U-High's Monet Temple aims for state title after freshman quarterfinal exit
The 6-foot-3 outside hitter leads the 25-3 Cubs, who hold the No. 1 seed in the Division III playoffs.
By Alexei Brooks ·
University High volleyball player Monet Temple is seeking to convert last year's state quarterfinal loss into a Division III championship this season. The Cubs hold the top seed with a 25-3 record and begin their postseason play against No. 32 Franklinton at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Temple, a sophomore outside hitter standing 6 feet 3 inches, led her team to the state tournament in her freshman year. U-High lost to Haynes Academy in the quarterfinals. Temple stated that the defeat provided a necessary lesson, saying, "I’m happy that it gave me an opportunity to feel what it felt like to lose. Now I know how much I don’t want that to happen again."
The player leads the team in kills this season after earning all-metro honors in 2025. Her offensive output includes a 42-kill performance against Brusly on September 17 and 24 kills against Parkview Baptist in the final week of the regular season. She finished the previous season with 351 kills.
Temple comes from a prominent athletic family. Her mother, Brittany Temple, is in 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, played for the Tigers and spent 16 years in the NBA. Temple said, "I can continue to carry on a good legacy for my family. Seeing them be amazing and excel in both of their sports just makes me want to excel in my sport."
Coach Bonita Johnson has coached Temple since the player was in kindergarten, when she frequently watched practices in the gym. Johnson moved Temple from the middle position to the outside last year after observing her jump height. The coach noted a marked improvement in the player's confidence and consistency this year, stating, "Her confidence is through the roof. I love that about her, the energy she brings to want to put the ball away and do whatever it takes for her team."
Temple credits her mother for introducing her to volleyball six years ago. She began playing for the middle school team in sixth grade and joined the varsity squad in seventh grade. As she prepares for college recruitment, Temple is focusing on improving her back-row defense to challenge perceptions about tall players' defensive abilities.
