolcott (5-8 opposite hitter, middle blocker, setter): “Eliza is a vocal and spiritual leader. She’s superb at reading her teammates and saying the right thing at just the right time. Nothing gets her down.” Windholz (5-8 defensive specialist): “Lily is the glue player on the team. She’s selfless. You won’t see her a lot on the stat sheet, but you can’t do without her.” Rutherfurd (5-10 middle blocker): “Jacqueline has the nicest, most friendly demeanor but is ultra competitive, yet selfless. She’s powerful and intimidating at the net and provides all the dirty work.”
Anderson stresses the Wolverines are far from a fiveperson team. The 12-person roster is filled with young, promising and even polished players. When the five seniors graduate, “the cupboard won’t be bare,” he said.
But while it’s full, everyone on campus will enjoy it. “We’re definitely riding a wave,” Anderson said. “These girls have done it the right way and the other girls have really learned from them. They’ve hung a few banners in the gym and hope to four-peat as league champs. No matter what, it’s been a fun ride.” MaxPreps senior writer Mitch Stephens covers high school sports for The San Francisco Chronicle.