SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — San Diego volleyball's Amber Stivrins and Leyla Blackwell have been named the WCC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for September 11, 2023, the West Coast Conference announced on Monday afternoon.

The duo earned the honors after leading the Toreros (3-5, 0-0 WCC) to a pair of wins over Marist and UC Davis at the Trojan Invitational this past weekend at Galen Center, which secured the pair tandem selections to the event's All-Tournament Team.

Stivrins, a graduate outside hitter who transferred to USD this season from Georgia, boasted 57 kills and seven service aces in Los Angeles, hitting .376 and averaging 4.75 kills per set. The Scottsdale, California native began the tournament with 11 kills and five service aces while hitting .500 against the Red Foxes then added 21 more and another service ace on Saturday, along with hitting at a .514 clip opposite the Aggies. She ended the weekend with 25 kills and a .271 hitting percentage on Sunday against host USC, averaging 6.25 kills per set alongside one last service ace. Monday afternoon's honor is the first weekly WCC award of her career after being named to the 2023 All-WCC Volleyball Preseason Team in August.

Blackwell, a senior middle blocker, paced the USD defense at the Trojan Invitational with 18 blocks (one solo) for an average of 1.58 blocks per set. The San Diego, California native totaled five blocks on Friday against Marist, added nine block assists and a solo effort on Saturday against UC Davis, and closed out her weekend with four more block assists on Sunday opposite USC. She is now a six-time WCC Defensive Player of the Week winner after earning the honor three times in 2021, twice in 2022, and once in 2023. Blackwell joined Stivrins on the 2023 All-WCC Volleyball Preseason Team last month.

Stivrins, Blackwell, and the rest of the Toreros are set to continue their 2023 campaign on the road this week, traveling to Atlanta to compete in the Georgia Tech Classic at O'Keefe Gym. First serve on Saturday afternoon against Georgia is set for 3:00 p.m. PST.