By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural volleyball star Brooklyn DeLeye is one of 20 athletes selected by USA Volleyball for the 2023 Girls U19 NORCECA Pan American Cup roster.
Washburn Rural volleyball star Booklyn DeLeye has been named the USA Volleyball U19 team for the Pan Am Cup. [File photo/TSN]
Twelve players from the 20-player roster will be chosen to compete at the Pan American Cup on May 7-15 in Ciudad de Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico.
The team will train April 30-May 6 at the Anaheim (Calif.) National Team Training Center.
Minnesota women’s head coach Keegan Cook will serve as the U19 team’s head coach.
A 6-foot-2 outside hitter, DeLeye was named the Gatorade Kansas Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight season last fall after leading the Junior Blues to a 45-1 record and the Class 6A state championship.
Washburn Rural advanced to the state volleyball tournament four straight seasons during DeLeye's career, posting first, second, third and fourth-place finishes.
As a senior DeLeye amassed 457 kills and 324 digs while posting a .503 kill percentage and a .341 hitting percentage. She also recorded 81 assists, 64 service aces and 21 blocks.
A MaxPreps.com first-team All-American, DeLeye, who will play collegiately at Kentucky, concluded her prep volleyball career with 2,090 kills.
DeLeye is one of four Kansans named to the U19 roster, along with Ryan McAleer of Blue Valley, Reese Messer of St. James Academy and Logan Parks of Blue Valley North.
“We are thrilled to welcome this specific group of athletes to the U19 National Team,” Cook said in a USA Volleyball release. “The team training for the Pan American Cup is comprised of a diverse range of ages and national team experience. What they do share for certain is a bright future with USA Volleyball.”
Two players on the 2023 Girls U19 roster return from the 2022 team that won the Girls U19 Pan American Cup and qualified for the 2023 FIVB U19 Girls World Championship -- outside hitter Julia Blyashov and setter Izzy Starck. Blyashov also played on the 2021 Girls U18 Team that won bronze at the 2021 FIVB U18 World Championship.
Two other players were alternates on the 2022 Girls U19 Team -- opposite Olivia Babcock and middle blocker Alec Rothe.
New outside hitters on the 2023 roster are DeLeye, Blaire Bayless, Suli Davis, Kaci Demaria, Kelly Kinney, Teraya Sigler and Abby Vander Wal. The new middle blockers are Lizzy Andrew, Jaela Auguste, Taylor Harvey and Calissa Minatee.
Parks is a new opposite/setter on the 2023 roster. Taylor Yu and Messer are the new setters. Ava Falduto and McAleer are the liberos.
USA VOLLEBALL 2023 GIRLS U19 NORCECA PAN AMERICAN CUP ROSTER
Name (Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, School, Region)
Lizzy Andrew (MB, 6-5, 2005, Ridgefield, Wash., Ridgefield HS, Columbia Empire)
Jaela Auguste (MB, 6-2, 2006, Spring, Texas, Grand Oaks HS, Lonestar)
Olivia Babcock (OPP, 6-4, 2005, Los Angeles, Calif., Sierra Canyon HS, Southern California)
Blaire Bayless (OH, 6-2, 2005, Plano, Texas, Plano West Senior HS, North Texas)
Julia Blyashov (OH, 6-3, 2005, San Diego, Calif., Cathedral Catholic HS, Southern California)
Suli Davis (OH, 6-2, 2007, Euless, Texas, Nolan Catholic HS, North Texas)
Brooklyn DeLeye (OH, 6-2, 2005, Auburn, Washburn Rural HS, Heart of America)
Kaci Demaria (OH, 6-4, 2007, San Pedro, Calif., Palos Verdes HS, Southern California)
Ava Falduto (L, 5-7, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., IC Catholic Prep, Great Lakes)
Taylor Harvey (MB, 6-3, 2006, Bountiful, Utah, Bountiful HS, Intermountain)
Kelly Kinney (OH, 6-2, 2007, West Palm Beach, Fla., The King’s Academy, Florida)
Ryan McAleer (L, 5-5, 2005, Leawood, Kan., Blue Valley HS, Heart of America)
Reese Messer (S, 5-11, 2006, Olathe, Kan., Saint James Academy, Heart of America)
Calissa Minatee (MB, 6-0, 2005, Kansas City, Mo., University of Minnesota, Heart of America)
Logan Parks (OPP/S, 5-11, 2006, Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley North HS, Heart of America)
Alec Rothe (MB, 6-3, 2006, Dublin, Ohio, Dublin Scioto HS, Ohio Valley)
Teraya Sigler (OH, 6-2, 2006, Horizon HS, Scottsdale, Ariz., Arizona)
Izzy Starck (S, 6-1, 2006, Colorado Springs, Colo., Rampart HS, Rocky Mountain)
Abby Vander Wal (OH, 6-3, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., Timothy Christian HS, Great Lakes)
Taylor Yu (S, 6-0, 2006, Temple City, Calif., Temple City HS, Southern California)
Head Coach: Keegan Cook
Assistant Coach: Krista Hendrickson
Assistant Coach: Cursty Le Roux
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham
