Valencia’s Stumpf Remarkable in More Ways Than One

Here are two remarkable things about Valencia senior Roxanna Stumpf: she has never received a grade in school lower than an A, ever, and she has never lost an Orange League match in girls’ volleyball.

And here’s something else: When she’s not waking up at 4:30 a.m. after three hours of sleep to continue studying, she likes to play her guitar. (But don’t ask her to sing).

“Sometimes, people think all I do is school and athletics but it’s not [true],” she said. “I have a boyfriend. I go out on the weekends and do fun things.”

Stumpf is the top student in the Valencia senior class with a grade-point average well above 4.0 because of her advanced courses. If she maintains the position, she will be the school’s valedictorian in June.

Stumpf is one of those people who seems to take everything she is handed with grace.

So, you’re 6 feet tall in eighth grade? Neat. Makes it easier to beat the boys in basketball and the teachers never forget your name.

Not that teachers often forget their star pupils--and Stumpf comes from a line of them.

Stumpf’s older sisters, Kimberly, 22, and Isabelle, 21, received partial academic scholarships to Whittier College.

Her father, George, an engineer, always encouraged his daughters to read. Her mother, Marlene, an international freight auditor, speaks three languages.

Stumpf spent her early childhood bouncing around the world wherever George’s job took him and the family. Her earliest memories are of the sounds and smells of an open-air market near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and of the sight of lions circling their prey in the wilderness of Kenya.

She returned to the United States when she was in elementary school and began playing basketball in junior high in Placentia. Even then, she was thinking about college.

“Coming into high school I knew I wanted a scholarship. I didn’t know if it was going to be academic or athletic, so I was trying to keep both options open,” she said.

She was introduced to volleyball as a freshman at Valencia and soon joined a local club, Team Impact, and began playing year-round.

“I just started seeing there was so much more available for volleyball, college-wise, and I fell in love with it somewhere along the line,” she said. “I can’t go a week without playing. We get three weeks off in August and I still find myself going to the beach to play.”

For Valencia, she has helped prolong the team’s domination of the sport in its league.

The Tigers have won seven consecutive league titles. Stumpf has helped them to the past two and she was a first-team all-league selection last season.

Valencia, currently 14-0 and 8-0 in league, is 76-2 in league in the past seven years. The Tigers are working on their third consecutive undefeated league season.

Valencia will host second-place Brea Olinda (9-4, 7-1) in the regular-season finale at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Fourth-year Coach Mark Castillo says the Tigers are strong because of players such as Stumpf, who play the sport year-round.

“Every year, I get a few good girls who are dedicated enough to work real hard and play club volleyball to keep us going,” he said. “That’s the key.”

Even so, Castillo has heard grumbling from Orange League coaches who are tired of losing to the Tigers.

“A lot of the coaches want to beat us bad,” he said. “I don’t think they necessarily dislike us, but I know beating us would make their seasons.”

But that’s not likely to happen with Stumpf roaming the middle of the net. She has remained about 6 feet since eighth grade and, although she would like a few more inches of height to impress college coaches, she has uncommon coordination and athleticism for a middle blocker.

Stumpf is considering about eight colleges, mostly NCAA Division I schools. Whichever university she chooses will have to offer more than volleyball. She also is looking for a good pre-med or psychology program.

Whatever her future holds, chances are her path will remain remarkable.