Colorado University Athletics
Jesse Mahoney talks to the team during a timeout
Photo by: Mark Waldron
Volleyball Adds Three To 2017 Roster
January 30, 2017 | Volleyball
BOULDER —The Colorado volleyball program has added three players to its 2017 roster, transfers Branen Berta (Iowa State) and Emily DeMure (Penn State), as well as Brynna Deluzio, who will be a freshman in the fall. Berta and DeMure joined the team in January after the semester break, while Deluzio will start training with the team in August.
"We are very excited to welcome another group of talented players to Boulder," Mahoney said. "Branen, Emily and Brynna are exceptional student-athletes who have a desire to compete at the highest level. We are fortunate that Branen and Emily will have the opportunity to get a head start this spring and get comfortable with our systems in preparation for next fall."
Branen Berta, 5-7, DS/L, Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail/Iowa State
Berta joins CU after spending the last three seasons at Iowa State, playing in 73 matches and 244 sets. During her three seasons with ISU, Berta recorded 485 digs (1.99 per set), as well as 44 assists and 44 aces.
As a junior in 2016, she was ISU's libero to start season, making seven starts. She recorded a season best 26 digs against then-No. 18 Creighton, which helped her earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. Berta collected 17 digs in season-opener against Wichita State, helping her garner Iowa State Challenge All-Tournament Team honors.
She played in 23 matches (82 sets) for the Cyclones in 2015, but missed the entire month of November (seven matches) due to injury. Berta finished the season ranked fourth on the team with 192 digs (2.34 per set). She had six matches with at least 10 digs, led by a season-best 15 digs against TCU. Berta's second best total was 14 digs against Kansas. She ranked third on the Cyclones with 25 aces at 0.30 per set and had two three-ace matches.
As a freshman, Berta saw action in 26 matches (85 sets) and recorded 155 digs (1.82 per set). She recorded a season-high 18 digs against Baylor and had three other matches with 10 or more digs. She collected 11 digs at TCU and Texas Tech and posted 10 at Kansas State.
A native of Aurora, Colo., Berta played four seasons at Cherokee Trail High School and served three years as a team captain. She was named a Senior Ace and Defensive Dandy by Prepvolleyball.com and helped lead CTHS to its first two Class 5A Regional Tournament titles and to consecutive 5A State Tournament appearances. A three-time all-conference honoree, she averaged 4.9 digs per set as a senior. Berta played club volleyball for Momentum Volleyball Club for seven seasons.
Mahoney on Berta
"Branen is an intense competitor who has an elite skill-set at the libero position. She has had great training at Iowa State and has competed in her share of big-time matches wearing the libero jersey. We expect her to compete with our core of DS/L's to replace CeCe Simpson."
Brynna Deluzio, 5-9, S/L, Windermere, Fla./The First Academy/Top Select VBC
Deluzio was named a 2016 AVCA Under Armour Second Team All-American after helping The First Academy win its second state championship during her tenure, finishing the season with a 26-5 record. The 4A Player of the Year recorded 375 kills and hit .319 in 88 sets. She also added 278 digs and 18 blocks.
Deluzio earned NHS AAU All-America status in 2015 as a junior. Over the course of 70 sets, she recorded 292 kills, 191 digs and 18 blocks while hitting .331. As a sophomore, she was tabbed an NSHS AAU All-American. She was also a member of the 2012 THS team that won the state title.
Deluzio currently plays for the Top Select Volleyball Club. Her team won the AAU National Championship in 2016 and competed at the AAU championships in 2012 and '13, as well as USA Nationals in 2012. She was recruited by Florida State, Georgia Tech and Pepperdine, but chose Colorado for her collegiate career because "it's a different experience and both of her parents went to school here." Her father, Donald, played on CU's football team.
Mahoney on Deluzio
"I love Brynna's mentality - she is the type of player that just figures out ways to win. She has a wide-ranging skill-set: she was a high school All-American as an outside hitter and has competed in club as both a setter and libero at an elite level."
Emily DeMure, 6-1, OH, Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay/Penn State
Demure joins Colorado after redshirting the 2016 season at Penn State.
A four-year letterwinner at Granite Bay, DeMure helped the Grizzly Bears to a DI state championship during the 2013-14 season, as well as an All-League title in the same year. She also helped Granite Bay to a NorCal All-Section title in 2015. DeMure served as team captain from 2014-15 and earned Sierra Foothill All-League second team honors in 2014 and first team distinction in 2015. She was also selected the 2015 GBHS MVP.
DeMure played club volleyball for Gold Cal Juniors, helping the Stars to a second-place finish in America at USAV Junior Nationals in 2012-13. She also played on the A1 Women's Junior National Team in 2015, having played on the A2 team in 2014.
Mahoney on DeMure
"Emily is a coach's daughter – grew up in the volleyball gym, so she has a very high volleyball IQ. She is a versatile player with experience at every attacking position and as a setter. I'm excited to start working with her this spring and see where her talents fit into our program."
Below is a list of the six roster additions for the 2017 season. The Buffs also return 11 letterwinners, as well as two redshirt players from the 2016 campaign.
2017 Colorado Volleyball Roster Additions
"We are very excited to welcome another group of talented players to Boulder," Mahoney said. "Branen, Emily and Brynna are exceptional student-athletes who have a desire to compete at the highest level. We are fortunate that Branen and Emily will have the opportunity to get a head start this spring and get comfortable with our systems in preparation for next fall."
Branen Berta, 5-7, DS/L, Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail/Iowa State
Berta joins CU after spending the last three seasons at Iowa State, playing in 73 matches and 244 sets. During her three seasons with ISU, Berta recorded 485 digs (1.99 per set), as well as 44 assists and 44 aces.
As a junior in 2016, she was ISU's libero to start season, making seven starts. She recorded a season best 26 digs against then-No. 18 Creighton, which helped her earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. Berta collected 17 digs in season-opener against Wichita State, helping her garner Iowa State Challenge All-Tournament Team honors.
She played in 23 matches (82 sets) for the Cyclones in 2015, but missed the entire month of November (seven matches) due to injury. Berta finished the season ranked fourth on the team with 192 digs (2.34 per set). She had six matches with at least 10 digs, led by a season-best 15 digs against TCU. Berta's second best total was 14 digs against Kansas. She ranked third on the Cyclones with 25 aces at 0.30 per set and had two three-ace matches.
As a freshman, Berta saw action in 26 matches (85 sets) and recorded 155 digs (1.82 per set). She recorded a season-high 18 digs against Baylor and had three other matches with 10 or more digs. She collected 11 digs at TCU and Texas Tech and posted 10 at Kansas State.
A native of Aurora, Colo., Berta played four seasons at Cherokee Trail High School and served three years as a team captain. She was named a Senior Ace and Defensive Dandy by Prepvolleyball.com and helped lead CTHS to its first two Class 5A Regional Tournament titles and to consecutive 5A State Tournament appearances. A three-time all-conference honoree, she averaged 4.9 digs per set as a senior. Berta played club volleyball for Momentum Volleyball Club for seven seasons.
Mahoney on Berta
"Branen is an intense competitor who has an elite skill-set at the libero position. She has had great training at Iowa State and has competed in her share of big-time matches wearing the libero jersey. We expect her to compete with our core of DS/L's to replace CeCe Simpson."
Brynna Deluzio, 5-9, S/L, Windermere, Fla./The First Academy/Top Select VBC
Deluzio was named a 2016 AVCA Under Armour Second Team All-American after helping The First Academy win its second state championship during her tenure, finishing the season with a 26-5 record. The 4A Player of the Year recorded 375 kills and hit .319 in 88 sets. She also added 278 digs and 18 blocks.
Deluzio earned NHS AAU All-America status in 2015 as a junior. Over the course of 70 sets, she recorded 292 kills, 191 digs and 18 blocks while hitting .331. As a sophomore, she was tabbed an NSHS AAU All-American. She was also a member of the 2012 THS team that won the state title.
Deluzio currently plays for the Top Select Volleyball Club. Her team won the AAU National Championship in 2016 and competed at the AAU championships in 2012 and '13, as well as USA Nationals in 2012. She was recruited by Florida State, Georgia Tech and Pepperdine, but chose Colorado for her collegiate career because "it's a different experience and both of her parents went to school here." Her father, Donald, played on CU's football team.
Mahoney on Deluzio
"I love Brynna's mentality - she is the type of player that just figures out ways to win. She has a wide-ranging skill-set: she was a high school All-American as an outside hitter and has competed in club as both a setter and libero at an elite level."
Emily DeMure, 6-1, OH, Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay/Penn State
Demure joins Colorado after redshirting the 2016 season at Penn State.
A four-year letterwinner at Granite Bay, DeMure helped the Grizzly Bears to a DI state championship during the 2013-14 season, as well as an All-League title in the same year. She also helped Granite Bay to a NorCal All-Section title in 2015. DeMure served as team captain from 2014-15 and earned Sierra Foothill All-League second team honors in 2014 and first team distinction in 2015. She was also selected the 2015 GBHS MVP.
DeMure played club volleyball for Gold Cal Juniors, helping the Stars to a second-place finish in America at USAV Junior Nationals in 2012-13. She also played on the A1 Women's Junior National Team in 2015, having played on the A2 team in 2014.
Mahoney on DeMure
"Emily is a coach's daughter – grew up in the volleyball gym, so she has a very high volleyball IQ. She is a versatile player with experience at every attacking position and as a setter. I'm excited to start working with her this spring and see where her talents fit into our program."
Below is a list of the six roster additions for the 2017 season. The Buffs also return 11 letterwinners, as well as two redshirt players from the 2016 campaign.
2017 Colorado Volleyball Roster Additions
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Hometown/School/Club |
| Branen Berta | DS/L | 5-7 | Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail/Momentum VBC |
| Brynna Deluzio | S/L | 5-9 | Windermere, Fla./The First Academy/Top Select VBC |
| Emily DeMure | OH | 6-1 | Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay/Gold Cal Juniors VBC |
| Jaden Newsome | S | 6-0 | Houston, Texas/Clear Brook HS/Absolute Volleyball Academy of Texas |
| Danielle Price | MB | 6-4 | Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada/Chinook HS/Panthers VBC |
| Anyse Smith | OH | 5-10 | Amarillo, Texas/Tascosa HS/Jet-Atomic VBC |
Players Mentioned
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