Laila Smith

Position:
Midfield Blocker
Height:
6-2
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
New Castle, Ind.
Prev School:
Alabama

Junior Year (2023): Appeared in 16 matches, making 14 starts … Averaged 1.64 kills/set, with 77 kills this season … Season-high 9 kills at NC State (11/5) … Totaled 23 blocks with a career-high of 3 solo blocks vs. Wake Forest (10/8).

Prior to Syracuse (Alabama 2021-22): Played in 33 matches … Earned a season-best nine kills against the Razorbacks (Nov. 7, 2021) … Stuffed a season-best four blocks at Tennessee (Nov. 19, 2021) … Made her season debut against Central Arkansas (Sept. 3, 2022) with a career-best seven blocks … Knocked in a career-high 10 kills in win over Arkansas State (Sept. 10, 2022), hitting .563 … Tied her career best with seven blocks against 18th-ranked Kentucky (Oct. 1, 2022).

Club: Played three years for Munciana Volleyball Club … Munciana 18s Open Champions (2021) … Munciana 16s third place at Nationals Open (2019).

High School: Attended New Castle High School … Three-time Indiana State Champion (2017-19) … Two-time conference champion (2017, 2019) … Nationals All-American 15U (2018) … First Team All-State and All-Conference (2019).

Personal: Born May 12 in New Castle, Ind. … Daughter of Heather Smith … Has one brother, Dezmond (24) … Majoring in Communication & Rhetorical Studies in the College of Visual & Performing Arts.