Folkl Lore

Kristin Folkl, who led Stanford to the NCAA women’s volleyball championship, is now the leading scorer for the basketball team, even though she doesn’t start.

Coach Tara VanDerveer had a little fun with that situation while talking to Colorado coach Ceal Barry before their game in December.

“For our team, it works best if Kristin comes off the bench,” VanDerveer said. “So I said to Ceal, ‘You better tell the refs not to call fouls on any of our post players. Because the first one that gets one is coming out and Kristin is going in.”’ Folkl currently is sidelined after fracturing two fingers on her right hand last Saturday in Stanford’s win over Texas Tech.

She is scheduled to be re-examined this week and might be available Thursday against UCLA.

Against Colorado, Folkl played 24 minutes, her first game after volleyball season, and had 16 points and eight rebounds. She’s now averaging 18.8 points and 9.6 rebounds.

While Folkl has been a big addition, center Naomi Mulitauaopele won’t be back as the team had hoped. She had surgery Jan. 20 on an area of her right kneecap that had not healed from summer surgery.