New Kid on the Block: Madison Johnston stepping in and making immediate impact for West Monroe Volleyball

WEST MONROE, La. ( KTVE/KARD ) — Imagine moving 7 plus hours just days before the school year starts trying to adjust to a new school and a new team–well–that was the case for West Monroe Volleyball’s Madison Johnston.

It is never easy being the new kid on the block–but through it all–Lady Rebels Volleyball has been more than happy to have her and the immediate impact she brings to the court.

“It’s definitely been different. All the girls have been so welcoming to me being here and it’s just been good,” Johnston said. “It’s definitely been a different skill level coming here. Volleyball is new here, but it’s definitely been a good experience coming here.”

“It’s been great to have her come in and just inject herself into the team immediately and fit right in,” Long said. “Her and her sister both. I don’t know if she mentioned this as well, but her dad is actually a West Monroe alumni. He played baseball here. So, having them here to come and bring their knowledge and their experience from Florida to share that with the girls and bringing it into our program has been really big.”

Maddie Johnston and her sister Bre made the move to West Monroe High School from Arnold High School in Panama City Beach, Florida, literally days before the school year started.

The senior didn’t have to wait long to step in and make her mark.

“It’s very special,” Johnston said. “Coming in as the new girl and a senior and being given a position to play is just really nice.”

Coming in as the new kid can bring concerns of being seen as an outsider.

However, in this case, Johnston was accepted with open arms.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” Johnston said. “I was like, oh, I’m the new girl. It was just really nice to have all the girls being welcoming.”

The transfer not only serves as a new experience for the senior setter, but also more opportunity to grow for the Lady Rebels.

As West Monroe is in their seventh year of having a volleyball program, there is still a learning process.

The addition of Madison and her sister provides an opportunity for their knowledge to be passed along and only help build the program even stronger.

“I have been playing since I was in 5th grade, so it’s been really cool to see how the sport is growing and how they are getting younger kids playing now,” Johnston said. “It’s just really cool to see that.”

“Well first of all, she’s a really good setter,” said Long. “She helps us there and does a really good job at that, but she can play all over the court. She can do anything. That and then her knowledge, her experience talking to other players and just spreading that around benefits us.”

Though this is her first year with the Lady Rebels, Johnston is all in.

This team has the energy, the talent and the ambition to take this thing far and Johnston plays her part each and every day.

When it’s all said and done, the potential for the Lady Rebels is unlimited.

“We definitely have high energy every game,” Johnston said. “We get in other opponents’ heads, so that’s really good for our high energy. We have really good hitters. I just think we are really good.”

“I definitely think we have potential to make it to the championship, that’s for sure,” Johnston said. “When I first got here, I saw everybody, and we’ve improved so much from the start.”