The ultimate balancing act

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Kansas State volleyball coach Suzie Fritz said she had never had a player progress so far as Tiffany Johnson did over two seasons with the Big 12 school.

That progress made it that much more difficult for Fritz to let Johnson, a middle blocker, leave her program. However, Fritz’s respect for Johnson as a person outweighed her admiration for Johnson as a player. And Fritz knew she had to release Johnson from her scholarship after the 2005 Arundel graduate told the coach she was pregnant.

“Tiffany is a tremendous athlete and did whatever we asked to help her become a better player,” Fritz said. “But she needs to be back home with her family, which can offer her the support system she needs to raise her daughter.”

Johnson gave birth to a daughter, Tiana, on April 30. However, her journey into motherhood did not close the door on volleyball or a college career. Instead, she plans on balancing school, sports and parenting this fall as a member of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County volleyball team — something she said wouldn’t be possible without the support of her parents, Emmett and Vergie Johnson, and her fiance, Kevin Copp (Tiana’s father).

At UMBC, Johnson will be reunited with coach Ian Blanchard, who coached her during her club career in high school. Coincidentally, Blanchard and Fritz are friends and run similar systems. Also, Johnson, who has three years of eligibility remaining, inquired about UMBC on Fritz’s recommendation.

“I’m definitely nervous trying to balance everything,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a big adjustment. Ian has been extremely supportive of me, and he understands that ultimately I’m a mother first.”

Blanchard said Johnson should have no trouble fitting in with the Retrievers, and he wants to do what he can to make sure Johnson can contribute on the court, but more importantly, continue to get an education and take care of her baby.

“Tiffany is an explosive athlete and a great person,” Blanchard said. “If anyone can balance all of these things at the same time, it’s Tiffany. It’s also going to take some accommodating on our part, but it’s worth it to have a player like Tiffany on this team.”

One of the biggest issues facing Johnson is getting back into shape following her pregnancy. She knows her conditioning at first won’t be what it was before she got pregnant.

But she isn’t using that as an excuse, as she prepares for UMBC’s season-opener Aug. 31 against Loyola in the La Salle Tournament in Philadelphia.

“I feel like I’m ready for the competition,” Johnson said. “I just hope I’m able to jump like I did before. It just means that I have to work that much harder to become the best player I can be.”

Notes

» Tiffany Johnson appeared in 14 matches during the 2006 season with Kansas State. For the year, she averaged 2.77 kills, 1.33 blocks and 3.45 points a game.

» Johnson led Arundel to a 19-2 record during he senior season with the Wildcats.

» Johnson is one of five new recruits for UMBC, joining middle blockers Madison Bingaman, Bridget Scheetz and Sarah Hill and outside hitter Bianca Sande.