Rachell Johnson uses Pauley Pavilion as a venue to display more than just her volleyball skills. Sometimes when the senior middle blocker steps to mid-court before a game, it has nothing to do with hitting or blocking a ball. Instead, Johnson is showing off her talents as a singer.
Johnson began singing long before she ever touched a volleyball. Starting at age 4, Johnson’s parents exposed her to musical theater and she took an interest in music.
“It’s fun to see what types of things I can get my voice to do. It’s my artistic expression,” Johnson said.
When Johnson starting playing volleyball her freshman year of high school, she occasionally would perform the national anthem before her games. She’s continued to do so since coming to UCLA.
“My first year, our second assistant coach signed me up to sing at the USC match,” Johnson said.
“Marketing took notice and I have been in the (singing) rotation ever since.”
Johnson is not the only Bruin with talents that extend beyond the volleyball court. For example, senior middle blocker Meghan Schoen is not someone you would want to get into a fight with. Schoen holds a black belt in tae kwon do. She picked up the sport at age 7 to follow in the footsteps of an older neighbor.
Schoen’s tae kwon do resume is impressive. She is a two-time national champion and was a member of the U.S. Junior Olympic Team in 2001. When she picked up volleyball in her freshman year of high school, she learned how to balance two sports.
“In the summers I would go to Junior Nationals for volleyball and then go straight to the national tournaments for tae kwon do,” Schoen said.
Junior outside hitter Ali Daley also has some hidden talents. Daley played Little League baseball with her older brother from ages 5 to 14. As a pitcher and second baseman, she made it onto several of the league’s all-star teams. According to Daley, her dream was to play professional baseball.
“I had an interview with Channel 3 News,” Daley said. “They interviewed me because I was the only girl to play in the league. At one point I was like, “˜Yeah, I want to continue playing baseball and go pro.'”
She eventually gave up the sport and that dream in high school in order to focus on playing basketball and volleyball. However, she still uses some of the baseball techniques she learned on the volleyball court.
“I actually give a lot of credit to baseball for me being so successful in volleyball,” Daley said. “And if you are a pitcher playing baseball instead of softball, the overhand motion is the same as hitting a volleyball.”
Like Johnson, Daley also has some musical abilities. Throughout middle school, she played the trumpet, clarinet and tenor saxophone. In the eighth grade she was the drum major for the Lyman Gilmore Marching Band.
“Our band was known in middle school,” Daley said. “They go to Disneyland a lot. We played there and I marched down Main Street leading a band.”
Johnson is scheduled to sing the National Anthem for the Bruins’ last home game of the season, against Washington on Nov. 17.