Ankeny volleyball standout Jesa Wallace has verbally committed to play for William Jewell College, an NCAA Division II school in Liberty, Mo.
Wallace, a senior setter, has helped the fifth-ranked Hawkettes to a 7-1 record. She said it was not an easy decision.
“It’s hard to make when it comes to where you plan on spending your next four years,” Wallace said. “I had a lot of conversations with my club coaches and my high school coaches, and a few friends that have already made their decisions. I also spent a lot of time talking with (former Ankeny teammate) Kaci Behrens about her experience at William Jewell.
“They were all really good about asking me the hard questions and asking me to focus on my pros and cons to help me make a decision that was right for me. That list brought me back to William Jewell,” she added.
Wallace became a starter at Ankeny last year and helped the Hawkettes to a 40-6 mark and a Class 5A semifinal appearance. She dished out 581 assists while also adding 34 kills and 45 blocks.
Wallace looked at a few different schools before making her decision.
“I went on some visits, but coach Beck and coach Williams and the team at Jewell made me feel like I was part of the team,” she said. “I felt comfortable–like I was meant to be there.”
The academic opportunities at William Jewell were also a factor in Wallace’s decision.
“I think the thing I like most about the school is that not only was the team so welcoming and everyone there was so nice, but as an undecided major they have so many opportunities to help me figure out what career fits me best!” Wallace said.