CBS 58's Hometown Athlete: Josie Johnson reaches 2,000 career assists

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- "Oh wow, this is a pretty big number." A total of 2,000 career assists on the volleyball court does not happen easily or often, and even the player who made the accomplishment is impressed.

Josie Johnson is just the 10th player in UW-Milwaukee Panthers history to reach the 2,000-assist milestone and she did it despite playing in a two-setter system throughout her career.

“I like to set because I can run the offense and pick who I want to set and find the hot hitter. It’s just always constant thinking and figuring out how to win," Johnson said. 

The Wisconsin native was destined to find a spot in Milwaukee’s record books. Her first real memories of playing volleyball are at Panther camps, after all, her mom Susie has been the program’s head coach for nearly 20 years.

“When she was little, it was a beach ball and then we developed in the house. It’s something you can do when you’re just sitting there. It is pretty special to have my daughter on the team. I am proud of her; she's really had a lot of growth in all areas in college. Grown as a person," said Susie. 

“I love playing for my mom, I always have," said Johnson. "I’ve been playing for her since I was 10. So, I think it’s very special that I can continue to play for her just because we understand each other so well.”

Once her playing career wraps up, Johnson hopes to go into coaching just like her mom, her aunt who is the head coach at Loyola Chicago, and her cousins who work at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and another at Marquette. Volleyball is the family business.