Ashlyn Delaney’s first home game with The Classical Academy remains special. 

“I just remember my freshman year. I was the only freshman on varsity and so I was just a little nervous, just a little nervous freshman but our first home game, Lillian and Avery right away made me comfortable and took me into the locker room and those were just my people for the rest of the season,” she said. 

Now a junior, it’s Delaney who is making the younger players feel welcome and leading the Titans’ volleyball program. The outside hitter set the school record for most kills in a single season with 418, which ranked first in 3A volleyball and 10th in the state. Delaney was also named to the Colorado High School Activities Association’s all-state first team for 3A. 

She is The Gazette’s small school volleyball Peak Performer of the Year. 

Beyond the accolades, Delaney is still about the people around her. When asked about setting a record, she didn’t hesitate to thank and acknowledge senior teammate and setter Avery Jaeger, who, alongside former teammate Lillian Edwards, made Delaney feel welcome two seasons ago. 

“I’ve been going (to TCA) since Kindergarten. I’ve always wanted to take a record like that. Courtesy obviously of Avery too. She also set a record for most assists in a season I think,” Delaney said. “This was just a great year to do that and set a record with such a great team this year, such great coaches.”

As an outside hitter, Edwards was the Titans’ kill leader two seasons ago when she recorded 356 in her junior season. Delaney was a middle blocker at the time and was third on the team in blocks and kills. In 2024, Edwards left TCA for Village High School, which was in its inaugural season. Her departure created an opportunity for Delaney to shine. 

TCA coach Layne Witmer moved Delaney to the outside hitter position.

“Ashlyn will play at the next level, she’s verbally committed to (Northern Colorado). As her size, for a collegiate player, she’s perfect for a pin hitter. For us personally and our needs, we needed a pin hitter. We needed to get kills. We need somebody who can get kills for us. Which she obviously has done quite well for our program,” Witmer said. “Definitely a need for us and kind of met the need for her.”

Despite playing middle blocker in both school and club volleyball since seventh grade, Delaney proved up to the task. She immediately developed a connection with Jaeger. Unfortunately, Jaeger was injured that season, but upon her return this season, Delaney really hit her stride.

“This year, she was back after her injury and just playing with that same connection that was left over after my sophomore year. We really just started clicking around the end of the season during regionals and going into state,” Delaney said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without her and really good sets.”

It wasn’t just a big year for Delaney and Jaeger but for TCA as a whole. The Titans swept their first five matches, including the defending 3A champions from Village. They beat 4A Palmer Ridge for the first time since a tournament in 2018 and since 2015 in non-tournament play. The girls won the 4A/3A Colorado Springs Metro League and claimed a regional title after beating both Platte Valley and DSST: Conservatory Green. At the state tournament, they advanced to the semifinals. 

One key to the Titans’ success this season? Delaney’s leadership.

“She’s a servant’s leader. She leads very well. She’s very approachable, even for her level of play. She’s extremely admired and liked by freshmen to seniors, everyone can find a place with her.  She’s very playful, she has a great sense of humor, which I think helps diffuse situations that can be really intense or difficult,” Witmer said.  

But when Delaney finds herself in a difficult or intense moment, her biggest supporter is always there to pick her up with a smile and a thumbs-up from the stands. Her mother, who also played volleyball, is the source of her playful demeanor.  Staying close to mom and family was a key factor for Delaney when she committed to UNC last summer.  

“She always makes sure I have enough food for all my games, she always fills my water up for me, she takes me to all my out-of-state tournaments for clubs,” Delaney said. “She always has so much energy and even if I do make a mistake, she always just figures out a way to help me and cheer me up…she has such a positive attitude and that’s where I get my positive attitude from because if she can do it, then I can do it.”

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