DeLeye Hopes for Happy Homecoming to Kansas City Area
As the Kentucky volleyball team visits Kansas City this week for the NCAA Volleyball national semifinals, it’s a homecoming for one UK All-American.
Junior outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye hails from Topeka, Kansas, which is about 60 miles west of Kansas City. DeLeye is excited not only to be back in the Midwest, but also to be so close to home.
“It’s been surreal,” DeLeye said. “When we were busing over here, it’s a (familiar) place, someplace that I go to very often, even growing up. So, it’s just really cool to be back and super excited for the opportunity.”
DeLeye became a legend while playing at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka. There, she was named the 6A Player of the Year in the state of Kansas as well as being named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state. She set the school record for kills in a career and was a two-time Class 6A All-State performer.
On Tuesday, DeLeye was named first-team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She was joined on the first team by her fellow outside hitter, Eva Hudson. Setter Kassie O’Brien was named AVCA National Freshman of the Year and was named to the second team. Junior libero Molly Tuozzo was named third-team All-American. DeLeye and her teammates, who have played for each other all year, were thrilled to see their teammates get national recognition.
“I think we were just so happy for each other,” DeLeye said. “It truly is a team sport. None of us would have gotten those awards without every one of our teammates. We truly are 14 (players) strong. Some girls got it (the recognition) unfortunately, but we seriously would not have done it without all of these girls and I just think it shows that everybody’s in it for each other. Every day in practice we are just working to make each other better. We just love each other and have a great time playing together.”
DeLeye leads Kentucky with 521 kills (4.69/set), which also ranks second in the Southeastern Conference and 11th in the nation. She hit at a .289 clip and she’s third on the team with 22 service aces. She’s also third on the team with 257 digs (2.32/set), has accounted for 36 total blocks and has a team-leading 564.5 points on the season.
DeLeye expects to have a large contingent of family and friends in attendance on Thursday when the Cats face Wisconsin in the NCAA Final Four (approximately 9 p.m. ET, ESPN). She hopes that she and her teammates can entertain those fans and, more importantly, get a win to advance to the national title game.
