Erica Denney is back playing volleyball in Colorado.
The 6-foot-5 former Grandview High School star middle hitter spent the past four years at NCAA powerhouse Penn State, but now will complete her college eligibility as a member of the University of Denver Pioneers volleyball team.
Denney played on the Wolves’ undefeated 2007 Class 5A state championship team and appeared in three 5A finals in four high school seasons before she signed with Penn State. With the Nittany Lions, Denney redshirted as a freshman in 2010, played in one set as a redshirt freshman in 2011 and appeared in six matches — for a total of nine sets — in 2012. She also missed the 2013 season — when Penn State won its sixth NCAA championship — due to injury.
“We are thrilled to have Erica join our program,” Denver head coach Jesse Mahoney said in a statement. “She is a quality person and an intense competitor who has played volleyball at the highest levels. She has battled injuries throughout her career at Penn State, but she is healthy now and excited to get back on the court. We are looking forward to seeing what her experience will bring to the mix as we start the pre-season.”
Denney — who graduated with a degree in Animal Sciences and is taking graduate courses at Denver — practiced with the Pioneers on Aug. 9 and is on track to play in their first match on Aug. 29 against Jackson State.
Denver assistant coach Katelin Batten is another former Grandview player, but Denney joins a roster that is currently loaded with players from one of Grandview’s main rivals, Eaglecrest.
The addition of defensive specialist/libero Taylor Loyd, a 2014 graduate, brings the tally of former Eaglecrest players on the Pioneers’ roster to three, as she joins middle blocker Ruth Okoye and setter Bailey Karst. Karst — who was part of the Aurora Sentinel All-City Volleyball Team along with Denney in 2008-09 — also transferred to Denver after starting her career at the University of Ohio.
The Denver roster also includes another former player from an Aurora school in middle blocker Sarah Schmid, a Regis Jesuit High School graduate.
Denney’s sister, Cat, is currently on the roster at Doane College.
— Sports Editor Courtney Oakes
