The University of Denver volleyball team has announced the addition of Kayla Patel, a junior outside hitter from Austin, Texas, to its 2026 roster. Head coach Megan Pendergast shared her enthusiasm for the new recruit.
“Kayla Patel is the kind of player who elevates a gym the moment she steps into it. We’re incredibly excited to add her to our roster. She’s an elite defender with a complete, all-around volleyball skill set, and her competitiveness, instincts, and work ethic will make an immediate impact on our gym and our program. Kayla raises the standard, and we can’t wait to get to work with her,” Pendergast said.
Patel began her collegiate career at Rice University in 2024, where she played in 29 sets across 14 matches during her freshman season. She recorded her first career kill and service ace in a match against Baylor and ended the season with six service aces and seven points.
Before joining Rice, Patel was recognized as a four-year letterwinner at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. She was named to the 2023 AVCA Girls High School Volleyball All-America Watch List and accumulated over 1,000 kills along with nearly 600 digs during her high school career. Patel also received SPC all-conference honors as a junior and was listed on the JVA Best of the Beach Watchlist for beach volleyball in both her junior and senior years. As a club player for AJV Adidas, she contributed to qualifying for national competition and helped secure a first-place finish at the Countdown City Classic.
Off the court, Patel served as a member of St. Stephen’s Athletic Council during her last two years in high school.
For more information about Denver’s NCAA Division I sports programs, visit DenverPioneers.com.
