From defense to offense: Senior Chapman volleyball player sets herself up for success in final season
Marly Johnson transferred to the university for her academics, but in turn, also switched from being a defensive specialist to a right attacker. Photos courtesy of Marly Johnson
At Division I (DI) school University of New Hampshire, it’s common to see a 5’11” libero. However, senior Marly Johnson got her time to shine at Chapman University as the right side after transferring to a Division III school. In other words, Johnson is shining as a power hitter on and off the court.
Johnson, a senior majoring in business administration, played as libero for two years on the East Coast after being scouted by the University of New Hampshire. However, she quickly learned that she had to experience an academic change.
“[The] University of New Hampshire scouted me at a tournament, and after visiting, I decided I wanted to play there and see what it was like to go to school on the east coast,” Johnson told The Panther. “And I did enjoy it for two years, but (I) felt like I didn’t have any balance to my life with how much travel was required to be on the team outside of practice.”
But besides a change in location and academics, Johnson would be undergoing another big change in her volleyball career: instead of libero, she was placed on the right side due to her height. Head Coach Mary Cahill instantly recognized Johnson’s potential as a power hitter.
“She’s 5’11”, so for here, that’s a good height for a hitter at the net. She had hit before in high school, so we put her back in that position,” Cahill said.
Recalling her recruitment process, which started very late in her high school career, Johnson still always knew she wanted to continue being a hard-working volleyball player. After watching a D1 volleyball match at only 12-years-old, Johnson knew volleyball was her passion. She credits her serious start to her career being when she was scouted by Babson University, another D1 school.
“I just loved volleyball. It was what I was passionate about, I loved working hard, I loved competing and playing a team sport,” Johnson said. “But, I remember after a club tournament my sophomore year, a coach handed me their recruiting card; they were interested in me as a player. It was the first collegiate look I had ever gotten. I didn’t reach out to them or anything, but I was just like, ‘Wow, maybe I could do this. If someone is interested in me, if a school is interested in me, maybe I can do it.’ And I think in that point in my journey, I just started believing in myself.”
“I just loved volleyball. It was what I was passionate about, I loved working hard, I loved competing and playing a team sport. But, I remember after a club tournament my sophomore year, a coach handed me their recruiting card; they were interested in me as a player. It was the first collegiate look I had ever gotten. I didn’t reach out to them or anything, but I was just like, ‘Wow, maybe I could do this. If someone is interested in me, if a school is interested in me, maybe I can do it.’ And I think in that point in my journey, I just started believing in myself.”
Earlier in the season, Chapman’s volleyball team bested Redlands 3-2, with Johnson leading the way. During the last set, Johnson collected a total of six kills, helping Chapman in their comeback during the set. She also had a total of 21 kills, the best in her Chapman career.
Cahill acknowledges Johnson’s growth, both in personality and skills, and is appreciative of her dedication to the sport and team as a whole. While only having been on the team for two years, Cahill believes Johnson to be a big contributor to the team’s development.
“(Johnson) is not a big time talker; she kind of leads by example,” Cahill told The Panther. “ She has done that this year; she did it in the springtime, working out hard. She’s done a good job.”
“(Johnson) is not a big time talker; she kind of leads by example.”
Johnson also has her own goals for herself within the team as well. Not only does she use her stats and performance to contribute, but she also wants to be a relatable and reliable person for her teammates.
“I really just try to be someone who is going to lift everyone up and create good energy,” Johnson said. “I’m not always involved in every play just based on my position. When I’m not involved in those plays, (I) just make sure I can be a good communicator for (the) girls and try my best to help be a leader since I am a senior. We have a lot of freshmen who are starting and playing, and I just want to be someone who they can look up to and be a rock if needed,” Johnson said.
If there’s a word to describe Johnson, everybody would say she is a hard-worker. And that is exactly the way Johnson will be remembered once her final season at Chapman comes to a close.
“I really just try to be someone who is going to lift everyone up and create good energy. I’m not always involved in every play just based on my position. When I’m not involved in those plays, (I) just make sure I can be a good communicator for (the) girls and try my best to help be a leader since I am a senior. We have a lot of freshmen who are starting and playing, and I just want to be someone who they can look up to and be a rock if needed.”
