SAN DIEGO — After a dominant two-match defensive performance that included tying her career-high in digs on Saturday afternoon against Pacific, junior middle blocker Leyla Blackwell was named the WCC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season, the West Coast Conference announced on Monday afternoon.

The San Diego, California native (La Jolla High School) totaled three blocks on Thursday night against Saint Mary's for an average of 1.00 blocks per set, then erupted for 11 on Saturday afternoon against the Tigers, tying her career high as she averaged 3.67 blocks per set. Her final weekly totals featured 14 block assists and a dig for No. 2 San Diego volleyball across a pair of sweeps. For the season she leads both USD and the WCC with 1.44 blocks per set, and her 121 total blocks so far in 2022 are just one shy of conference leader Phoebe Awoleye.

Blackwell, now a four-time WCC Defensive Player of the Week who had previously earned the honor on August 29, is the eighth Torero to earn a weekly WCC award in 2022, and is the fourth to receive the defensive nod so far this season. Her recognition marks the second consecutive week a USD player has been selected as a WCC Player of the Week after graduate setter Gabby Blossom received her first WCC Offensive Player of the Week honor last week (November 7).

The Toreros' eight weekly WCC awards so far in 2022 are the most of any West Coast Conference team.

USD is back in action on Thursday, November 17 when it travels to Los Angeles to take on Loyola Marymount. First serve at Gersten Pavilion is set for 7:00 p.m.

SAN DIEGO VOLLEYBALL 2022 WCC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:

Defensive:                                                                                            
Date            Player                                    Year/Position                                                  
8/29           Leyla Blackwell                     Junior/Middle Blocker
9/26           Haylee Stoner                       Sophomore/Middle Blocker
10/24         Annie Benbow                       Redshirt senior/Libero
11/14         Leyla Blackwell                     Junior/Middle Blocker

Offensive:                                                                                               
Date             Player                                 Year/Position                                                                   
8/29            Grace Frohling                     Senior/Opposite
9/19            Katie Lukes                          Redshirt Senior/Outside Hitter
10/24          Katie Lukes                          Redshirt Senior/Outside Hitter
11/7            Gabby Blossom                    Graduate Student/Setter