Brooklyn DeLeye, center, was all smiles after Kentucky's Final Four win over Wisconsin. (Vicky Graff Photo)
For most players, 15 kills in a match would be considered a memorable performance. But that’s not the case for Kentucky junior all-American Brooklyn Deleye.
She was an elite high school player in Kansas and was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year. She was the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year in 2023 and SEC Player of the Year in 2024. She’s a two-time All-American and a two-time finalist nominee for national player of the year.
She sets a high standard for her play — and always has — but that standard also elevates the play of her teammates.
“I think it’s evident by watching her play. The thrill that she gets out of someone next to her doing something special is enormous. Brooklyn has gotten accolades her whole life in every sport that she’s played. She’s been MVPs, state champion, USA MVP and captain. Her accolades speak for themselves. She’s earned every single one of those,” Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said after UK’s five-set win over Wisconsin in the national semifinals Thursday.
“The thrill and joy that she sees in other people doing well is so inspirational to them because they know what type of player she is. She is always about the team.
“Don’t get me wrong. She wants to get hers and she wants to perform at the highest level. She’ll let this thing go and she’ll bank on the fact she led us in blocks and had 14 digs. It was an awesome night for her in those areas.”
She had 15 kills but only .160 — well below her season average — against Wisconsin. However, she did have 14 digs and five blocks. She also had several clutch kills in the final two sets when UK had no margin for error.
Today she gets a chance to add national champion to her resume when UK plays SEC rival Texas A&M, a team it beat 3-1 earlier this season, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC-TV in Kansas City.
DeLeye knew she had to find other ways to help Kentucky win against Wisconsin when her offensive game was off a bit.
“We are a team sport. Whether I wasn’t doing my best, I knew everybody else would have my back. I just was trying to do everything I could to contribute to the team the entire match,” DeLeye said. “Whether that was just being positive the whole time, no matter how I was doing, because if I was dwelling in my performance, I wouldn’t have been able to be there for my teammates.
“You’re in a Final Four match. Props to Wisconsin. They had every hitter coming at us the entire match. They did not let down. I’m just super proud of the way that we just kept adjusting to their style of play.”
Teammate Eva Hudson, the 2025 SEC Player of the Year, knew how much DeLeye contributed to the win.
“She turned into a defensive machine,” Hudson, who had 29 kills against Wisconsin, said.
DeLeye is from nearby Topeka, Kansas, and her spot in the national title game has created a buzz with hometown family, friends and fans.
“I’ve had everybody texting me throughout the time,” DeLeye said about the Final Four appearance. “I just have felt so loved over this week. It’s just so cool that I get to represent just a place like Topeka. I would not be anywhere, the person I am today, without each and every one of those people.
“I’m just out here having fun with my teammates. I’m glad I get to do it almost in my home state. I know we’re in Kansas City, Missouri, but who even looks at that?”
Kentucky beat Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, on Oct. 8. Texas A&M won the first set, but UK rallied to win the last three sets. Hudson had 24 kills and DeLeye 19 for Kentucky, who hit .293. Logan Lednicky had 21 kills for the Aggies and Kyndal Stowers added 13.
Skinner understands any player, including DeLeye, can have an off night hitting-wise but not everyone can then find another way to help a team win.
“You start to understand the angles of what people are doing. You can’t really recreate the heat and velocity that they’re going to do,” Skinner said. “If you’re in the right spot and you sacrifice your body to get the ball in the air. Some of those digs we had at the end of the fourth set, unbelievable.”
And some of those unbelievable digs were by DeLeye and likely will be again today as she does whatever it takes to help Kentucky win its second national championship.
One Response
I just read elsewhere that Delaye has had a torn meniscus since the Nebraska game but didn’t want to have surgery until the season is over. It makes what she has accomplished even more incredible.