University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: William Fosnot
USC Women's Volleyball's Leah Ford Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
November 24, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
The Trojan middle blocker racked up 15 blocks to average 2.14 blocks per set in wins at Oregon and against Illinois
ROSEMONT, Ill. – USC women's volleyball redshirt sophomore middle blocker Leah Ford (Keller, Texas/Keller HS) was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 17-23, the Conference announced on Monday, Nov. 24.
It is the second Defensive Player of the Week award for Ford and the ninth Big Ten weekly award earned by a Trojan in 2025. Two weeks ago (Nov. 10), Abigail Mullen collected her first Freshman of the Week award. Earlier this month, freshman Reese Messer was tabbed for Co-Setter of the Week while London Wijay earned her second Player of the Week nod (Nov. 3). Earlier in the season, Taylor Deckert was tabbed Freshman of the Week (Oct. 20).
Ford totaled 20.5 points on 15 blocks (2.14 bps) and 13 kills while hitting .346 across USC's wins at Oregon and against Illinois. She posted seven blocks, nine kills, and one dig to reach double-digit points (12.5) in the Trojans' four-set road victory over the Ducks. On Senior Night against the Illini, Ford added eight blocks and four kills. Her performance helped the Women of Troy reach double-digit blocks as a team (11.5 in both matches) in their 14th and 15th contests this season. Entering the final week of the regular season, Ford leads the Big Ten in blocks (1.36 bps) and ranks ninth for hitting percentage (.355).
Among other award winners, Michigan's Allison Jacobs was named the conference's Player of the Week. Wisconsin's Charlie Fuerbringer earned Setter of the Week recognition, and Nebraska's Virginia Adriana was selected as the Freshman of the Week.
No. 14 USC (22-6, 13-5 Big Ten) completes the regular season on the road with a match at Michigan State (18-9, 8-9 Big Ten) on Wednesday (Nov. 26) in East Lansing, Mich., and a contest at Michigan (20-8, 10-7) on the Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) in Ann Arbor, Mich. Both matches will be shown live on Big Ten Plus streams.
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
USC BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARDS
2024
Mia Tuaniga, Setter of the Week (Sept. 23)
Jadyn Livings, Freshman of the Week (Sept. 23)
Mia Tuaniga, Setter of the Week (Nov. 4)
Ally Batenhorst, Player of the Week (Nov. 4)
2025
Leah Ford, Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 1)
Reese Messer, Freshman of the Week (Sept. 22)
London Wijay, Player of the Week (Oct. 20)
Taylor Deckert, Freshman of the Week (Oct. 20)
Reese Messer, Freshman of the Week (Oct. 27)
London Wijay, Player of the Week (Nov. 3)
Reese Messer, Co-Setter of the Week (Nov. 3)
Abigail Mullen, Freshman of the Week (Nov. 10)
Leah Ford, Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 24)
It is the second Defensive Player of the Week award for Ford and the ninth Big Ten weekly award earned by a Trojan in 2025. Two weeks ago (Nov. 10), Abigail Mullen collected her first Freshman of the Week award. Earlier this month, freshman Reese Messer was tabbed for Co-Setter of the Week while London Wijay earned her second Player of the Week nod (Nov. 3). Earlier in the season, Taylor Deckert was tabbed Freshman of the Week (Oct. 20).
Ford totaled 20.5 points on 15 blocks (2.14 bps) and 13 kills while hitting .346 across USC's wins at Oregon and against Illinois. She posted seven blocks, nine kills, and one dig to reach double-digit points (12.5) in the Trojans' four-set road victory over the Ducks. On Senior Night against the Illini, Ford added eight blocks and four kills. Her performance helped the Women of Troy reach double-digit blocks as a team (11.5 in both matches) in their 14th and 15th contests this season. Entering the final week of the regular season, Ford leads the Big Ten in blocks (1.36 bps) and ranks ninth for hitting percentage (.355).
Among other award winners, Michigan's Allison Jacobs was named the conference's Player of the Week. Wisconsin's Charlie Fuerbringer earned Setter of the Week recognition, and Nebraska's Virginia Adriana was selected as the Freshman of the Week.
No. 14 USC (22-6, 13-5 Big Ten) completes the regular season on the road with a match at Michigan State (18-9, 8-9 Big Ten) on Wednesday (Nov. 26) in East Lansing, Mich., and a contest at Michigan (20-8, 10-7) on the Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) in Ann Arbor, Mich. Both matches will be shown live on Big Ten Plus streams.
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
USC BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARDS
2024
Mia Tuaniga, Setter of the Week (Sept. 23)
Jadyn Livings, Freshman of the Week (Sept. 23)
Mia Tuaniga, Setter of the Week (Nov. 4)
Ally Batenhorst, Player of the Week (Nov. 4)
2025
Leah Ford, Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 1)
Reese Messer, Freshman of the Week (Sept. 22)
London Wijay, Player of the Week (Oct. 20)
Taylor Deckert, Freshman of the Week (Oct. 20)
Reese Messer, Freshman of the Week (Oct. 27)
London Wijay, Player of the Week (Nov. 3)
Reese Messer, Co-Setter of the Week (Nov. 3)
Abigail Mullen, Freshman of the Week (Nov. 10)
Leah Ford, Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 24)
Players Mentioned
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