Volleyball Spikes in Popularity Among Sunset Residents

 

Volleyball players from left: Ana Pischl, Lala Rego, George Ong, and Jacky Gao

 

Pickleball may be the sport of the moment, but volleyball is quickly gaining ground in Golden Gate Park. Each week, players from their 20s to 60s — many from the Sunset — gather to spike, serve, and socialize. For many, it’s more than a game: it’s a path to better mental health, new friendships, and physical wellness after a long day.

“I wish I’d discovered volleyball sooner,” says Sunset resident George Ong, who has been playing for three years. “You get to know each other. You hang out. There’s nothing else like it.”

What started as a handful of casual games has become one of the park’s most vibrant scenes. More than 60 players now show up weekly, with beginner-friendly clinics on Mondays and open pickup games on Wednesdays.

“It’s hard to learn a new skill as an adult,” says Ana Pischl, who co-founded the Monday clinic with Isaac Snow last year. “So we created a space where anyone could feel welcome—where people learn each other’s names, and where volunteer coaches are there to help you improve.”

A citywide movement
Ana and Isaac, both Richmond residents, began organizing informal games in 2024 at Robin Williams Meadow, after noticing how tough it was for beginners to join established volleyball groups. They used WhatsApp to spread the word — and the community quickly grew.

“At first there were 10 people, then 20, then 30,” Ana says. “Now about 60 players come out for coaching, practices, and pickup games.”

Monday clinics run from 6 p.m. to sunset and cost $12 to cover equipment and snacks.  Wednesday pickup games are free. Players come from across the city, with many from the Sunset and Richmond. Most work full-time and see the games as both fitness and connection.

“Volleyball helps me stay active,” says Jacky Gao, a Sunset resident who bikes to the clinic right after work. “It stretches my back, and it’s an easy way to make friends.”

Lala Rego, another Sunset local who’s been playing for two years, says the sport brings people together. “It fights seasonal depression. It’s also a good way to make friends that doesn’t involve alcohol or food,” says Rego.

 

 

A growing sport
As volleyball’s popularity grows, the city is catching up with new rules to manage it. In the past, players could set up nets anywhere. But now, with a typical evening requiring 10 to 12 nets, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department has become concerned about wear on the grass.

Since early this year, new rules have taken effect: volleyball is limited to designated meadows that rotate every two months to give the turf time to recover. No more than four nets are allowed in one location at a time, and players must use standard-sized nets with plastic stakes. Clinics and tournaments require permits, and all play must end by sunset.

The volleyball community has accepted some of the new policies — like rotating locations and net standards — but is pushing back on others they see as incompatible with a grassroots, volunteer-led, and rapidly growing sport. That includes a $104-per-hour permit fee for every three nets used in clinics or tournaments, and the lack of permits available for field use after 6 p.m. — the time when most players are just getting off work.

A petition for change
In the spring, George Ong and Ana Pischl organized a petition urging Rec & Park to support the community’s growth. Nearly 1,700 people signed, including more than 80 from the Sunset, according to George.

“In years past, volleyball was tolerated because it wasn’t a big thing,” says George. “But it’s grown. And now we’re asking Rec and Parks to grow with us.”

Since then, community members have attended Rec & Park Commission meetings and met with staff. In response, the department has offered additional locations and raised the cap on nets in some areas.

Looking ahead
Updated volleyball policies are expected to be announced at the Rec & Park Commission meeting on August 21. Organizers remain hopeful the city will embrace what’s been built.

“We’re hoping Rec and Park sees us as a community they want to encourage,” George says. “We’re even willing to help pay the cost—we just want the process to be fair.”

As Ana puts it: “Volleyball in the park is a public good. It’s healthy. It’s joyful. And it’s something that makes San Francisco a better place to live.”

And on any given Monday or Wednesday evening, you can feel that joy in the air — laughter between serves, cheers after a good rally, neighbors becoming teammates. What started as a few friends setting up a net has become something bigger: an anchor of routine and wellness, including for those in the Sunset. 

Reported and written by volunteer community journalist Tom Colin. We encourage residents with journalism experience, retired journalists, and student journalists in high school and college to volunteer as writers for Supervisor Engardio’s newsletter. Interested? Apply here. Do you know a story you would like to see featured in the newsletter? Tell us about it here.