Janisa Johnson

Janisa Johnson
Personal information
Full name	Janisa Ivette Johnson
Born	(1991-09-22)September 22, 1991
Died	May 25, 2024(2024-05-25) (aged 32)
Hometown	Long Beach, California, U.S.
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
College / University	California State University, Long Beach
Volleyball information
Position	Outside hitter
Career
Years Teams 2010–15 CSU Long Beach 2015–16 Köpenicker SC Berlin [de] 2016–17 Oriveden Ponnistus [fi] 2018 BaliPure–NU Water Defenders 2018–19 Béziers Angels [fr] 2019 Petro Gazz Angels 2020–21 Radomka Radom [pl] 2022 CD Heidelberg

Janisa Ivette Johnson (September 22, 1991 – May 25, 2024) was an American volleyball player.

Early life and education

Johnson was born on September 22, 1991.[1] Long Beach, California was her hometown. She attended Wilson High School and California State University, Long Beach.[2]

Career

Janisa Johnson was a player for Wilson High School's volleyball team. She also started for California State University, Long Beach (CSU).[2]

After graduating from CSU in 2013,[3] Johnson plied her trade in Europe. She joined Köpenicker SC in Germany in 2015 before playing in Finland, France, Poland, and Spain.[1] She also played in Asia, specifically in the Philippines.[4]

In Finland she played for Orividen Ponnitus.[5]

BaliPure

She played in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) in the Philippines from 2018 to 2019 where she played as an import, or foreign player.[6] She debuted in the PVL with the BaliPure–NU Water Defenders at the 2018 Reinforced Conference.[7]

Béziers Volley

She played and won a championship for Béziers Angels in France's LNV Ligue A Féminine.[8] She played from September 2018 to May 2019.[5][9]

Petro Gazz

After her brief stint in France, Johnson returned to the PVL in the Philippines and helped the Petro Gazz Angels clinch the title for that season's Reinforced Conference and was named the final's MVP.[8] This was her club's first PVL title.[10]

Radomka Radom

After playing in the Philippines, Johnson returned to Europe and signed with Polish club Radomka Radom of the Polish Women's Volleyball League.[7] In March 2021, Johnson became unavailable for the rest of the 2020–21 season due to a colon cancer diagnosis.[11]

CD Heidelberg

After undergoing cancer treatment, Johnson briefly returned, signing a contract with Spanish club CD Heidelberg in August 2022.[11]

Personal life

Johnson was of Hispanic descent.[9]

Illness and death

In 2021, Johnson was diagnosed with colon cancer, for which she underwent chemotherapy.[11][12] In August 2022, she recovered enough to play competitive volleyball again.[11]

Johnson died on May 25, 2024 at the age of 32.[12]

Awards

Individuals

• 2019 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference "Finals Most Valuable Player"[4]

Clubs

• 2018 LNV Ligue A Féminine – Champions, with Béziers Angels
• 2019 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference – Champions, with Petro Gazz Angels[4]

References

1. Winiarczyk, Michał (June 4, 2024). "Nie żyje była siatkarka polskiego klubu. Walczyła z poważną chorobą". Sport Wprost (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
2. "Janisa Johnson - Women's Volleyball". Long Beach State University Athletics. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
3. Olivares, Rick (May 10, 2018). "Meet BaliPure imports Alexis Mathews and Janisa Johnson". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
4. Agcaoili, Lance (July 14, 2019). "Petro Gazz completes comeback against Creamline for breakthrough PVL title". Sports Interactive Network Ph. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
5. "Beziers Angels L'américaine Janisa Johnson s'engage dans l'aventure biterroise !". Beziers Angels (in French). Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
6. "Remembering Janisa Johnson: Beloved spiker passes away at 32". Premier Volleyball League. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
7. Garcia, John Mark (June 4, 2024). "Former PVL champion import Janisa Johnson succumbs to cancer". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
8. Bautista, Ohmer (July 14, 2019). "Janisa Johnson delivers Petro Gazz title, brings home added trophy to boot". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
9. Olivares, Rick (May 28, 2019). "Easy transition for PetroGazz import Janisa Johnson". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
10. Payo, Jasmine (July 14, 2019). "PetroGazz dethrones Creamline for first PVL crown". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
11. Media, Wirtualna Polska (June 4, 2024). "Tragiczne wieści z USA. Nie żyje słynna siatkarka". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
12. "Former PVL import Janisa Johnson passes away at 32". GMA News. June 4, 2024. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.

External links

• Janisa Johnson at the European Volleyball Confederation
• Janisa Johnson at Volleyball-Bundesliga (in German)
• Janisa Johnson at Ligue Nationale de Volley (in French)
• Janisa Johnson at WorldofVolley
• Janisa Johnson on Instagram