Billy Johnstone
One of New Zealand’s rising volleyball talents, Billy is recognised for his leadership, work ethic, and commitment to representing Aotearoa on the international stage.
Originally from Rotorua, Billy developed his game at Western Heights High School, where he earned national honours.
His talent and determination earned him a scholarship to the University of Alberta in Canada, where he continued competing and developing at a high level, before returning home to represent New Zealand.
Billy’s journey reflects the resilience, discipline, and ambition that Mikro Foundation is proud to support.
Billy’s story, in his words
After four years of studying abroad and playing volleyball at the University of Alberta, I’d been lucky enough to experience the game at the next level. However, most young athletes’ biggest aspiration is to represent their own country on the international stage.
Volleyball NZ receives minimal funding, so this goal was put on hold for some time. The Mikro Foundation provided me with an opportunity to achieve a massive dream of mine.
July 2023 was the month I finally got to wear the Silver Fern and represent New Zealand overseas. We travelled to Chile to compete in a series against the Chilean Men’s National Team. It was a long, jam-packed trip with many great lessons learnt along the way. Over 10 days we had 8 official matches across 6 different cities, playing in an environment that only comes once in a lifetime for most. With this trip, I not only gained exposure to professional teams in South America, but I also got to see the potential our young core has and the promising future of our National Team Program.
Are you pushing towards a goal?
If you’re motivated, committed, and need a hand, we’d love to hear from you.