Volleyball brings out the “best part” in Centre freshman Delia Long who is always smiling and cheering during matches. (Centre Volleyball/Luke Napier Photo)
Winning is something that means a lot to Centre College freshman Delia Long and one reason she liked the “culture” of the volleyball team so much.
She helped West Jessamine reach the Kentucky state tournament semifinals in 2023, something the Colts also did her freshman year in 2020. West Jessamine also played in the state in 2021 and 2022.
“Winning is a big deal to me,” said Long. “I used to be a two-sport athlete (soccer and volleyball) and I really had no idea that D3 (Division III) volleyball was like this. I came here, saw how they played together and how close everyone was. I just really liked it.
“I saw a lot of West Jessamine in Centre with the players and coaches. There had never been a West Jessamine player come here before, so it was kind of intriguing to be the first to do it.”
However, not only is she a part of the big, but she has been a major contributor. She has 124 kills, fourth best on the team, going into Saturday’s match at Millsaps. The Colonels are 17-4 overall and 9-0 in Southern Athletic Association play. Berry is 6-2 in SAA play at Millsaps 5-3. Berry plays at Centre Nov. 2. The Colonels beat both Berry and Millsaps 3-2 earlier this season.
“It would be big to go unbeaten in conference play but what really matters is the (conference) tournament. I don’t think we have peaked yet. We’re still building to that. Our goal is to peak at the conference tournament that we would host if we win the conference. And if we win the conference tournament, that gets us in the NCAA,” Long said. “But we have been good about not focusing on the future.”
Long had no expectations about playing time this season. She wanted to play for a team where she would have to earn her spot and that’s how it has been at Centre.
“Coming in I knew there were some amazing players at my position. I knew I was gonna have to work every day to get my spot and I finally got it,” she said.
Volleyball was not a priority for her until her junior year when she was coming off a knee injury suffered in soccer. Her kills increased to 267 as a junior and then skyrocketed to 545 on the 2023 state tourney semifinal team.
Long said her sisters played soccer and she did the same. She only started volleyball because her friends played.
“I tried volleyball in seventh grade and absolutely loved it. Something is always happening where soccer is a little bit slower. I mean if someone scores a goal it is amazing, But volleyball is non-stop. Someone is always scoring,” Long said.
It’s easy to tell how much Long enjoys volleyball. She has a “bubbly personality” during matches and almost never stops smiling.
“I think volleyball just brings out the best part of me. The players on the team are amazing. Being with them just makes me happy,” Long said. “Even if I am not in the game, I try to keep my focus on supporting my teammates. I want to always be there for them when they are struggling or when they are getting points. I want to always hype them up.”
Her personality will suit either elementary education or pre-law, the two majors she is contemplating at Centre.
“I have a really big family so that kind of led to me being so outgoing,” Long said. “I was the youngest for a while (her family adopted two younger siblings), so I was a spoiled little sister. I look up to my older sisters and that also helped make me the person I am.”
