File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Video Feature

BRISTOL, Conn. – University of Delaware freshman volleyball standout Elena Delle Donne, who enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign this fall after transferring from the University of Connecticut, will be featured on ESPN’s Outside the Lines this Sunday.

The weekly show will air on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 9 a.m. and again at 12 noon. Crews from ESPN, including reporter Mark Schwarz, filmed the feature earlier this fall on campus.

The feature will highlight DelleDonne (at right), one of the nation’s top high school basketball players during her career at nearby Ursuline Academy, and her decision to turn down a scholarship to national power University of Connecticut.

In promoting the feature on its website, ESPN wrote:

The word "burnout" was never in Elena Delle Donne's vocabulary. The 6-foot-4 guard's skills on the basketball court had earned her the nickname "the female LeBron." After the Delaware native committed to the University of Connecticut last season, she seemed on her way to becoming the face of women's basketball. In a startling turn of events, however, Delle Donne left Storrs after just two days on campus. Many blamed homesickness as the culprit for DelleDonne's sudden departure, but she later explained that after years of practice and expectations, she simply had become burned out. She had no passion or desire to pick up a basketball. Connecticut's loss became the University of Delaware's gain; DelleDonne began playing volleyball at Delaware and by the end of the season had made the conference all-rookie team. "Outside the Lines" examines the journey of her heart.

Delle Donne became an instant hit for the Blue Hen volleyball program this fall for head coach Bonnie Kenny. She led the Blue Hens to a record of 19-16 and a second straight Colonial Athletic Association title this fall. Delaware advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year before falling to No. 7 ranked Oregon in the opening round.

She appeared in 34 matches this season and led the team in blocks with .96 per game, ranked second on the team with a .223 hitting percentage, and was fifth in kills with 1.93 per game. She was a three-time CAA Rookie of the Week and earned a spot on the CAA All-Rookie team.

Delle Donne was a five-year varsity standout at Ursuline Academy and led the team to four state titles. She was one of the most prolific high school student-athletes in state history and finished her career as the all-time leading scorer in girls’ basketball with 2,818 points. She was a five-time All-State selection and was named the 2007-08 National Player of the Year by the Naismith, McDonald’s, and Gatorade foundations. She also played one season on volleyball at Ursuline.