The junior is just the second all-region honoree in Fairfield Volleyball history.
To join an all-time great like Joanne Saunders ’02 as just the second All-Region player out of the MAAC is a testament to all that she accomplished as an individual and as a part of our team this season.
— Head Coach Todd Kress
Fairfield Volleyball standout KJ Johnson ’23 has been named All-East Coast Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), as announced on Tuesday by the organization. Johnson is just the second all-region honoree in program and conference history.
"KJ was outstanding — and dominant, at times — throughout this past season, and I'm glad that she has gained recognition beyond our conference as an All-Region selection." said Head Coach Todd Kress. "To join an all-time great like Joanne Saunders ’02 as just the second All-Region player out of the MAAC is a testament to all that she accomplished as an individual and as a part of our team this season. Her performance this fall certainly belongs alongside the top players in our region from the ACC, Big East, and CAA."
Saunders was named All-Mideast Region in 2000 as the first Fairfield or MAAC student-athlete tabbed for the prestigious list.
Also the 2021 MAAC Player of the Year, Johnson led the MAAC and currently ranks 11th nationally with 4.75 kills per set. That number also slots fourth in a single-season in program history and the highest in the rally scoring era. Johnson's 480 total kills this fall rank tied for seventh in Fairfield history.
Johnson was previously tabbed as MAAC Championship MVP after averaging 4.33 kills and 2.83 digs per set in the Stags' three-match run to the 12th conference title in program history. The Stags finished the season at 24-9, drawing #14 UCLA in the NCAA Championship First Round and pushing the Bruins to the limit in a 3-0 loss by set scores of 29-27, 25-23, and 26-24.
In addition to Fairfield’s two All-Region honorees in program history, Manuela Nicolini ’20 was an All-East Coast Region Honorable Mention in 2019 — just the third honorable mention in MAAC history — after earning MAAC Player and Setter of the Year accolades. In addition, Coach Kress was the AVCA District II Coach of the Year in 1998 after leading the Stags on their historic 35-2 season that fall.
