Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Volleyball Welcomes Rachel Johnson
6/18/2024 4:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
6-foot-0 outside hitter piled up 440 kills during two-year stay at Holy Cross
EVANSTON, Ill. (July 18, 2024) – Northwestern University head volleyball coach Tim Nollan welcomed another attacking presence to his roster on Tuesday, announcing the addition of Rachel Johnson (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra Beach/Holy Cross). Johnson spent the previous two seasons at the College of the Holy Cross, where she led the Crusaders in multiple offensive categories in 2023.
"I am excited to welcome Rachel to Northwestern," Nollan commented. "She is a six-rotation left who ranked sixth in her former conference in points. Rachel plays with a passion that is infectious. I can't wait to get her representing the 'Cats!"
Johnson appeared in 174 sets across 52 matches during her two-year stint in Worcester, Mass., racking up 440 kills (2.53 k/s), 59 service aces, (0.34 sa/s), and 414 digs (2.38 d/s).
A 6-foot-0 outside hitter, Johnson put together an outstanding sophomore campaign in 2023, leading Holy Cross in kills (262), kills per set (3.12), service aces (27), overall points (304.5), and points per set (3.63). She also made an impact on the defensive side of the net, ranking second on the roster in digs (195). Johnson reached double figures in kills on 15 occasions, highlighted by a career-best 20-kill showing against Loyola Maryland.
Johnson burst on the scene as a freshman in 2022, sharing the team lead in service aces (32) while also putting up 178 kills (1.98 k/s), a mark that put her third on the Holy Cross roster. In just her second collegiate appearance, she ripped 14 kills against Iona before posting a season-best 15 spikes in a clash with American.
Johnson also excelled in the classroom at Holy Cross, earning a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team in 2023, in addition to back-to-back selections to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
A four-year varsity letterwinner during her time at Ponte Vedra Beach High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Johnson helped lead the Sharks to a Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 5A State Championship in 2020 ahead of a runner-up showing in 2021. As a senior, she was tabbed to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American Watch List and was ranked as the top player in the state of Florida by MaxPreps.
Rachel Johnson is officially a Wildcat!#GoCats | @B1GVolleyball pic.twitter.com/q9LReCuVHs
— Northwestern Volleyball (@NUVball) June 18, 2024
"I am excited to welcome Rachel to Northwestern," Nollan commented. "She is a six-rotation left who ranked sixth in her former conference in points. Rachel plays with a passion that is infectious. I can't wait to get her representing the 'Cats!"
Johnson appeared in 174 sets across 52 matches during her two-year stint in Worcester, Mass., racking up 440 kills (2.53 k/s), 59 service aces, (0.34 sa/s), and 414 digs (2.38 d/s).
A 6-foot-0 outside hitter, Johnson put together an outstanding sophomore campaign in 2023, leading Holy Cross in kills (262), kills per set (3.12), service aces (27), overall points (304.5), and points per set (3.63). She also made an impact on the defensive side of the net, ranking second on the roster in digs (195). Johnson reached double figures in kills on 15 occasions, highlighted by a career-best 20-kill showing against Loyola Maryland.
Johnson burst on the scene as a freshman in 2022, sharing the team lead in service aces (32) while also putting up 178 kills (1.98 k/s), a mark that put her third on the Holy Cross roster. In just her second collegiate appearance, she ripped 14 kills against Iona before posting a season-best 15 spikes in a clash with American.
Johnson also excelled in the classroom at Holy Cross, earning a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team in 2023, in addition to back-to-back selections to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
A four-year varsity letterwinner during her time at Ponte Vedra Beach High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Johnson helped lead the Sharks to a Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 5A State Championship in 2020 ahead of a runner-up showing in 2021. As a senior, she was tabbed to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American Watch List and was ranked as the top player in the state of Florida by MaxPreps.
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