The best blocking team in the Southland Conference and one of the best in the country got stronger and deeper with the addition of a pair of Division I transfers.

Northwestern State head coach Sean Kiracofe announced the addition of Deja Benjamin and Samaya Wesson ahead of the 2024 season.

Benjamin, a 5-foot-10 middle from Pearland, Texas, is no stranger to Natchitoches and NSU after spending the past two seasons at fellow SLC school Texas A&M-Commerce.

This past year Benjamin led the Lions in blocks with 107 and a 0.96 per set average. She finished fourth overall in the conference in total blocks and was second, behind NSU’s record-breaking Reaghan Thompson, in blocks during conference play with 72.

Benjamin produced a pair of eight-block performances during conference play, a career high for her to this point, one week a part against Lamar and Southeastern. She also set a career high with 11 kills and 13.5 points in another match against the Cardinals earlier in the season.

Her 132 kills were the fifth most for Commerce a year ago and her .220 attack percentage led the team.

Wesson makes her way to NSU after playing her freshman season at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. She appeared in 17 matches on the year across 52 sets for the Aggies.

She established and matched her career high, also eight blocks, in consecutive matches during conference play against William & Mary. She had eight blocks in the second match against the Tribe, a 3-0 sweep, as part of four straight matches with five or more blocks. She averaged 1.73 blocks per set during that stretch.

Wesson totaled 52 rejections on the season, a 1.00 per set average, and finished fourth on the team in total blocks. She added 34 kills and a 1.20 point per set rate in her freshman campaign.

She was named a 2021 AAU All-American on her club team Texas Image out of Grand Prairie. For her prep team, Trinity-Euless, she was a two-time MVP in her final two seasons.