An Exciting Season for Colby Volleyball
Head Coach Lindsay Johnson is proud of the growth of the program
Colby volleyball had many thrilling moments over the fall season, including being undefeated in NESCAC during the regular season, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament, and having three players selected for All-American honors.
But for Head Coach Lindsay Johnson, whose team was Colby’s most successful in nearly 20 years, some of the season’s most memorable moments came during practices, not games.
“I can think of one practice in preseason that was a little flat, and I actually kind of got after them a little bit. But once I did, they just picked it up and competed like crazy,” the coach said. “In that moment, we got better. So what I look for in our practices is when we have a really good, competitive scrimmage, I don’t want practice to end. Because this is it. This is what we’re training for.”
Johnson, who has been the College’s head volleyball coach for four years, has helmed a program that has garnered more wins and improved its standing and reputation regionally and beyond. She was recognized last month as the American Volleyball Coaches Association Region 1 Coach of the Year, and her coaching staff was named the coaching staff of the year by NESCAC.
Still, Johnson said, it’s the players who made the season succesful.
“I think what really set us apart from so much of our competition this year was our team chemistry and the culture that we have,” she said. “This is the closest team I’ve ever been a part of—there’s zero drama. I think having this team support each other the way they did really pushed us forward. When there were head-to-head matches, we stood tough and found a way to win. I don’t think we could have found a way to win if the team didn’t believe in each other.”
‘A lot of hope’
Their coach’s honor sounded right to players like Cyanne Jones ’28, named the Volleyball All-American Freshman of the Year for Region 1, and Brady Moseley ’27, named to the All-Region Third Team by the coaches association. Jones and LJ Grant ’26 also were selected for Division III All-American honorable mention honors.
Jones and Moseley described Johnson as a coach who is a dedicated recruiter and a relentless program strategist whose ambitious vision for the team is balanced by her ability to care about each player.
“She really gets to know you, and it’s just crazy the amount of connection that she wants to have with you. You’re not just her player,” Jones said. “You’re someone who is closely connected to her, and she really goes deep down to try to make that bond.”
Jones said Johnson put a lot of effort into recruiting her, something that felt reassuring to both the athlete and her family. And when she arrived on campus, she found a team atmosphere that felt energetic, close, and positive. At first, it seemed like it couldn’t be real.
But it was, and a lot of that is thanks to the coaching staff.
“I would say having Coach Johnson is like having to see your second mother all the time,” she said. “And like a second mother, she’s definitely pushing you to be your best self. Honestly, there were times when I thought, ‘All this stuff we’re doing is crazy.’ But you can see the results. Everything is under her plan, and it’s for a reason.”
For Moseley, a psychology and economics double major, it’s exciting to be part of a program that is gaining so much momentum. When Johnson recruited her as a high school standout, the coach was honest about the challenges and possibilities for Colby’s volleyball program.
“I’m a very competitive person. I’ve always enjoyed winning,” Moseley said. “When I talked to Lindsay, she said, ‘We haven’t been the best in the past, but now we really want to work and get better, and we just want to keep improving.’ It was a lot of hope for a young program.”
It’s been gratifying to be part of the team that is turning those hopes into reality, she said.
“It’s like the whole school has rallied behind us, and is watching and wanting us to win,” Moseley said. “It’s kind of crazy seeing how far it’s come.”
‘Just the beginning’
Johnson is from the Midwest, where volleyball enjoys a strong cultural tradition. She was a standout player at Elmhurst University in Illinois, where she later served as recruiting coordinator and then associate head coach for more than a dozen years. After that, she took a hiatus from coaching before deciding to go back to it full time at Colby, where she saw great possibility in the volleyball program.
Among the changes she made was expanding her recruiting, including looking to geographic areas like the West and the Midwest, where players may not know much about Colby or the other NESCAC schools. Of the players on this year’s roster, none are seniors, and many hail from California, Texas, and other states.
“Our current players have dedicated themselves to increasing our competitiveness. As this program continues to grow, we can attract high-caliber recruits,” Johnson said. “This will increase our overall talent. As our current team grows into its strengths, our program will be more competitive than ever. This is just the beginning.”
Lots of people at Colby—including some of the newly minted volleyball fans who packed the stands during games—are excited to follow along as the program continues to grow. Amanda DeMartino, the new Harold Alfond Director of Athletics, is among them.
“The women’s volleyball team was incredibly inspirational and exciting to watch this season,” DeMartino said. “[Coach] Johnson has done a tremendous job developing a competitive and ambitious group of students and fostering a culture among the team that’s driven by hard work, mental toughness, and teamwork. It’s a true testament to their commitment and dedication to their sport and each other—and it’s been really fun to watch.”
