This year is it for Ashley Wallace. When the senior steps off the volleyball court in November, she will not return to what she called “the most fun sport ever.”

The middle-hitter said she will spend a fifth year at N.C. State as a “normal student,” with a double major and a plan to study abroad. After graduation, she said she will go to medical school to become a surgeon.

“I’ve wanted to go to med school for a long time,” Wallace said. “I did an internship in a burn unit that changed my life. And my brother was burned really badly, so it’s personal.”

While Wallace said she plans to pursue academia full time after her last season, her previous years have been filled with athletics. The 6-foot-1-inch blocker grew up playing basketball and was a catcher in softball. And, she said she was good.

Wallace’s volleyball career began when her best friend convinced her to join the high school team in the 11th grade. After that year, volleyball became her focus.

When talking about the sport, Wallace continually used the word fun.

“I’ve played almost every sport I could possibly play. [Volleyball] is so much fun. It’s competitive. It’s fast. It’s more of a team sport than any other sport I’ve played,” she said. “With basketball, you can get away with being more of an individual, but volleyball is kind of like football. You break down if one person doesn’t do their job. I just love it.”

Wallace said part of the reason she has enjoyed her time at State has been her teammates and the people she has been able to meet. Adjusting to incoming freshman every year has been a good experience, she said.

“We laugh a lot,” Wallace said. “We make fun of each other so much and tease each other about stuff. It’s not like a one day thing. It’s an ongoing, we-won’t-forget-until-you-die type thing.’

Andi Bentley, one of only two other seniors on the roster, roomed with Wallace during their freshman year and said she is lucky to have Wallace as her best friend.

“We’ve definitely come a long way,” Bentley said. “I’m glad she’s still with me and that we’ve made it this far. She’s just my strength. She gets me through the day and I thank her for that.”

While the team has been a highlight of Wallace’s time at State, she said she loves the school. The Ohio native said she always wanted to go to college in North Carolina and rejected all offers to play in-state. Wallace didn’t know exactly why, but she wanted to come to North Carolina from a young age.

“We had a home in Charleston, South Carolina, and I really liked it there, but it was too hot,” Wallace said. “We always drove through North Carolina, and I just liked it.”

Since choosing State, Wallace has ridden what she called the “roller coaster” of changes within the volleyball program. As the only two seniors, Wallace and Bentley have adjusted to four years of flux as they played two years for former coach Mary Byrne and two for current coach Charita Stubbs.

According to Stubbs, Wallace has made huge strides since last season.

“Last year, she was unrealistic in regards to her ability. She didn’t play with all that she was capable of playing with,” Stubbs said. “She came in with a great attitude this fall. She wanted to be the best she could be, and as a result, she’s doing wonderfully.”

For Wallace, this year is a complete reversal from the last.

“It feels more comfortable to be in the gym, and I like the girls a lot better,” Wallace said. “We’ve come a long way. Maybe it hasn’t shown in our record, but, definitely, we have. I tend to block things out, so hopefully we’ll finish well, and that’s what I’ll remember.”

Stubbs said Wallace brings experience to the court, which is invaluable this year because of the team’s youth. In addition to Wallace’s talent and athletic ability, Stubbs said her weird sense of humor and interesting personality contribute to the cohesiveness of the team.

“She’s very analytical,” Stubbs said. “She’s very opinionated, which I appreciate personally.”

According to Bentley, Wallace keeps players accountable on the court.

“Her personality could be described as a lion,” Bentley said. “She’s a go-getter. She’s very aggressive. She’s a tenacious blocker, and she swings hard.”

Off the court, Stubbs and Bentley said Wallace keeps the team fed. According to Stubbs, Wallace’s baking is a release.

“She’s a great cook,” Bentley said. “She bakes cookies, banana bread, pies. She bakes everything for the team. She cooks me dinner all the time.”

The opportunities for baking will become more plentiful after this season. Wallace said she won’t know what to do with herself without a rigorous athletic schedule.

“Time management will be an issue,” Wallace said. “I’ve had so many schedules for four years of my life that now I’ll be like ‘what do I want to do today? I don’t know.’ That will be my biggest issue — filling the void.”

For now, that void is filled with ACC matches still ahead, and Wallace will get to play “the most fun sport ever” for weeks to come. But when the season is over, Wallace has many plans to look forward to.

“I have a new chapter in my life to begin after volleyball. I’ll focus more on that,” Wallace said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had because I’ve met so many new people. It’s been fun.”