Benedictine University Athletics

2009: American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division III All-America Third Team ... AVCA All-Midwest Region first team ... Finished the season ranked 12th in the nation in kills per set (4.43/set)... All-Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) first team for the third-consecutive season... Named the NAC Athlete of the Week three times (Sept. 21, Oct. 26 and Nov. 3)... Was named to four all-tournaments teams this season (Colorado College, Illinois Wesleyan, Tiffany Robinson Memorial Triangular and the Eagle Classic)... Played in all 32 matches as a junior in 2009... Led the team in kills (496), kills per set (4.43) and digs (445)... Was third on the team with 25 aces... Also tallied 23 assists and 43 blocks... Had a season high 20 digs in a match twice, once against UW-Eau Claire (9/25) and once against Edgewood (11/3)... Had a season high 25 kills against UW-Eau Claire... Tallied a season and team high six aces in a match against Edgewood (11/3)... Had seven matches with 20-plus kills... Had a career high 24 "double-double" matches with double-digit totals in kills and digs... Ranked eighth in the NAC in hitting percentage and second in kills... In NAC play only, ranked first in kills (190) and kills per set (4.42).

2008: American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division III All-America honorable mention ... AVCA All-Midwest Region first team ... All-Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) first team for the second-consecutive season ... Twice named as the NAC "Student-Athlete of the Week" (October 7 and November 3) ... Named to all-tournament teams at the Illinois Wesleyan/Barker Fall Classic and the Benedictine Eagle Classic ... Played in all 33 matches ... Led the Eagles' team in total kills (478), kills per game (4.02), attack percentage (.224) and digs per game (4.01) ... Also amassed 36 blocks, 23 assists and 37 serve aces ... Had double-digit kill totals in 27 of 33 matches ... 10 matches with 20-plus kills (a season high of 25 versus North Central on October 31) ... Had 20 "double-double" matches with double-digit totals in kills and digs (including six "20-20" matches) ... Had 25 digs in a match three times ... Also had 68 attack attempts versus North Central ... Had a .688 attack percentage (11-16) versus Lake Forest College (September 13) ... In the final NAC statistics ranked first in kills and was 18th in the nation for NCAA Division III in that same category.

2007: AVCA All-Midwest Region honorable mention ... NAC “Rookie of the Year” and All-Rookie Team member ... All-NAC first team selection ... All-tournament at North Park Quadrangular ... Tournament “MVP” at Aurora/Jim Coleman Memorial Tournament ... NAC “Student-Athlete of the Week” (September 9) ... Named Benedictine University’s “Freshman of the Year” for the entire athletics department ... Impressive freshman statistics included team-leading numbers for kills (467), kills per game (4.25), total attacks (1,204), serve aces (61), aces per game (0.55), receiving percentage (.788), digs (552) and digs per game (5.02) ... Had a .248 attack percentage and 41 total blocks (0.37 b.p.g.), as well ... 27 matches with double-figure kill totals ... Six matches with 20-plus kills .. A season and career-high 26 kills in five-game win at Milwaukee School of Engineering (September 19).

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at St. Edward Catholic (2007) ... Jaime Walton was her coach ... Four varsity seasons ... A two-time all-conference honoree (first team as a senior and second team as a junior) ... Also voted the area “Player of the Year” by the Elgin Courier News ... Lettered four years in bowling and one season with softball ... As a senior, she was the school’s most valuable bowler ... She was an Honor Roll member, member of Students Against Drunk Driving and Respect Life Club all four years of high school ... Also participated in photography club as a senior.

PERSONAL: Daughter of James and Gail Leyden ... Has one brother and three sisters, all older ... favorite team is the Chicago White Sox... favorite athlete is Luke Wildes... enjoys traveling the world, facebook and photography... is related to Mr. Clean... favorite thing to do at BenU is eat Coal Ben's specials.