Arthur Wu ’25 is not only a towering presence on the volleyball court, ready to spike through any block in his path; he is a leader and inspirational figure both on and off the court. He embodies passion, embraces the challenges, and supports his teammates unlike anyone else.
Wu stressed the importance of love for the game, noting that passion for the game allows players to grow. He added that a love of learning the game will improve and refine your skills, no matter your level of play.
“My philosophy as a captain is all about passion. If you love the sport and are willing to learn, there is always a way to refine your technique. As a captain, but also a player, I’m learning things from my teammates every day, and it’s clear that we’re all very passionate about the sport and want to improve,” said Wu.
Reflecting on the season, fellow Captain Brandon Fu ’25 remarked that Wu demonstrates outstanding leadership. Every moment, he wants himself and the team to improve.
“He is a great leader when it comes to presence on the court. He is vocal and determined. His clear goals are one of the biggest things I loved about Arthur as a captain; his ability to articulate his concerns and his praises. Every time someone did something right, he made sure to be there and be the first one to congratulate them, and every time you did something that he knew you could do better, he would try to help you improve,” said Fu.
Wu is a source of support for team members outside of the court. William Oh ’26, who also shares a dorm with Wu, noted that he asks Wu for help with non-volleyball-related topics.
“Even off the court, with Arthur being my proctor, he is someone that I go to for advice. He’s someone that I can depend on to talk about both volleyball and non-volleyball topics. He’s always accepting, open, and kind,” said Oh.
Wu suffered an injury near the end of the season, which was a major loss for the team. Nevertheless, Wu found other ways to influence the team’s success.
“I got injured during our semifinals game, and it was rough. There was nothing I wanted to do more than get back on the court, but I was unable to return to the team. At that point, I knew that my job was to hype up the team and keep our energy going, especially when our momentum slowed,” said Wu.
Fu added that during this time, Wu continued to attend practice and was still a significant presence on the team, showing up despite his injury for the team in its most challenging part of the season.
“He showed up during practice. He kept an open mind and tried to prepare before the Exeter game. Unfortunately, he wasn’t cleared, but he didn’t let his emotions about the situation cloud our determination and goal. He showed up for us when it mattered the most in terms of his work ethic, mentality, and general presence,” said Fu.
Despite not playing in the second Exeter game, Wu was a significant presence in the first Exeter matchup this season. Wu remembered his block on Exeter’s primary hitter, which sealed the game for Andover; he called it his highlight of the season.
“My highlight of the season would have to be our first game against Exeter. We played until the fifth set, and on the last point, I shut down their primary hitter with a single block. It felt great and I’d say I’ll remember it,” said Wu.
One trait that makes Wu such an outstanding volleyball player is that he is constantly trying new things. He recommended that others on the team do the same, discovering new techniques and finding their own style.
“Something about me is that I’m never done trying new things. Whether it’s by changing my serve, my attack routes, or my swing, it is important to stay curious and try to refine these skills. Hopefully, my teammates will stay passionate and curious about the sport,” said Wu.
