There’s a reason you hadn’t heard of Paul Johnson
until this year, even though he is one of the best male athletes on
this campus.
Compared to his teammates on the UCLA men’s volleyball
team, he’s dull. Not “blue jeans and white
T-shirt” dull. More like “studying income tax rates and
marginal costs curves in the library on a sunny day”
dull.
Setter Gaby Acevedo is the team’s emotional spark plug.
Outside hitter Jonathan Acosta is the team’s outspoken
leader. Opposite hitter Steve Klosterman shows the most passion on
the court.
But ask coaches who stands out on film, and they’ll say
Johnson. Though the All-American doesn’t have the brash
on-court demeanor of his teammates, it’s the senior’s
performance on the court that is worthy of attention.
When the third-seeded Bruins take the court tonight against
second-seeded Penn State in the NCAA Semifinals, Johnson will be
the key to UCLA’s national title hopes.
Of course, it will be hard to tell from looking at him.
He’s not physically imposing, despite being 6-foot-8. He
doesn’t overpower opponents or cause them to quiver in fear
when he goes up for a kill.
But he’s a silent killer.
Johnson led the Bruins in kills, blocks and aces this year and
is the biggest reason why UCLA is back in the Final Four for the
first time in four years.
“I’ve had an OK year,” Johnson said.
OK for Johnson, great for most.
Johnson may not be outspoken, vocal, arrogant or cocky like some
of the other top players whose talents will be on display at Pauley
Pavilion, but look up at the scoreboard at the end of the night,
and Johnson will most certainly have his 15-20 kills.
“Paul’s been the most steady player on the team all
year,” UCLA coach Al Scates said. “Most nights,
he’ll have more points than anyone. He’s the mainstay
of our team.”
Steady. Mainstay. Yawn.
This year, however, Johnson has become more of a leader on his
team.
That doesn’t mean he’s in the faces of his teammates
every night like Acosta or showing his emotion like Klosterman.
But, hey, he is making an effort to lead by example. He’s the
only UCLA starter to play in every match. He’s played through
minor injuries. He took extra serves for 15 minutes after
Wednesday’s practice. He watches more film of opposing teams
than any of his teammates.
“It’s very important to have a leader on this
team,” Johnson said. “I like to lead by example. I can
get guys pumped up.”
But not by yelling, of course. Although he will give a mild
fist-pump every once in a while.
“I’m real proud of him,” Scates said.
“He’s basically a quiet guy and I know it’s tough
for him to take a leadership role.”
Johnson and UCLA’s other seniors haven’t won a
championship yet ““ a rarity for a program that has won 20 (18
NCAA titles) of them in Scates’ 43-year tenure.
That makes tonight’s match the most important of
Johnson’s career. It’s the one he’s been waiting
for since last year when the Bruins missed their chance to return
to the Final Four when they were unable to dispatch of Long Beach
State in the MPSF semifinals.
“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,”
Johnson said.
And if the Bruins win, Johnson will have to be a part of the
victory celebration. Even he can’t possibly make a
championship celebration boring.
E-mail Quiñonez at gquinonez@media.ucla.edu.