Fayetteville’s Powell heads to professional volleyball ranks
FAYETTEVILLE — Ella May Powell has enjoyed success as she’s gone from high school to Division I college volleyball. She’s now ready to climb the next rung on the ladder to the professional ranks.
Powell will now head to another part of the world in about three weeks to continue her volleyball journey. Powell will play for the Beziers Angels in the southern part of France. That team competes in France’s top division of pro women’s volleyball and is the defending league champion. Powell will leave for Seattle on Aug. 15 and will depart for France later that week. The season will end around May.
“It’s a big life change and I’m really excited for it,” Powell said. “But I know it’s going to come with a lot of challenges.”
Powell has conquered many challenges on the court already over the years.
Powell helped guide Fayetteville High School to three consecutive state championships. Not to mention she was the starting setter for the 2016 United States Girls Youth National Team that claimed the silver medal at the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation Championships in Puerto Rico. Powell also helped the University of Washington to a Final Four appearance.
She tore up the Washington record book during her time in Seattle and became just the second Husky to be a four-time All-American.
She finished as the school’s career leader in sets played with 586, appearing in every set over her five seasons, and finished third in the Pac-12 history and second at Washington with 6,220 career assists, ranking 14th in NCAA history. Powell also broke the school career aces record with 162 and finished with the most career digs of any non-libero at Washington with 1,370, sixth-most overall.
Fayetteville High School Coach Jessica Phelan, the first volleyball All American at the University of Arkansas, said the 6-o setter’s competitive spirit combined with incredible ability makes her special.
“She has that competitive fire that she knows how to lead the floor and if it’s 2424 you want the ball in Ella’s hands making those decisions and firing her team up,” Phelan said. “She just exudes confidence in those situations. She’s the perfect floor general.”
Powell chose to go a long way from home, leaving Northwest Arkansas to head to Seattle.
“It’s the best decision I could have made for myself,” Powell said. “Choosing UW and looking back now, I think of so many amazing memories, not only on the court but off the court as well. The people and the culture at Washington is unlike any other. I’m just so proud to be a part of something that was so much bigger than myself.”
She also said Washington’s run to the Final Four in the spring of 2021 will always stick in her mind, including the team’s come-from-behind win against Pittsburgh.
“It’s just something I’ve always dreamed of as a kid,” Powell said. “Being able to do that with people that I love made it more special. Coming back from two sets down is one of those matches I’ll remember forever. It took a few years off my life for sure, but it was a special match in my mind.”
But she said her time at Washington has taught her to deal with uncomfortable situations. That should help her adjust to living in another country.
“I’ve been blessed with amazing coaches who taught me to embrace a lot of challenges,” Powell said. “Talk about walking into discomfort. I’m expecting this new journey to bring plenty of challenges, but that’s what Fayetteville and UW taught me to do is to just walk towards those bravely and accept what ever comes with it. Work your hardest. Try your hardest and whatever happens happens.”