WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Caitlin Wallace has proven her worth on the floor in her first two seasons at Midwestern State.
Just last season, the junior middle blocker from Amarillo earned All-Lone Star Conference honorable mention ranking among national leaders with an impressive .297 attack percent which was the ninth best for a single season in school history.
And she certainly doesn't lack in confidence in her ability.
"In times of need, we were down by two points and (the opponent) was about to win they would give me the ball and I would put it down," Wallace said.
MSU coach Venera Flores-Stafford was certainly happy to have a go-to performer on the floor, but after a tumultuous offseason she needed more. The coach needed a true leader on the floor.
"I felt like I was always counted on to be a leader," Wallace said. "I led by example and I always led by my actions. It was more of that I needed to use my voice instead."
So Flores-Stafford nominated Wallace to participate in a specially selected MSU Leadership class in the spring. A decision which would not only aid her team but more important bring out the from-the-front mentality she saw in Wallace.
"I always felt she expected more from me leadership wise just because where I came from, where I went to high school and the way I play," Wallace said. "It was more of last year in the offseason when we had a year when a lot of girls quit and just lost a lot of people. We really had to break it down and come together. She came to me after the season and motivated me to look deeper into myself to be the leader she knows I can be."
The class of 10 challenged each student to define just what a leader is supposed to be - a role she is growing more and more willing to accept.
"I need to be more vocal and bring the girls together," Wallace said. "We speak our mind and we do constructive criticism. That's really big with us. With me, I use positive energy. I am always encouraging or telling people, 'You've got this.' I am always there for somebody whether it's good or bad."
Wallace knows what it means to be a part of a program with great expectations as she experienced the feeling during a very successful run in volleyball and basketball as a Sandy at Amarillo High School.
"At Amarillo High, we've always had a tradition of great volleyball," she said. "Going into that, you were expected to win. I think growing up in that (competitive atmosphere) was awesome because it really got me started for college."
Wallace and spectacular senior class played a big role in helping Amarillo High School to its third and fourth consecutive state volleyball titles in 2008 and 2009. And she still sees many of those teammates regularly.
"We had nine seniors the year I graduated and eight of them are playing college volleyball," she said. "I believe five or six of them are in the Lone Star Conference playing against each other. It's pretty crazy."
Wallace also shifted quickly into her hoops mode earning all-district honors while aiding the Sandies to deep playoff runs late in the same years.
"Playing two sports prepared me for college discipline wise," she said. "I was able to transition to basketball instantly in a day. You're always learning in college and I had to switch really fast and get back into it. I feel always changing and always learning (in high school) really helped me a lot."
It also helped her having to make the tough choice of just what sport she would be best suited for at the collegiate level. Wallace had the opportunity walk-on in either sport at close-to-home West Texas A&M, play hoops at Wayland Baptist or jump to fellow Division II member Metro State (Colo.) in volleyball.
"It got into the time where everyone was signing and I had to make a quick decision," Wallace said. "It was really hard because I loved basketball, but I felt like I would enjoy volleyball more and had more opportunity for success. It was a really hard decision for me but I think I made the right one. I love it so much."
And as for picking MSU?
"It's the perfect size of college for me," she said. "I love how the community is always involved. All the churches alongside the school are always at our games. And I love how all the sports come to support each other and we're like a huge family. I just love the atmosphere."
COUNTDOWN TO OPENERS
WOMEN'S/MEN'S SOCCER/VOLLEYBALL -- 10 DAYS: Women's Soccer opens the year against No. 10 Fort Lewis (Colo.) as part of the MSU Classic on Friday, Aug. 31 at the MSU Soccer Field. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. West Texas A&M and Colorado Mesa lead off the classic earlier in the afternoon at 3 p.m. The MSU Men's Soccer team takes on Texas A&M International at 7 p.m. to complete the tripleheader.
FOOTBALL -- 18 DAYS: No. 4 Midwestern State opens the regular season at Tarleton State on Saturday, Sep. 8at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
ON TAP
SIXTH ANNUAL WELCOME BACK DINNER: The Sixth Annual Midwestern State Athletics Welcome Back Dinner features former Dallas Cowboys legendary quarterback Danny White as the guest speaker on Sunday, Aug. 26 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
Reserve your spot now for the Sixth Annual Midwestern State Athletics Welcome Back Dinner by submitting $70 for an individual sponsorship. Additional seats are available for $40. For more information, contact Sheri Mummert at (940) 397-4779.
LIFE SKILLS DAY WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER KEN "COACH" CARTER: The inspiration for the awarding winning movie Coach Carter is slated as the keynote speaker for Midwestern State University Athletics' Third Annual Life Skills Day set for Saturday, Aug. 25.
The general public is invited to attend the event set for 6 p.m. at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
