Darla Wack, Allison Wack’s aunt, starred for UW-Milwaukee in the 1980’s. Nate Wack, Allison’s brother, played volleyball for UC-Santa Barbara from 2001-04. Jocelyn Wack set the record for most digs in a career for the Badgers.
Coming from a volleyball family, Wack has figured things out from a very young age.
She was going to play volleyball, and she was going to play volleyball for head coach Pete Waite at the University of Wisconsin.
That script was drawn up by Wack dating all the way back to her early high school years when her sister Jocelyn came for a recruiting visit to Madison.
From there, her mind was all but made up.
“I hadn’t even seen campus yet really, but the atmosphere [was great] and I told my mom I’m going to Wisconsin,” Wack said. “My mom told me you should have a backup plan in case it doesn’t work out, but I didn’t wanna play volleyball anywhere else.”
Wack wanted to play for UW so bad that she would even email Waite periodically during her high school years. The series of emails remains a running joke between the coach and arguably the team’s best player this season.
Throughout the recruiting process, Wack continued the emails, but it wasn’t long before Waite and the Badger coaching staff became equally as interested in her as she was in them.
Wack was named the 2003 National High School Player of the Year by PrepVolleyball.com, 2006-07 Gatorade state player of the year and was awarded numerous other accolades. She also led Wetosha Central to three state championships.
All before she was 18.
After Waite identified her talent, the happy marriage was completed.
“From the beginning she wanted to come to Wisconsin, so we knew it was a good match,” Waite said, chuckling.
While everything volleyball related came easy to Wack in high school, it wasn’t quite as easy when she arrived as a chipper freshman.
She had to battle several other highly touted hitters for playing time, but fortunately, her sister was not one of them.
Jocelyn played outside hitter in high school – the same position as Allison – but switched over to the strictly passing position of libero at Wisconsin.
Wack drew strength and inspiration from her older sister, knowing her time would eventually come.
“From her freshman year on, the improvement she made mostly was her mental toughness,” Waite said. “When she got here, just like all the players that come to the next level in Division I, everyone was a starter, and now you have to compete for a spot. Mentally, that is very tough for some players, so she had to overcome that first.”
Wack has grown both as a player and as a leader during her four years in Madison, which culminated in a stellar 2010 fall campaign.
She was named Big Ten Player of the Week in late October – her first such award – for posting back-to-back 20-plus kill outings.
As Wack matured as a player, she also honed her leadership skills, providing valuable guidance for the next generation of Badger volleyball.
“She’s always been a leader, but you can see her maturing throughout the years,” setter Janelle Gabrielsen said.
“Everyone is a different type of leader; Wack is kind of a quiet leader,” Waite added. “She’ll talk to people, give them confidence on the court. I think the best thing she’s done lately is be that leader that shows them how to be tough in difficult situations.”
Players and coaches agree they see Wack in an advisory role, particularly as a teacher.
The Human Development and Family Studies major is not in the School of Education and will therefore need to obtain a teaching certificate post-college, something she plans on doing.
As for an ideal end to her career and what she will ultimately be remembered for, coach Waite had a precise answer.
“We’ll look back on her finish. She peaked playing her best ball at the end of her career, and that’s something everyone wants to do,” Waite said. “If you can be playing your best at the end, that’s something you’ll be remembered for.”
After seven years of having a Wack on the volleyball team, it surely will be a tough one to forget.
