University of South Alabama Athletics

AT SOUTH ALABAMA
JUNIOR (2025)
- Played in 23 matches, competing in 88 sets
- Missed six matches due to injury
- Averaged 2.64 points per set and nearly two kills a set (1.93)
- Recorded 170 kills, while posting a .235 hitting percentage
- Led the club with 107.0 total blocks and averaged 1.22 blocks per set, which ranked fifth in the Sun Belt Conference
- Was even better in conference play, averaging 2.96 points per set, 2.15 kills and 1.38 blocks per set
- Recorded five or more kills in 22 matches and registered seven or more kills 15 times
- Posted five matches with double digit kill tallies
Had 14 matches of four or more blocks
- Had a then career- best 15 kills and a .308 hitting percentage versus Tulane (9/13)
- Recorded her first career double-double with 10 kills and 11 total blocks in the series opener at Texas State (10/9)
- Finished the series with 19 total kills and 17 total blocks in the series with the Bobcats, while hitting .471 or better in both matches
- The 10 kills in the series opener started a stretch of nine-straight matches of seven or more kills, including four in double digits
- Followed the series with the Bobcats with 21 total kills in the series with Southern Miss (10/17-18) and 24 kills in the series at Louisiana (10/24-25)
- In the series finale against the Ragin’ Cajuns, she finished with 14 kills, a .545 hitting percentage and nine total blocks, including a career-high three solo

SOPHOMORE (2024)
- Blossomed into one of the top freshmen in the league 
- Started 19 matches at the middle hitter position for the Jags 
- Recorded 120 kills and averaged 1.60 kps, while ranking third in the Sun Belt Conference with a .338 attack percentage
- Posted 64 total blocks – 15 solo and 49 assists – for an average of 0.82 per set 
- Was even better in conference play as she averaged nearly two kills per set (1.75) with 49 of her 64 total blocks coming against league foes 
- Her .376 hitting percentage in SBC play was second-best among league players 
- Had 12 matches with six or more kills, with all but three of those coming in league play 
- Led the Jags in blocks seven times during the fall 
- Had 11 matches with three or more blocks and six with five or more 
- Had seven or more kills in seven of her final 10 matches to close out the season and five or more kills in 10 of her last 12 
- Also hit .333 or better in eight of her last 12, including seven matches of .455 or higher 
- Had 17 total kills and hit over .467 in both matches of South Alabama’s series sweep of Texas State, while she also had seven blocks 
- Followed that with 17 more kills at Southern Miss the following weekend and eight more blocks 
- Best offensive series came in South’s road sweep of James Madison where she had 18 total kills and hit .500 or better in both matches
- Came off the bench to post six kills, a .455 attack percentage and four total blocks versus Georgia Southern (11/22) at the Sun Belt Conference Championship 

FRESHMAN (2023)
- Sat out the season as a non-medical redshirt

HIGH SCHOOL
- Was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball at Lafayette High School in Lafayette, La.
- Earned All-Acadiana Team honors in 2019
- Was a two-time first-team, all-district selection (2020 and ‘22) and second-team in 2021
- Also lettered in basketball for three seasons and softball for two
- Played two years of club ball for Cajun Elite

PERSONAL
- Full name is Dalaya Jornae Blackwell
- Born in Lafayette, La.
- Daughter of Shawanna Blackwell
- Has a younger sister, Smya
- Majoring in sports management & recreational studies