Tori Ellis: UVU Volleyball’s hot hand

Tori Ellis has been one of the most electrifying parts of UVU Volleyball this year. As the senior outside hitter reaches the end of her illustrious career, she looks back on where she came from, what she has done and where she still has to go. 

Being top 15 in UVU history in both blocks and kills, Ellis has been a revelation for the Wolverines, becoming one of the best players in the program’s history. 

But there was a time when Ellis was not even sure she would play volleyball.  

As a two-sport star at Wasatch High School, basketball was always the priority. “I always leaned more towards basketball; my brothers played basketball; my dad played basketball,” Ellis mentioned. “I had always played basketball, soccer, swimming, so volleyball was like the last sport I tried.”  

One of Ellis’ brothers, Trevin, is a graduate transfer student from Utah State University and will play his final collegiate season for Utah Valley Men’s Basketball this upcoming year. 

Volleyball was a late addition to her adolescence, and at the time, it was not a particularly impactful part of it.  

“I was in seventh grade; it was just because my mom’s friend was starting a volleyball club, we would just play at this girl’s barn that had a court in it, and he taught us how to play volleyball.” 

But as Ellis grew older, she felt herself drawn closer and closer to the sport. “I just felt more satisfaction playing volleyball; the most exciting moments of basketball still were not better than the good moments of playing volleyball. Getting a kill or a block, or an intense set to five was way more thrilling and intense than basketball for me.”  

The difficult choice between her two best sports came down to the wire. Even now, she is a little unsure about why she made the decision she did. Ellis talked about the excitement of each sport, the workload, and her personal enjoyment, but it seems like the final decision came down to one thing.  

“I knew I had more potential in volleyball.” Ellis said. And as time has shown, she was right. 

“Once I went to Club V, a high-level volleyball club in Salt Lake City, I just felt like I gained more confidence. The people in Heber were always telling me I could make it, but they are also my friends, so of course they had to say that,” Ellis said. “But once I left that bubble and there were people outside of the people, I knew that also had confidence in me, that helped a lot.”  

Ellis entered the recruiting process late, but due to her talent and her height, she quickly received an offer from Utah Valley University that she accepted. But the first years were not easy. 

“It was definitely a progression,” Ellis said. “I contributed, but in a different way. We had a lot of injured girls my freshman year, so I feel like my role was filling in a gap until a girl was healthy again.”  

Ellis continued to talk about the struggles of that type of playing time. “I would just get thrown in randomly, which was hard,” Ellis stated. “I remember there were a couple of games where I would be put in, and my only job was to get a block, it would be game point and Sam (Atoa) would be like ‘Tori, go!’ And when you get the block, you are the hero, but if you do not get the block, you are the reason they lose.” 

But as time would go on Ellis’ contributions would continue to grow, and she would develop into the player she is now. “The last couple of years I have definitely been able to make a bigger contribution,” Ellis mentioned. “But I feel like with the teams that we have had in the past, and the culture and environment, whether you are on the court, or on the bench, you can still contribute. The roles just changed throughout the years.”  

Now, as a senior, Ellis thinks back on her UVU career, the ups and downs, the things that have changed, the things that have stayed the same. The feeling that she feels most is gratitude. 

“I am proud of myself for just doing it. It is easy to be overwhelmed. Days are hard, you do not want to show up for practice, you do not want to leave for the weekend for a tournament, or an away game, being away from my husband, it is definitely hard sometimes,” Ellis said. “But I will always be grateful that I did it. It will be really sad to not see these girls every day, the people I have spent the last years of my life with.”  

Although leaving something that has been such a massive part of her life for so long is never easy there are some things that Tori is looking forward to. 

“My body will be happy that I’m not torturing it anymore,” Ellis said with a laugh. She continued saying, “I think I’m excited for what’s coming, I’m excited to not do long distance anymore with my husband; he’s been supporting me for so long. I’m excited to follow and support him.”  

But for right now, Ellis is exactly where she wants to be. 

“It is so easy to get carried away with the stress and the drama and the playing time and just everything, but this year I wanted to show myself that I am here because I want to be here, and I am having fun doing what I love the most.” 

As Ellis spoke, even about past years, it is clear she is focused on the now, trying to take advantage of every second she has left in her senior year. And she is doing a good job making the most of it.  

Ellis and the Wolverine are nearing the end of their season, currently sitting in the middle of the pack at 4-4 in conference play as of Oct. 18.  

With six games to go, Ellis looks to lead the Wolverines after a harsh start to the season to the WAC Championship. 
Tori Ellis has been one of the most electrifying parts of UVU Volleyball this year. As the senior outside hitter reaches the end of her illustrious career, she looks back on where she came from, what she has done and where she still has to go.        

Being top 15 in UVU history in both blocks and kills, Ellis has been a revelation for the Wolverines, becoming one of the best players in the program’s history.  But there was a time when Ellis was not even sure she would play volleyball.   

As a two-sport star at Wasatch High School, basketball was always the priority. “I always leaned more towards basketball; my brothers played basketball; my dad played basketball,” Ellis mentioned. “I had always played basketball, soccer, swimming, so volleyball was like the last sport I tried.”  

One of Ellis’ brothers, Trevin, is a graduate transfer student from Utah State University and will play his final collegiate season for Utah Valley Men’s Basketball this upcoming year.  

Volleyball was a late addition to her adolescence, and at the time, it was not a particularly impactful part of it.   

“I was in seventh grade; it was just because my mom’s friend was starting a volleyball club, we would just play at this girl’s barn that had a court in it, and he taught us how to play volleyball.”  

But as Ellis grew older, she felt herself drawn closer and closer to the sport. “I just felt more satisfaction playing volleyball; the most exciting moments of basketball still were not better than the good moments of playing volleyball. Getting a kill or a block, or an intense set to five was way more thrilling and intense than basketball for me.” 

The difficult choice between her two best sports came down to the wire. Even now, she is a little unsure about why she made the decision she did. Ellis talked about the excitement of each sport, the workload and her personal enjoyment, but it seems like the final decision came down to one thing.   

“I knew I had more potential in volleyball.” Ellis said. And as time has shown, she was right.  

“Once I went to Club V, a high-level volleyball club in Salt Lake City, I just felt like I gained more confidence. The people in Heber were always telling me I could make it, but they are also my friends, so of course they had to say that,” Ellis said. “But once I left that bubble and there were people outside of the people, I knew that also had confidence in me, that helped a lot.”   

Ellis entered the recruiting process late, but due to her talent and her height, she quickly received an offer from Utah Valley University that she accepted. But the first years were not easy.  

“It was definitely a progression,” Ellis said. “I contributed, but in a different way. We had a lot of injured girls my freshman year, so I feel like my role was filling in a gap until a girl was healthy again.”   

Ellis continued to talk about the struggles of that type of playing time. “I would just get thrown in randomly, which was hard,” Ellis stated. “I remember there were a couple of games where I would be put in, and my only job was to get a block, it would be game point and Sam (Atoa) would be like ‘Tori, go!’ And when you get the block, you are the hero, but if you do not get the block, you are the reason they lose.”  

But as time would go on Ellis’ contributions would continue to grow, and she would develop into the player she is now. “The last couple of years I have definitely been able to make a bigger contribution,” Ellis mentioned. “But I feel like with the teams that we have had in the past, and the culture and environment, whether you are on the court, or on the bench, you can still contribute. The roles just changed throughout the years.”   

Now, as a senior, Ellis thinks back on her UVU career, the ups and downs, the things that have changed, the things that have stayed the same. The feeling that she feels most is gratitude.