TOPEKA — Brooklyn DeLeye was left frustrated and determined last summer. The Washburn Rural product graduated in 2023 and after an impressive high school career, she was asked to participate in the Team USA Volleyball’s U-19 camp.
The coaching staff didn’t pick her to join the team that played an international tournament in Puerto Rico. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she only worked harder trying to prove that she was worthy.
For her outstanding efforts, DeLeye was named to the U-21 roster this summer where she excelled.
“That was tough last year. When I got asked again this year for the U-21 team, I had the intent of making the team because I didn’t last year. I wanted to show them what I had and I am so grateful that they asked me to come again.”
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DeLeye and her teammates went on to dominate the 2024 NORCECA Women’s U21 Continental Championship in Toronto, Canada in late June. The Americans won the gold medal never dropping a single set throughout the tournament. The championship match saw Team USA defeat Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-16).
DeLeye wasn’t just a part of the team, she was the star. She was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and the Best Spiker.
“Going into it, I wasn’t thinking about the accolades that would come from it. I was just going to California hoping to make the team,” she said. “We came out on top and some rewards came with it.”
DeLeye has always been an impressive player — she was the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year for volleyball in 2022. The outside hitter has only increased her knowledge and skill of the game after her freshman year playing at Kentucky.
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“The U-19 training season came a month before I left for college. I went into my freshman season with nothing to lose,” DeLeye said. “I wanted to show them, not that they made a mistake because everyone is so good. But, I wanted to show them who I really am as a player and person.”
Certainly, DeLeye did just that. She was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and was named to the AVCA All-America Honorable Mention list. DeLeye helped the Wildcats to a 21-8 record which finished in the NCAA Regional Semifinal.
The Wildcats won 18 of their last 19 matches to end the season. DeLeye credits that to head coach Craig Skinner and associate head coach Ben Josephson. She explained that Josephson, who was the head men’s volleyball coach of Trinity Western, implemented new things that have only elevated her game.
“When I got to college, I thought I knew a lot about volleyball, I couldn’t be more wrong,” DeLeye laughed. “He brought a lot of the men’s side of the game to us. It’s really cool to learn because a lot of the NCAA teams, they aren’t learning the same system that we are.”
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DeLeye shared that women’s volleyball emphasizes power and how hard that they can hit the ball. The men’s side doesn’t involve power hitting on each play because of their three-player block at the net. This is just one of the many differences that DeLeye has learned in upgrading her game and Kentucky.
The new season for DeLeye and the Wildcats begins in August where expectations are high. The sophomore is hoping to strive towards a Player of the Year award in the conference or simply, weekly individual awards. The Topeka native showed it on the international level this summer and she is hoping to continue her good play into her sophomore season.
“As a team, we’re working towards that natty,” DeLeye said. “Especially with it being so close this year in Louisville. I think it would be really cool if we could make it there.”
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com
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