Photo by: Red Box Pictures
Net Posts With Ella May Powell
November 29, 2018 | Volleyball
It's been a whirlwind first four months of college for freshman Ella May Powell. Newly named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team this week, Powell came in with big expectations but big shoes to fill for a young Husky squad. Through the ups and downs of a long thirty match season, the Fayetteville, Ark. native has been steady at the center of it all, playing every set and learning on the fly. Powell and the Huskies head into the NCAA Championships this weekend, starting Friday in Omaha, Neb., and she talked this week about the successes and challenges of her freshman season thus far.
Β
GoHuskies: When you take a look back at the regular season that just wrapped up, what stands out most to you?
Ella May Powell: This year we've had some challenges. Obviously we lost those five games in a row and what I'm most proud of is being able to come into practice with a learning and growth mindset every day and continuing to work hard every single day even when things weren't going well. I think that was one-hundred percent the reason we were able to pull ourselves out of that was because of how hard we worked every day at practice, and that was as a collective group, not just individuals, so I'm really proud of how we came back from those losses with such a positive mindset every day. We did not take one day of practice off which is impressive from this group.
Β
GH: Would you say that's the same feeling you have now considering the team lost a couple tough five setters to end the regular season?
EMP: Absolutely. I think we know the team that we can be, and we've felt that. Every match that we've played we've had glimpses of that, and I think we're all just ready to be there, and for that to be us all the time, unconditionally. I think we are working hard now, not just physically, but to keep and maintain that kind of mentality. Just to keep that consistency every single game.
Β
GH: Heading into your first NCAA tournament, how much have you been looking forward to this experience?
EMP: I've been looking forward to this since I was little. I always watched it and I always pictured being there, but it's actually here, and I'm just ecstatic to get going and to see what it feels like.
Β
GH: Do you remember when you first watched the NCAA tournament on TV or saw a match?
EMP: I always watched games here and there, but I actually got to go to the (2014) Final Four match, with BYU and Penn State, and I just remember the hype of everything, like everyone was all volleyball, and that was such a cool experience. You see it with basketball but just to be there and see it for volleyball is unreal. I just remember looking down on the court and thinking I want to be there one day. It was very motivational for me.
Β
GH: You grew up with two older brothers, so were you trying to follow in their footsteps a bit in sports or other things?
EMP: They were definitely the typical big brothers, they were rough on me all the time and treated me like a younger brother, they didn't baby me at all, but I think that's what made me who I am. I can't thank them enough for how tough they were on me. When I was little I never realized how much they would mean to me until I got older. My brother Walker plays college baseball so I have been able to relate with him so much more than I ever have. And my older brother just got married, and even that has just brought us so much closer. Being away from them really has made me miss them a lot.
Β
GH: Has it been hard being far away from home for the first time?
EMP: I'm not homesick, but I've come to appreciate home a lot more than I thought I would. I am excited to get back there over break, but by no means am I homesick.
Β
GH: Does your family have certain Christmas traditions that you are looking forward to?
EMP: All of my family lives in Fayetteville, so just getting to be with them. We're always together on the holidays, and I wasn't with them on Thanksgiving, but over Christmas I'm just looking forward to being with them again. We have this little square in my town with a bunch of shops and all these lights that are up and so we always go there. That will be fun to just spend some quality time.
Β
GH: It seems like you have a lot of hometown support from Fayetteville, just based on social media. Is that something you feel?
EMP: Oh, for sure. My high school coaches are the best role models I could ask for, and same with my club coaches, and that is reflected in my school team. They show me nothing but love and I can't thank them enough for that. Every time I look, if something is posted about our game on Twitter, they're liking it and they're supporting us, and they do that with the rest of my teammates too. They're the best people and they taught me a lot about how to be a good person. My club is also super supportive and my club coach taught me everything I know.
Β
GH: Who have you been rooming with this season?
EMP: I'm living with Claire, Dani, and Shannon. We love it. I really like rooming with them. We are actually not sick of each other yet (laughs) so we'll see how that goes. But I enjoy getting to know them better off the court and they're my best friends now.
Β
GH: With everything you have to do on the court, is there one skill that you think you have improved the most since you came to Washington? And what are you looking to improve the most as you move forward?
EMP: I definitely underestimated how much all of my skills would have to be improved. I obviously knew that I would have to be good in every aspect, but just the attention to every single part of my game, the amount that I put in now compared to high school is a lot more than I thought it would be. From serving, to defense, just how much I've hard to get better in those aspects to help my team, it's not just about setting. That correlates to being a good teammate and having a leadership role. I've had to get better tremendously at every aspect. I would like to get better at blocking, for sure. I'm excited to get stronger in the winter and spring and I really want to get better at blocking. Keegan and Jason have done so much to help me get better at defense.
Β
GH: What gets you most fired up during a match?
EMP: Whenever I might not make the best set and the hitter just goes and cranks it is the best feeling ever cause they've got my back and that's the coolest feeling. Of course whenever someone stuffs a ball is one of my favorite things in volleyball. I love to get super excited whenever other people do great things.
Β
GH: How has it been with classes starting partway through the year and balancing academics and athletics?
EMP: It's been about how I expected, but that's still pretty tough. Everyone says it, but I've definitely learned time management, for sure. Just getting things done early and not waiting. I luckily have Claire and Shannon in some of my classes so we've been able to help each other out which has been super nice.
Β
GH: Is there a major or two that you are leaning towards?
EMP: I think I am leaning towards Communications and Psychology, maybe with a certificate in sales, and take a few marketing classes. I want to stay in sports, I might be interested in broadcasting, I don't know though.
Β
GH: Has there been any big surprises for you this season, good or bad, or just anything that you didn't expect?
EMP: It surprises me every day just how much this is the school for me. I could not have chosen a better place for myself, the volleyball, the people, everything every day confirms I picked the right place which is so comforting being this far away from home. Having that reassurance is awesome. That's something I didn't really think about but it's stood out to me so much.
Β
GH: Rapid fire round β¦ If you could do any other sport at UW what would it be?
EMP: Since I high jumped in high school, I only did it for two years, but I'm realizing how much I miss it now, so I would probably high jump.
Β
GH: What movie have you watched the most times?
EMP: Open Season, which is an animated movie and is my favorite movie. But all the Marvel-Avenger movies, I love as well.
Β
GH: What was the last show you binged?
EMP: Vampire Diaries.
Β
GH: What's your favorite restaurant in Seattle?
EMP: Din Thai Fung, I only go there on special occasions, but so good.
Β
GH: Do you have a pre-match ritual?
EMP: I usually listen to my old country playlist before and then right before the game I listen to some pump-up music, but I've got to chill out first.
Β
GH: What's your dream vacation spot?
EMP: The Maldives, because the water's rising and they're supposed to disappear so I want to go before they disappear.
Β
GH: Who is your favorite pro athlete in any sport?
EMP: Courtney Thompson. I've always said that since I was little, and they say never meet your heroes because you'll be disappointed, but I met her and then she became even more of my idol and a role model for me.
Β
GoHuskies: When you take a look back at the regular season that just wrapped up, what stands out most to you?
Ella May Powell: This year we've had some challenges. Obviously we lost those five games in a row and what I'm most proud of is being able to come into practice with a learning and growth mindset every day and continuing to work hard every single day even when things weren't going well. I think that was one-hundred percent the reason we were able to pull ourselves out of that was because of how hard we worked every day at practice, and that was as a collective group, not just individuals, so I'm really proud of how we came back from those losses with such a positive mindset every day. We did not take one day of practice off which is impressive from this group.
Β
GH: Would you say that's the same feeling you have now considering the team lost a couple tough five setters to end the regular season?
EMP: Absolutely. I think we know the team that we can be, and we've felt that. Every match that we've played we've had glimpses of that, and I think we're all just ready to be there, and for that to be us all the time, unconditionally. I think we are working hard now, not just physically, but to keep and maintain that kind of mentality. Just to keep that consistency every single game.
Β
GH: Heading into your first NCAA tournament, how much have you been looking forward to this experience?
EMP: I've been looking forward to this since I was little. I always watched it and I always pictured being there, but it's actually here, and I'm just ecstatic to get going and to see what it feels like.
Β
GH: Do you remember when you first watched the NCAA tournament on TV or saw a match?
EMP: I always watched games here and there, but I actually got to go to the (2014) Final Four match, with BYU and Penn State, and I just remember the hype of everything, like everyone was all volleyball, and that was such a cool experience. You see it with basketball but just to be there and see it for volleyball is unreal. I just remember looking down on the court and thinking I want to be there one day. It was very motivational for me.
Β
GH: You grew up with two older brothers, so were you trying to follow in their footsteps a bit in sports or other things?
EMP: They were definitely the typical big brothers, they were rough on me all the time and treated me like a younger brother, they didn't baby me at all, but I think that's what made me who I am. I can't thank them enough for how tough they were on me. When I was little I never realized how much they would mean to me until I got older. My brother Walker plays college baseball so I have been able to relate with him so much more than I ever have. And my older brother just got married, and even that has just brought us so much closer. Being away from them really has made me miss them a lot.
Β
GH: Has it been hard being far away from home for the first time?
EMP: I'm not homesick, but I've come to appreciate home a lot more than I thought I would. I am excited to get back there over break, but by no means am I homesick.
Β
GH: Does your family have certain Christmas traditions that you are looking forward to?
EMP: All of my family lives in Fayetteville, so just getting to be with them. We're always together on the holidays, and I wasn't with them on Thanksgiving, but over Christmas I'm just looking forward to being with them again. We have this little square in my town with a bunch of shops and all these lights that are up and so we always go there. That will be fun to just spend some quality time.
Β
GH: It seems like you have a lot of hometown support from Fayetteville, just based on social media. Is that something you feel?
EMP: Oh, for sure. My high school coaches are the best role models I could ask for, and same with my club coaches, and that is reflected in my school team. They show me nothing but love and I can't thank them enough for that. Every time I look, if something is posted about our game on Twitter, they're liking it and they're supporting us, and they do that with the rest of my teammates too. They're the best people and they taught me a lot about how to be a good person. My club is also super supportive and my club coach taught me everything I know.
Β
GH: Who have you been rooming with this season?
EMP: I'm living with Claire, Dani, and Shannon. We love it. I really like rooming with them. We are actually not sick of each other yet (laughs) so we'll see how that goes. But I enjoy getting to know them better off the court and they're my best friends now.
Β
GH: With everything you have to do on the court, is there one skill that you think you have improved the most since you came to Washington? And what are you looking to improve the most as you move forward?
EMP: I definitely underestimated how much all of my skills would have to be improved. I obviously knew that I would have to be good in every aspect, but just the attention to every single part of my game, the amount that I put in now compared to high school is a lot more than I thought it would be. From serving, to defense, just how much I've hard to get better in those aspects to help my team, it's not just about setting. That correlates to being a good teammate and having a leadership role. I've had to get better tremendously at every aspect. I would like to get better at blocking, for sure. I'm excited to get stronger in the winter and spring and I really want to get better at blocking. Keegan and Jason have done so much to help me get better at defense.
Β
GH: What gets you most fired up during a match?
EMP: Whenever I might not make the best set and the hitter just goes and cranks it is the best feeling ever cause they've got my back and that's the coolest feeling. Of course whenever someone stuffs a ball is one of my favorite things in volleyball. I love to get super excited whenever other people do great things.
Β
GH: How has it been with classes starting partway through the year and balancing academics and athletics?
EMP: It's been about how I expected, but that's still pretty tough. Everyone says it, but I've definitely learned time management, for sure. Just getting things done early and not waiting. I luckily have Claire and Shannon in some of my classes so we've been able to help each other out which has been super nice.
Β
GH: Is there a major or two that you are leaning towards?
EMP: I think I am leaning towards Communications and Psychology, maybe with a certificate in sales, and take a few marketing classes. I want to stay in sports, I might be interested in broadcasting, I don't know though.
Β
GH: Has there been any big surprises for you this season, good or bad, or just anything that you didn't expect?
EMP: It surprises me every day just how much this is the school for me. I could not have chosen a better place for myself, the volleyball, the people, everything every day confirms I picked the right place which is so comforting being this far away from home. Having that reassurance is awesome. That's something I didn't really think about but it's stood out to me so much.
Β
GH: Rapid fire round β¦ If you could do any other sport at UW what would it be?
EMP: Since I high jumped in high school, I only did it for two years, but I'm realizing how much I miss it now, so I would probably high jump.
Β
GH: What movie have you watched the most times?
EMP: Open Season, which is an animated movie and is my favorite movie. But all the Marvel-Avenger movies, I love as well.
Β
GH: What was the last show you binged?
EMP: Vampire Diaries.
Β
GH: What's your favorite restaurant in Seattle?
EMP: Din Thai Fung, I only go there on special occasions, but so good.
Β
GH: Do you have a pre-match ritual?
EMP: I usually listen to my old country playlist before and then right before the game I listen to some pump-up music, but I've got to chill out first.
Β
GH: What's your dream vacation spot?
EMP: The Maldives, because the water's rising and they're supposed to disappear so I want to go before they disappear.
Β
GH: Who is your favorite pro athlete in any sport?
EMP: Courtney Thompson. I've always said that since I was little, and they say never meet your heroes because you'll be disappointed, but I met her and then she became even more of my idol and a role model for me.
Players Mentioned
S
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