Sarah Johnson has been through it all.
Be it the head coaching change, poor finishes in Pac-10 play, or upset wins over top ten-ranked opponents, Johnson’s tenure as libero of the ASU women’s volleyball team has been a tumultuous one.
But throughout the rollercoaster seasons of highs and lows, one thing has remained constant for the Sun Devils: Johnson’s leadership on and off the court. Since assuming the starting libero duties as a sophomore in 2008, Johnson has served as a fixture of leadership for ASU.
Anyone walking into a weekday practice is almost certain to hear Johnson. Vocal leadership has proven one of Johnson’s strongest traits on the court.
“There’s not a day that goes by that people don’t walk into the locker room and say ‘SJ, I could hear you eight doors down’ or something,” Johnson said. “I’ve always been really vocal because I’ve found that people respond positively to that. Of course, sometimes I don’t have nice things to say, but there’s always encouragement.”
When ASU coach Jason Watson began coaching the Sun Devils, he took quick notice of Johnson’s vocal leadership.
“She’s loud,” Watson said. “I think that’s just who she is; she’s loud. Certainly when we got here, we didn’t have anybody that had that characteristic, so it’s been nice.”
Johnson’s career at ASU began as one of seven freshmen that arrived in 2007, but only she and senior outside hitter Sarah Reaves remain.
Johnson’s evolution as a pillar of leadership began that same year when she learned from former libero and Pac-10 career and single season digs record holder Sydney Donahue.
“When I was a freshman I got to learn a lot from her,” Johnson said. “She was a really good role model because I got to see how not only was she a really good passer, but she was a really good leader on the court.”
Even long after Donahue’s departure from ASU, Johnson still reflects on the example her mentor set.
“When I dig myself into a hole, I think about Sydney and think how she was great, and I’ve always tried to play to be like her,” Johnson said. “Sometimes when I’m like ‘why can’t I pass a ball?’ I try to visualize how Sydney would play, and how she did things.”
After learning from an upperclassman herself, Johnson is returning the favor to the younger players on this year’s team, including seven freshmen.
“Because I’ve grown up so much, I feel like I have to basically do what Sydney did for me and guide them,” Johnson said. “So when they’re a senior they can look back and say ‘what did SJ do?’ and stuff like that.”
It’s clear that Johnson’s leadership and presence on the court has impacted several of this year’s freshmen.
“It’s been so much fun,” freshman setter Stephanie Preach said. “I respect her a lot, not only for how hard she works, but her leadership on the court. She’s always talking. She’s always helping both Jenny [Teslevich] and I in the games if we are down. She’s always trying to bring us up.”
With the completion of every match, Johnson’s time as a Sun Devil draws closer to the end.
After four years at ASU, Johnson knows her emotions will be running high once her final match is finished.
“I could go through a state of depression because it’s been my life since I was 12,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if it’s going to hit me right then, but it’s definitely going to be emotional.”
While Johnson is unsure of her exact plans immediately after graduation, she is focused on achieving her goal of becoming a strength coach for new mothers.
“I’ve known a lot of women who have babies and have such a struggle losing the weight,” Johnson said. “I want to be able to help them not only for health reasons, but for self-esteem.”
When she’s not anchoring ASU’s back row, Johnson has enjoyed coaching volleyball at the youth and high school levels. Johnson also admits that, someday, coaching at the collegiate level could be an intriguing possibility.
Whether it’s as a strength coach helping women or as a volleyball coach roaming the sidelines, two things are certain to remain constant in Johnson’s future: She’ll be loud, and she’ll be leading.
Reach the reporter at gregory.dillard@asu.edu
Want to get the latest ASU news in your inbox every day? Sign up for our new e-mail newsletter.
