LA VERNE, CA — Morgan Watkins has been named the SCIAC Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week, the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced Monday afternoon. 

Watkins anchored the La Verne volleyball team's defense in back-to-back victories over Whittier and Occidental. The sophomore libero recorded a career-high 29 digs in a 3-1 win over Whittier before adding 12 digs in a 3-0 sweep of Occidental, finishing the two-match stretch with 41 digs and providing a steady defensive presence for the Leopards.

She is the second La Verne volleyball player to earn SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors in as many weeks. Alanna Jones picked up the SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Week award after leading the Leopards to a perfect 3-0 week. Jones tallied 35 kills, including a career-high 15 in a five-set win at Redlands. 

The Leopards take on the Chapman Panthers tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Orange.

2026-27 SCIAC Athletes of the Week
9/8/26 - Zacky Coaston, Volleyball, Defensive
9/8/26 - Jacob Cuevas, Football, Special Teams
9/21/26 - Joshua Simonton, Men's Soccer, Defensive
10/12/26 - Katy Blue, Women's Soccer, Defensive
10/19/26 - Alanna Jones, Volleyball, Offensive
10/19/26 - Joshua Simonton, Men's Soccer, Defensive
10/19/26 - Natalie Kooba, Women's Soccer, Offensive