Callie Craus '19 Recruiting Profile

My love of athletics started at a young age.  I spent my first years watching my sister and brother participate in their sports.  My sister excelled at gymnastics.  She trained hard and went on to be a collegiate gymnast at the University of Oklahoma where she is actively participating and enjoying being a part of the # 1 gymnastics team in the nation.  My brother loves shooting sports.  I've watched him win top honors at many of his sporting clay, trap and skeet competitions.  He plans to join club shooting when he attends Tarleton State in the Fall of 2017.  When I was 5, I finally got to pick a sport of my own.  I played soccer and loved to score.  I took gymnastics and loved all 4 events.  But, when I began playing volleyball in 5th grade recreational level,   I knew it was the sport for me.  Initially I was like all the other girls, I wanted to be a hitter!  I loved the thrill of the kill.  But, my aunt was a setter in high school, my cousin was a setter in college and they both told me I should try setting.  My mom agreed.  It took one game!  I love hitting but I love to be the "play-maker"  I love executing the plays! 

I've played volleyball at the club level since I was 11 years old.  This is my 5th year of club.  During that time I have played as setter.   But, every season I have played additional positions wherever I was needed.  I have played all-the-way-around in several tournaments.  I have played Right Side Hitter, along with setter, one whole season when we lost our RH to injury.  I have run a 6-2 as well as 5-1.  I love running the 5-1 because blocking is exciting! Recently my coach has let me play in the ds/libero position as well.  I really enjoy every position on the court. 

People tell me that getting to play volleyball in college won't be easy because I'm not super tall.  But, as many of my coaches and team parents have told me....I play tall.   This year, a couple of the team parents dubbed me "the momentum changer".  I love that name because as a setter, I feel like it's my job to keep the momentum and intensity up.   My motto is "never let the ball drop" and I work hard to fulfill that motto every time I step on the court. Nothing excites me more than getting a ball back into play when others have decided it is un-reachable.   I'm the same way about my studies.  I organize myself to be the best student I can be.  I focus and study when I have the chance so that when it comes time to practice and workout for volleyball I am focused and ready to play and play hard!  That organization is only going to help be prepared for college and the rigors of study and collegiate sports. I plan to excel at both.  Given the opportunity I know I can make a positive addition to a collegiate team and to its athletic as well as it's academic reputation.