Johnson's volleyball career blooms at N.C. Wesleyan

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 30, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

ROCKY MOUNT -- Encouraged by her head coach, but uncertain of the reception she'd receive, Taylor Johnson attended a preseason meeting with the North Carolina Wesleyan volleyball team.

Two years earlier, NCWC head coach Robin Pietrek had tried to persuade Johnson -- then a standout middle hitter at Rosewood -- to play for the Battling Bishops.

Johnson chose Peace College instead.

She spent two seasons with the Pacers, but decided to transfer after her sophomore year. Johnson packed up and enrolled at NCWC with the hesitation of stepping onto the volleyball court again.

Pietrek talked with Johnson.

"When I transferred in, I didn't want to play because I thought the girls might be stand-offish and think 'oh, you used to play for the enemy' but it wasn't like that at all," Johnson said. "When I walked in, they stood up and clapped and said they were glad that I was here. That meant a lot to me to be able to come in and be accepted.

"It was nice to jump into volleyball without any drama."

And Johnson excelled.

She logged a career-high 300 kills during her junior season and helped lead the senior-rich Battling Bishops to a 20-win campaign for the sixth consecutive year.

Johnson earned all-USA South Athletic Conference honorable mention accolades and was selected to the conference's all-academic team.

"The girls out there, as well as Coach Pietrek and Coach (Vicky) Gentile, made me better and consistent," Johnson said.

This past season, however, presented a bigger challenge.

Johnson and fellow senior, Heather Hunter, emerged as the team leaders for a freshman-ladened squad that had little playing experience at a high level. Hunter presented the "calm" side, while Johnson chose to lead by example.

"I really couldn't have done it without Heather," Johnson said. "She kept me grounded and was my voice of reason. She was the communicator in the huddle and I would be the leader by example, which is the way I've always been.

"We knew each other's strengths and weaknesses."

Johnson collected 226 kills and surpassed the 1,000-kill plateau during her senior campaign. She concluded her collegiate career with 1,061 kills, 307 digs and 267 blocks.

She received the team MVP award during the school's season-ending ceremony this past weekend, and was named a Scholar Athlete. Each holds a special meaning for Johnson, who understands the value of education and gained a new appreciation for a sport dear to her heart.

"My parents have always stressed that school comes first and they weren't here to push me to get my homework done," laughed Johnson. "MVP ... that's a huge deal because we vote on that as a team and it's humbling to know that my teammates thought that highly of me. To have the opportunity to play college volleyball is enough within itself.

"But to win awards like these means a lot, too."

Along with acceptance.