Graduate libero Ali Wells stepped onto the court at the College Park Center on Saturday for the final home game of his career, aiming for a program record. Wells has grown with his team over the past five years. She and five other seniors were recognized before the team’s Senior Day game.
In Saturday’s game, Wells set the program’s all-time scoring record with the game-ending point, which head coach J.T. Wenger said “couldn’t have been scripted any better.”
After the pregame ceremony, fans gathered to watch the final Mavericks game of the season. As the game progressed, Wells started collecting digs, just like he had throughout his career at UTA, but those defensive plays meant so much more on Saturday.
Wells needed nine digs Saturday to break the program’s all-time dig record held by Alicia Shafer. She stood on the service line at match point with eight players. Wenger said that as he served the ball over the net, he kept repeating in his mind, “Don’t take the ace, don’t take the ace.”
The opposing team controlled the serve, set up their attackers, and slammed the ball into the UTA side. Wells dug the ball to defend her UTA point, as she did 2,033 times in her career. The crowd erupted when she made the record-breaking shot and senior outside hitter Brianna Brown had a kill on the same play to clinch a three-set sweep on Senior Day.
“What happened tonight was like the end of the story,” Wells said of the Senior Day record-breaking.
The record came at the end of Wells’ fifth season, the season she wanted to play at UTA. The NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility rules gave athletes an additional year of eligibility. Wells said she entered this year knowing her record was within her reach and she wanted to achieve it.
Ms. Wells started playing volleyball in the fifth grade, playing libero and setter. She loves saving the ball and making crazy plays, she said. A 10-foot kill is exciting, but hustling him to make a play or running down a loose ball just excites everyone even more.
During her high school years, she played volleyball for the club volleyball team, Texas Image. There, Wells realized she could play at the collegiate level, and she began working with people at the club to get college offers.
“They were actually a big part of why I was here,” she said. “I originally planned to attend another school, but that fell through. Then Mel from Texas Image consulted JT on my behalf, we met at Image, and the rest is history. I did.”
Wells came to UTA after her initial commitments to the university fell through. She originally planned to attend Abilene Christian University, but she said she went where she was meant to go in God’s eyes.
Throughout his time at UTA, Wells has become one of the leaders on the team. She guides the players on the court, gesturing to them where to stand, and when she’s not on the court, she’s always on the sideline talking to her teammates.
She has built a bond with her teammates, but especially with the group honored Saturday. Senior outside hitter Blainna Ford said the six have played together for the past four years and have built chemistry and seniority with each other that will help in the game. Ford was one of the first to hug Wells after the game.
“I was so excited for her,” Ford said. “Being No. 1 in a program is something you don’t see very often. But yeah, it’s worth it.”
Wells said his favorite off-the-court moments with the team were exploring Pike Place in Seattle and climbing mountains in Utah on the team’s road trips. The six seniors have known each other for a long time, so they sometimes know what each other is thinking without having to say anything, which helps both on and off the court.
She said her favorite on-court memories include dominating rivals such as Texas State University and Stephen F. Austin State University, and her team’s victory after a long road trip.
Wenger described Wells as an instinctive player with an “impeccable work ethic” and a constant student of the game.
Wells said he hopes to continue his time at UTA as a graduate assistant coach after his playing career is over. Wells has one more year of schooling and he wants to keep his coaching options open.
But before those decisions are made, there’s still a season left, and Wells is taking it all in. After Saturday’s game, her family and team in Wells hugged her as they began to feel the emotion of her victory and record.
“I almost cried. I burst into tears. I didn’t think it would happen, but then… [assistant coach] “Lacey hugged me and I thought, ‘Oh, this is happening,'” she said.
Coach Wenger said it was a special opportunity for Wells to break the record on his home court. He enjoyed coaching her and noted Well’s passion for her and her dedication to both volleyball and her life.
“Her legacy in this program will be felt for years to come,” he said.
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