Galeries Tower Highrisers outside hitter Erika Deloria has proven that there is more than one path to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), and her journey is now serving as an inspiration for the next generation of players from Enderun Colleges.
Unlike many of the league’s stars who emerged from traditional collegiate powerhouses in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Deloria carved her own path through Enderun’s volleyball program before earning a spot in the professional ranks.
The versatile outside hitter was selected by the Chery Tiggo Crossovers with the 20th overall pick in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft. Although Chery Tiggo later ceased operations, Deloria remained in the league after being signed by the Galeries Tower Highrisers, where she has continued to showcase her potential at the professional level.
OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.
For Enderun head coach Dong Dela Cruz, Deloria’s rise is proof that talent and hard work can open doors regardless of the school a player comes from. He hopes her success will motivate his current players to believe that they, too, can reach the PVL despite competing outside the country’s most prominent collegiate leagues.
“That’s what I keep telling our players—that even if you are not from the UAAP or NCAA, it’s still possible to get drafted into the PVL. You can still build a volleyball career after college. I already saw her potential because Erika is a very talented player. She’s naturally quiet, so during her final year I made her team captain to help her find her voice and develop as a leader. I was really preparing her to get drafted into the PVL,” Dela Cruz said.
According to Dela Cruz, Deloria’s growth extended well beyond her abilities on the volleyball court. While she developed into one of Enderun’s most dependable players, she also excelled academically, balancing the demands of collegiate athletics with outstanding classroom performance.
The veteran coach said her achievements as both a student and an athlete make her an ideal role model for aspiring volleyball players.
Enderun Colleges coach Dong Dela Cruz urges his players to maximize their opportunity in the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals.
He also talks about his former player and Enderun product Erika Deloria, who emerged as Galeries Tower’s main gunner.@inquirersports pic.twitter.com/7iC036FjkU
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 17, 2026
“I’m very proud of what she’s achieved. Erika isn’t just an excellent volleyball player—she also graduated magna cum laude. I know she will do well wherever she goes. She still has room to improve, but the most important thing is that she is making the most of the playing time she’s getting and showing everyone her talent,” he added.
As Deloria continues to establish herself in the PVL, Enderun’s current squad is seeking to make its own mark in collegiate volleyball.
The Lady Titans are currently competing in the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals, where they have been given the opportunity to test themselves against some of the country’s top collegiate programs as well as international clubs from Vietnam and Australia.
Although Enderun dropped its opening three matches of the tournament, the Lady Titans responded with an impressive straight-set victory over Ho Chi Minh City, 25-16, 29-27, 25-16, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, July 22.
The victory provided a welcome confidence boost for the squad as it continues to gain valuable experience against stronger competition.
For Dela Cruz, competing in the National Invitationals is about more than wins and losses. He believes the tournament offers his players an opportunity to accelerate their development while demonstrating that Enderun can compete with established volleyball programs.
“Our goal is to gain experience by playing against some of the best NCAA and UAAP teams. This is a different level of competition. We will also be facing international teams from Vietnam and Australia, so it’s a great opportunity for us. This is the first time we will be competing at this level, and we also want to show everyone that Enderun Colleges has a good volleyball program,” Dela Cruz concluded.
With Deloria already making her presence felt in the professional ranks, Enderun hopes her story will inspire more Lady Titans to chase their PVL dreams and prove that success is possible regardless of where their collegiate journey begins.
Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!
Follow our Facebook page Sports PH News today and join the community of passionate sports fans.
Leave a Reply