U-High's 25-3 Record Rests on Monet Temple's 42-Kill Surge
The 6-foot-3 outside hitter aims to correct last year's quarterfinal exit with a deep run in the Division III playoffs.
By Pedro Barnes ·
University High volleyball enters the Division III postseason with a 25-3 record and the top seed, a status built largely on the output of sophomore Monet Temple. The 6-foot-3 outside hitter leads the team in kills and has transformed from a freshman who tasted defeat in the state quarterfinals to a player her coach describes as operating at a new level of confidence and efficiency.
Temple’s statistical leap defines the Cubs' current momentum. In the 2025 season, she totaled 351 kills. This year, her production has accelerated, including a 42-kill performance against Brusly on Sept. 17 and 24 kills in the final regular-season game against Parkview Baptist. Coach Bonita Johnson attributes the surge to Temple’s adaptation to the outside hitter position, a role change that occurred last year after Johnson observed the player’s jumping ability. The shift has allowed Temple to combine scoring volume with improved back-row defense, an area she is actively refining for college recruitment.
The player’s development is rooted in a long-standing family athletic tradition. Temple’s mother, Brittany Temple, is a member of the Tulane volleyball hall of fame. Her father, Collis Temple III, played basketball at LSU. Her grandfather, Collis Temple Jr., also played for LSU, and her uncle, Garrett Temple, spent 16 years in the NBA. Temple cites this lineage as a primary motivator, stating that watching her relatives excel drives her desire to achieve similar success in her own sport.
The team’s path to the top seed began with a tough loss in the previous campaign. University High reached the Division III state tournament as a freshman but fell in the quarterfinals to Haynes Academy. Temple said that experience provided a necessary emotional baseline. She noted that knowing the feeling of losing in the Cajun Dome has fueled her determination to avoid a repeat performance this year.
Temple has been with the program since kindergarten, often watching practices as a child. She played middle school volleyball in sixth grade before joining the varsity squad in seventh grade. Johnson said Temple’s work ethic has been consistent, with the player frequently seeking extra reps and enjoying the challenge of competing against older athletes. Now, with the first round of the playoffs scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday against No. 32 Franklinton, the Cubs begin their pursuit of a program first state title.
The team’s preparation has focused on managing the pressure of high-stakes play. Temple said the squad has worked to overcome the jitters associated with their first state appearance last year. The group now enters the tournament with a clear understanding of the expectations involved in competing for the championship.
