WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW women's basketball forward Ali Zelaya earned multiple Coastal Athletic Association awards announced by the conference on Tuesday afternoon. Zelaya was named the 2024-25 CAA Defensive Player of the Year to solidify her place on the All-CAA first team as well as the league's all-defensive team. 

Zelaya is the second UNCW player to earn the CAA Defensive Player of the Year award, joining Rachel Friesen-Norwood, who earned the honor during the 2002-03 season. 

However, Zelaya became the first Seahawk to earn CAA Defensive Player of the Year while being named a first-team selection in the same season. Zelaya became the program's 10th first-team selection and UNCW's first in 10 years (Kelva Atkins, 2014-15).

"Ali chose to come to UNCW due to her academics and opportunity to be an impact player," head coach Nicole Woods said. "She's done everything I've asked of her, and our team was successful because of it. This could not have happened to a more deserving person."

Zelaya is ranked seventh in the nation in blocks (79), ninth in blocks per game (2.55), 12th in defensive rebounds per game (7.6) and 46th in rebounds (285) to lead the CAA in all categories. She also leads the CAA with 10 double-doubles on the season. She has tallied 10 or more rebounds in 11 games this season and four or more blocks in seven games.

On March 6 vs. Hampton, she surpassed the program's 25-year single-season record of 77 blocks, set by Ioulia Boxley in 2000. Zelaya broke the record with her 78th rejection of the season late in the fourth quarter, capping off the win against the Pirates.

On Feb. 28 at home against North Carolina A&T, Zelaya recorded eight blocks, the most by a player in a conference game this season and the most by a UNCW player in a single game since 2011. 

In 31 career games at UNCW, Zelaya is eighth all-time in program history with 79 blocks.