It’s one thing to be a good athlete, it’s another to combine the mental aspects and leadership skills necessary to become a great player.
An exceptional athlete, Auburn’s Isia Johnson is ready to put it all together and reach for excellence on the volleyball court.
“My goal this year is to step up and help get us to state,” said Johnson, the Trojans’ 5-foot-11 senior standout. “I need to be a leader … and, as a captain, guide them in the right way.”
Last year the Trojans struggled through a bumpy South Puget Sound League North 4A schedule, finishing sixth with a 3-5 record.
Although Johnson played well, earning a nod to the all-SPSL North 4A second team, there was room for improvement.
“Last year Isia would kind of get frustrated with herself,” said coach Kim Farris.
Already this season, Farris has noticed a more mature Johnson.
“She’s just mellow,” she said. “If she messes up, she just kind of moves on and gets back to playing. She’s committed to volleyball this year, and we’ve kind of gone over what she has to improve on to play at the next level.”
Johnson, the younger sister of Auburn boys basketball star Iszia “Zeke” Johnson, grew up on the basketball court.
“I’ve been playing since before I can remember,” said Johnson, who also starts for the Trojans’ basketball team.
In the eighth grade she decided to turn out for volleyball.
“I thought I’d try something different from my brother,” she said.
Johnson made a smooth transition. By the ninth grade, she was playing for the Saturday Warriors club team. She also made Auburn’s varsity squad as a freshman, where she and her teammates struggled through a 2-10 season.
As a sophomore, Johnson made the all-SPSL North 4A second team and helped the Trojans to a second-place league finish with a 6-2 record.
Although the Trojans showed promise last season, they struggled to put the pieces together, partially due to having trouble getting the ball to their talented hitters.
This season, Auburn fields a young team, featuring two returning starters in Johnson and junior co-captain Brooke Good, an all-SPSL North 4A, honorable mention performer last season.
“Brooke is just a powerhouse,” Farris said. “We saw some potential in her when she was a freshman when she was new to the sport. But once she started playing club, it all came together.”
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Johnson and Good have emerged as natural leaders.
“We’re pretty young but pretty talented,” she said. “We’re going to be stronger hitters than some of the other teams out there. As long as we get our passes there, which is what we’ve been working on, our offense will be pretty strong.”
Kelsey Zager, a junior transfer from Kentlake, will help distribute the ball.
For the Trojans, improvement and confidence will come with time. The expectation is to reach the postseason.
“Our focus is on going to the playoffs, that’s what our goal is,” Farris said. “We need to work hard at practice every single day so we can get to the playoffs.”
For Johnson, it’s all about taking advantage of her senior year and recognizing it’s her last chance to share a bit of glory with her team.
“It’s kind of made me more intense,” she said. “I know it’s not just about me now, it’s about my team. It’s a whole other level of maturity for me.”
