ANTIGONISH, N.S. — HALIFAX - Like many youngsters in Antigonish, Stephanie Wallace played several sports growing up.
In elementary school, there was time spent on the pitch, in the rink and on the court; soccer, hockey, basketball and volleyball part of her athletic schedule.
By Grade 5, she decided to focus on the ice, playing with the Bulldogs in the Antigonish Minor Hockey Association (AMHA).
But, a couple years later, she made the switch from skate to sneakers, returning to her first love.
In Grade 7, the now first-year left side with the Saint Mary’s Huskies in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) narrowed her focus to volleyball and she has never looked back.
“I remembered how much fun I had – I fell in love with it again,” Wallace said.
The next six years included four seasons as a key member of the highly-competitive Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional girls’ program. The Royals were her focus in the fall, while the winter and spring seasons were spent under the former Antigonish Storm club banner.
And, as part of a year-round playing schedule, Wallace also suited up with several Volleyball Nova Scotia teams, including U14 and U17 squads, during summers.
Along with playing, times at the then Oland Centre watching the former St. F.X. X-Women program furthered cemented her love for the game. Volleyball is also a family tradition; her father, Bernie, is a long-time coach, while her older siblings – Elizabeth and Patrick – performed at a high level.
“I remembered watching and wanting to be like them,” the freshman left side said.
‘The right choice’
As her high school years wound down, Wallace was unsure if varsity volleyball would be part of her post-secondary journey. Eventually, rather than attending St. F.X. and concentrating solely on academics, she decided to go after a student-athlete experience.
“I am really happy – it was definitely the right choice for me,” she said of attending Saint Mary’s and playing for the Huskies.
“I have met so many people, both inside and outside the program, and made a lot of friends.”
Although it is located in the south end of Halifax, she noted the St. Mary’s campus is probably smaller than the St. F.X. one in her rural hometown.
“I really feel a sense of home,” Wallace said of her Saint Mary’s experience so far.
She is focussed on general sciences in the classroom, with a possible focus on psychology down the line.
“I have a lot of options,” Wallace noted.
‘Great addition’
Saint Mary’s head coach Darren Russell described Wallace as a “great addition” to their program.
“I watched her in high school and she was really strong, with a lot of power,” he said.
Although only a freshman, Russell added she has shown “great leadership” during her time on the floor.
During the pre-Christmas schedule, after getting time during the pre-season, he said the Antigonish native has also “done well” in limited floor time in the regular season on a top-three AUS squad.
Russell noted she played “extremely well” in matches versus the Memorial SeaHawks, as the Huskies have been battling the injury bug.
“Stephanie contributed, including with her passing and on the offensive end,” he explained.
Russell added he is “very happy” with her early progress on a young Saint Mary’s roster.
“We expect Stephanie to be a big part of our program and contribute – more and more – as the years go by,” he said.
As for the transition to AUS play, he explained, athletes are not only making the transition from being a top player on their high school teams but also going up against experienced opponents, some of which might be three of four years older.
“There are players who are bigger and it is a level that is much more physical,” Russell said, adding the “speed of the game” is higher.
Wallace agreed.
“I was unsure what to expect because I had never played at such a high level,” she said. “The serves are harder; everything is harder. You have to be so much quicker on blocks and on every play.”
She noted players are “so much stronger.”
Overall, on the court, Wallace said things have “gone really well,” noting the tremendous support she has received from her teammates and coaching staff.
She also thanked family for their ongoing encouragement, especially her parents – Bernie Wallace and Cathy MacDonald.
“They have been great – no matter where or how often I had to go to play, they always got me where I needed to go and supported me,” Wallace said.