"Later MJ," he called back.

Most of the time, Hinterstocker calls Johnson "The MJ." But why the added article? "

Because she's one of a kind," he explained. With so many figures in pop culture known as MJ—Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan—Hinterstocker added "the" to his player's nickname to set her apart.

A distinct nickname seems superfluous when you take into consideration all that Johnson has achieved on the volleyball team. As a true freshman, the Lakeville, Minn., native was named the Division I Independent Newcomer of the Year and has made the all-independent second team. Other accolades include being named the Newcomer of the Week five times and Setter of the Week three times.

Last season she strengthened her impressive career start by breaking school records in assists, being named to the Summit League Fall All-Academic Team and Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence, and receiving the Summit League Setter of the Year.

With half of this season and an entire season left next year, there's no telling what Johnson will do during the rest of her career as a Bison.

TAKING A CHANCE
Johnson's first memory of volleyball was signing up to play in sixth grade, and she had no idea then where the sport would lead her. She began playing on a club team out of Minneapolis in high school, and many of her teammates went on to play in college, which sparked the interest in Johnson.

By her senior year of high school, NDSU had contacted her and Johnson soon scheduled a trip to Fargo. On her afternoon visit, Johnson watched the team and got to meet the players. She was a goner. "I just fell in love with the team," she explained. "We all got along… it just felt like a family. It was a team [I wanted to] be a part of."

Johnson considered a few other schools near her hometown, but she recognized the exceptional opportunity that committing to the new Division I program NDSU offered. Plus, she knew the Bison currently lacked a setter.

"I wanted to take the chance," she reflected. "I didn't want to wonder if I could have played [at NDSU]. I wanted to have no regrets."

Johnson committed to NDSU late in her senior year, and it happened during the switch between former Head Coach Zaudra Bina and Hinterstocker, so he didn't know a lot about Johnson from a recruiting standpoint. He saw her play just a few matches and observed early on that Johnson possessed an "outstanding" work ethic that he knew would equip her with the ability to develop into a better player.

Johnson came to NDSU like any other college freshman—nervous, excited, and everything in between. When she stepped on the court, Johnson relied on the strong work ethic Hinterstocker had seen right away—a character trait Johnson is thankful her parents instilled in her.

Armed with a positive attitude and determination, Johnson soon found a mentor in former Assistant Coach Leslie Kuhn, who'd been in the same situation as Johnson when she played at Green Bay, Hinterstocker said.

"[Johnson] got a lot of help from Leslie and from the seniors," he remembered. Hinterstocker defers any credit he might receive to his coaching staff and the five seniors who led the team Johnson's freshman year—the stellar squad that included the likes of Sheila Parish, Chloe Quick, Lindsey Rogers, Kelly Kaufman, and Stacy White.

Hinterstocker explained that he put Mattie in charge right away, and made sure she knew she would need to take charge. He'd started developing a relationship with her before she came to NDSU, and they talked at length about building trust and the leadership role Johnson would fill.

"Her ability to work hard every day as a freshman impressed me," Hinterstocker said. "She could have tried to blend in, but she took the role seriously. She never took [the opportunity] for granted."

Johnson approached her job as the sole setter with calm rationality; she worked hard, kept a positive attitude, and tried to improve every day.

Freshman year was hectic for her though, with so few home games and a new class schedule to acclimate herself to.

"That year definitely taught me to use my time wisely," she laughed. "I lived by a planner."

SETTER OR QUARTERBACK?
In order to make sure Johnson could handle everything thrown at her as a freshman, Hinterstocker said the two of them had long discussions about the team and its goals, and they continue to do so.

"It's like being the quarterback," he explained. "I've been pretty hard on her but she understands I want her to be good. She gets it. She's always understood."

Hinterstocker said the two have fallen into a positive relationship built on trust between the player and her coach and a shared passion for the program.

"She's a good person," he said. "She cares about people, about this team, this program."

Johnson would never explain her passion using the same words Hinterstocker does, but you can hear the pride and respect in her voice when she talks about her team. Regarding her coaches, Johnson appreciates everything they've done to help her improve and develop her game. "They're there for you on and off the court, and you know at the end of the day they always have your back." The players—former and current—are friends and a family unit Johnson spends time with and relies on as a support system.

"They're my lifelong friends," she said. Volleyball has also taught her a few things, including how to take things more to heart. Even though she doesn't describe herself as a serious person, Johnson recognizes her own character has developed in tough times, and she's also developed a stronger personality.

A self-described "hard-working, optimist," Johnson enjoys listening to music in her precious moments of free time. She is a big sports fan, and like any native Minnesotan, she loves the Twins. She hesitated before answering whether she was a Viking fan, and then launched into a story about the "rivalry" that exists among the volleyball players and coaches.

The number of players and coaches from Minnesota and Wisconsin is evenly split, but that doesn't stop them from sparring about which state is better. Johnson and Hinterstocker both laugh about the oddities natives from the different states have, such as saying "water fountain" or "bubbler," or whether they play "Duck, Duck, Goose" or "Duck, Duck, Grey Duck."

Johnson - who is from Minnesota — divulged that her grandfather was from Wisconsin, so by default she is a Green Bay Packers fan. That fact astounded Hinterstocker, who smiled with glee over when he'd get to tease her about it.

All joking aside though, Hinterstocker has a great deal of respect for Johnson and what she's done for the program, and he senses his other players respect Johnson for that as well.

"She's just a really good kid," he said. "She had to come in and fulfill a role, and they respected that. She's the type of person who wants what's best for the team."

WHAT'S TO COME
Last year the volleyball team had the chance to make it into post-season play, but a disappointing loss in the semi-final round of the conference tournament left the Bison watching from the stands during the championship game. That defeat only solidified the already steady determination the team had to win the conference, and this year they are determined to meet their goal.

"It sparked a fire," Johnson said. She's excited to see what this season will bring, as rivals such as South Dakota State University and Oral Roberts again will pose a threat to NDSU's ascent to the top of the conference.

After being named Summit League Setter of the Year, Johnson is even more motivated in her pursuits on the volleyball court.

"Everybody's looking at her; they know who she is," Hinterstocker observed. "She'll continue to work hard because she cares about the program."

When she's not completely encompassed in volleyball activities, Johnson is working on completing her degree in exercise science and her psychology minor. After she graduates in December 2010, Johnson plans to attend graduate school in the area for occupational therapy.

Her last semester at NDSU won't see her on the court she's been accustomed to playing on, although Johnson may still be involved with the team in a more managerial role. Not only will she be able to maintain involvement with the team, but she will also get to watch her younger sister play as a Bison.

When Johnson graduates and moves on to the next stage of her life, in her wake will lay a legacy: that of a true freshman from Lakeville, Minn. who stepped onto a volleyball court and helped define the Division I NDSU volleyball program.