Brooms joins Fayetteville Tech Trojans
Robbinsville – As the ink was drying on former Lady Knights teammate Aubrie Wachacha’s volleyball/basketball commitment to Warren Wilson College, Delaney Brooms was busy securing her future some 352 miles away.
The program leader in kills (1,035) and second all-time in digs (1,037), Brooms zeroed in on a love of volleyball as a child. She is now reaping the benefits of countless weekends spent at club tournaments; untold hours in a gym, perfecting her craft; and soaking up the knowledge from both her mother Dede and sister Daylee, both of whom played the sport as well.
Delaney had set her sights on a quiet existence after high school – marriage, a family and a career – until Fayetteville Technical Community College flashed on her phone. The remnants of a full ride to play overseas in her rearview mirror, she figured there was nothing to lose by answering.
A series of phone calls and one tank of gas later, Brooms shifted to the collegiate ranks in short order. Her devastating outside hitting will now benefit the Trojans, who compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region 10, Division II.
“I had a full ride to Europe; all I had to do was get on the plane, but I did not want to go overseas,” Brooms revealed. “I’m very excited to get to play, though. The school was very pretty and high-tech; the girls and coaches were awesome. I loved it.”
Suiting up for different sports became a pastime for Brooms, who also competed for Robbinsville’s basketball, softball, and track & field programs while in high school.
But volleyball was where she thrived – in spite of adversity. A member of the 2023 1st Team North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association’s 1A, All-State list, Brooms has swatted away a gallbladder removal and exploratory ablation to help correct an abnormal heartbeat to persevere and sign with a college program.
“I have wanted to play college volleyball since I was eight,” said Brooms. “I was in a carseat in the gym (when a young child) and my mom was the middle school coach. Soon, the middle school girls were hitting the ball to me. I literally grew up around volleyball and loved it.
“There’s no explanation; I just love it.”
Brooms and Wachacha both made their post-high school plans official on the same day, which also signified the Lady Knights’ first volleyball signing in nine years.
Daylee (now Hayes) was the last to do it before this year’s duo, committing to play at Montreat College in 2015.
Located in the shadow of Fort Bragg, Fayetteville Tech was 8-14 overall in 2023 (3-8 in region play). The head coach is Moe Ricardo, who has coached the Trojans since their 2018 debut.
Other programs in the division are Bryant & Stratton College (Virginia Beach, Va.); Cape Fear Community College (Wilmington); Cleveland Community College (Shelby); Davidson-Davie Community College (Lexington); Guilford Technical Community College (Jamestown); Lenoir Community College (Kinston); Louisburg College; Pitt Community College (Winterville); Richard Bland College (Petersburg, Va.); Southwest Virginia Community College (Cedar Bluff, Va.); and Wake Technical Community College (Raleigh).