{"id":327434,"date":"2026-08-22T16:12:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T16:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/327434\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T16:12:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T16:12:09","slug":"brooklyn-deleye-grateful-to-put-torn-meniscus-behind-her-in-first-healthy-win-of-the-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/327434\/","title":{"rendered":"Brooklyn DeLeye grateful to put torn meniscus behind her in first healthy win of the season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kentucky<\/a> volleyball superstar Brooklyn DeLeye<\/a> is excited to put health questions behind her and focus on the Wildcats\u2019 championship chase in 2026. The Topeka, Kansas, native tore her meniscus in the second match of the season last year, an injury she played through to the finish line back home in Kansas City at the Final Four.<\/p>\n

She was in pain and unable to be herself, but still battled to finish second in the SEC in kills with 545, while leading the team to its ninth straight league championship and second national title match. After undergoing surgery in January, though, the goal is to close that gap with a win in the big game \u2014 this time at full strength.<\/p>\n

What are the results after one? So far, so good, with DeLeye leading UK with 12 kills in a 3-0 sweep vs. No. 6 Wisconsin, and doing so in enemy territory with a building full of Badger fans in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just props to our defense and serve receive,\u201d DeLeye said of the performance.<\/a> \u201cWe were just putting the ball on the right place for Kassie to set it to everybody on the court. Obviously, as blockers over there, it\u2019s really hard to stop when everybody is clicking on offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for her own health and getting through a regulation match without any setbacks, looking like the All-American talent she is, that felt good, too.<\/p>\n

She gives credit to her teammates for putting her in the right spots to be successful and her body for holding up the way it\u2019s supposed to \u2014 the season-long goal. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt definitely feels great. I don\u2019t have any pain shooting down my leg every time I\u2019m landing, so that feels great,\u201d she continued. \u201cProps to the team, they were helping me so much, getting through and calling out shots, covering me. Props to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

It helps to have another star talent by her side and to take some of the heavy lifting off her plate. That\u2019s where Notre Dame transfer Morgan Gaerte comes in, adding 10 kills herself with a hitting percentage of 0.529, while also earning three blocks.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s an amazing player and an amazing person, but she reaches higher than anybody in the gym. She\u2019s going to hit over people, and that\u2019s a strength that she has, but also her block.\u201d<\/p>\n

What allowed the Wildcats to go out there and make such a statement on day one, taking on another national championship contender in what is technically a neutral site event, but the feeling of a true road environment? Their edge not only to maintain their title standard, but also finish the job after coming up short in the Final Four.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat just goes every day in practice,\u201d DeLeye said. \u201cWe come in with competitiveness and want to get better every single day. The depth we have really helps, because everyone is pushing one another. We\u2019re all in it for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

One down, many more to go, including another tough one on Sunday vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, live on ESPN.<\/p>\n