University of Saint Katherine Women's Volleyball

Alex Leja joined her sister, Eryn, as Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at The University of Saint Katherine in December of 2019.  She comes to the Firebirds after a brief stint as an assistant at Biola, joining the coaching staff in August 2019 where the Eagles posted a 17-13 record on the year. Leja attended the Academy of Art University briefly, playing 1 season, and transferred to earn her bachelor's degree in theatre arts (technical/set design) from Vanguard University in 2012. She added an associate's in interior design in 2015. During her senior season at Vanguard, Leja helped lead the Lions to a No. 14 national ranking. She had a sparkling high school career at La Quinta High School. During her senior season she won league MVP honors and also was named Volleyball Player of the Year by The Desert Sun. She helped her team go undefeated in league play during her final two seasons and a CIF runner-up finish her senior year. In her 3 seasons as a setter at Vanguard University, she totaled 2198 assists throughout her career, leading the conference in total assists with 1053 her senior year as 6-2 setter; she finished her collegiate playing career in 2011, then joined the coaching staff as an assistant for the Lions from 2012-2016.  Alex played professional volleyball briefly, before returning stateside due to injury. During her time coaching at Vanguard, the Lions surged in the NAIA National Rankings, peaking at #4 while also winning the first ever Golden State Athletic Conference Championship in program history, and reaching the NAIA National tournament in four straight seasons.  She was awarded the AVCA NAIA Southwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013 under Eryn, before taking the opportunity to be the head coach at Alma College for 3 seasons, from 2016-2018. At Alma College she took the team from 13-14 her first year to a 19-8 record in her final year with the program, posting the program's best record since 2008 and the highest league finish (3rd) since 2012.  Between Vanguard and Alma, she was worked with over 14 MIAA Academic Honor Roll student -athletes, 10 NAIA All-Americans, and 13 All-GSAC players, including Vanguard's first ever GSAC Player of the Year in 2015. In joining Eryn Leja, at the University of Saint Katherine in 2019, the program has made a huge change, going from a 5-22 season in 2018 to 15-10 in the first season (2020), 20-10 (2021), and 21-13 (2022). They have recruited and coached numerous all-conference award winners, and have had two All-America award winners within the program. Outside of volleyball, Alex enjoys horseback riding and Pickleball.