Prairie View A&M University Athletics

Leila Smalls, a junior outside hitter from San Antonio, Texas, is majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View A&M. She previously attended Louis D. Brandeis High School. Leila was inspired to play volleyball by her sister, who introduced her to the sport.

Her favorite all-time movie is Joker, and she admires Michael Jackson as her favorite entertainer. Leila loves any type of Asian food and looks forward to Christmas for the chance to gather with most of her family. Her hobbies include painting, hiking, napping, and exploring new restaurants.

Leila's passion for volleyball is fueled by the drive to prove her doubters wrong. She finds the greatest challenges for athletes today to be maintaining a balance between their sport, academics, inner peace, and social life.

One of her most memorable moments in sports occurred when she returned from her third ACL tear during her senior year of high school to win a 6A Texas Volleyball State title with her team. This achievement was a testament to her resilience and determination.

In five years, Leila hopes to have earned two degrees, secured her dream job in engineering, achieved a stable income, and found inner peace. Her dream job is to work as a Mechanical Engineer at NASA. She chose Prairie View A&M for its family-like atmosphere and the excellent programs it offers, which align with her academic and career goals.