#26
Leyla Blackwell
6′4″San Diego, Calif.
Leyla Blackwell

Professional Experience

San Diego Mojo (2025)

  • Appeared in 10 matches, making eight starts and playing in 26 sets.
  • Scored 47 points with 33 kills, 10 blocks and four service aces, while adding 18 digs and two assists.
  • Averaged 1.27 kills, 0.38 blocks and 0.15 aces per set.
  • Selected by the Mojo in the fourth round and 26th overall in the 2024 PVF Draft.

College Experience

Nebraska (2024)

  • Helped the Cornhuskers advance to the 2024 Final Four.
  • Appeared in 13 matches (23 sets) in 2024, averaging 2.35 kills per set with a .417 hitting persentage.
  • Had nine kills and hit .692 in a sweep of Iowa on Oct. 6.
  • Also had nine kills with a .600 hitting percentage and seven blocks in a 3-0 win against Rutgers on Oct. 12.

San Diego (2021-23)

  • Three-time All-WCC first team honoree (2021-23)
  • WCC Preseason Team (2022, 2023)
  • 7x WCC Defensive Player of the Week
  • Guided the Toreros to the 2022 NCAA Semifinals, the first NCAA Final Four appearance in program history.
  • In 2022, she established USD single-season record with 152 block assists, while her 176 total blocks are second.

Indiana (2020-21)

  • Appeared in 18 matches at Indiana, leading the team in blocking (61 blocks, 0.94 per set).
  • Tied the Indiana program record for blocks in a Big Ten five-set match with 13 against Iowa.
    • Was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

Overall in her collegiate career, Blackwell appeared in 118 matches (398 set), averaging 1.80 points per set with a .330 hitting percentage. She totaled 718 kills, 513 total blocks, 65 digs and 25 assists.

High School/Club Experience

  • 822 kills and 349 blocks (201 solo blocks) at La Jolla High School.
  • 2019 Under Armour Third Team All-American.
  • PrepVolleyball.Com Senior Ace 59.
  • All-American in 17 Open Division at USAV Nationals with Coast Volleyball Club.

Personal

  • Mother, Nicole, played volleyball collegiately at Georgetown and competed in the AVP.
  • Earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from San Diego in May 2024.

Name: Leyla Blackwell
Position: Middle Blocker
Height: 6-2
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Country: USA
College: Nebraska (San Diego, Indiana)