Long Beach Poly Volleyball Star Adonia Yandall Faumuina Commits to USC

Long Beach Poly junior outside hitter/setter Adonia Yandall Faumuina has ended a whirlwind college recruitment by announcing she’s staying close to home as she’s verbally committed to USC. 

“It was important to me to stay close to my family and to pick a school with great academics, athletics, and a great volleyball tradition,” said Faumuina.

A six-foot-two elite prospect who can make an immediate college impact at either the OH or setter position, Faumuina was ranked the No. 2 prospect in the junior class by Prep Dig, a top 13 recruit by Volleyball Magazine, and a sophomore All-American in 2019 and the No. 7-ranked recruit by Prep Volleyball.

Faumuina is a top-shelf recruit for a USC program that is rebuilding under first-year head coach Brad Keller, who took over a Trojans program that posted an 18-14, 11-9 record last year.

The commitment is the fulfillment of a childhood dream for Faumuina, who grew up in a USC family, with an old, weathered Trojans flag planted in the yard out front. She grew up going to USC football games with her mom and dad, Ana and Fia.

“My dad has been a USC fan since he came here from American Samoa,” said Faumuina. “I remember being in fifth grade at the Rose Bowl, thinking, ‘I want to play at USC.’”

“From the day she said that, I’ve been like, ‘Okay, let’s work for it then,’” said Faumuina’s father, Fia. “She set the goal and worked really hard for it.”

The commitment isn’t just the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, though–it’s also a move made with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind. Faumuina had offers from basically every college in the country, and was considering options including Oregon, Texas, and Florida. She didn’t just pick USC because of the flag outside the house, but because of the change in perspective at a time when cross-country travel is difficult to impossible.

“I think her perspective has changed a little bit, she’s thinking about being close to her family,” said Faumina’s mother, Ana.

Faumuina recalled June 15, the first day college coaches were allowed to contact. She was at a family gathering with her grandparents praying for her, and someone mentioned to her little sister, Maveti, 8 years old, that Adonia might be leaving Southern California in a few years for college. Maveti burst into tears, a moment that had a big impact on Adonia.

“We’re always arguing or when I want her to give me a hug she doesn’t want to give me one, so to see how much it made her sad to think of my leaving, that was something I thought about a lot,” said Faumuina.

The Faumuinas also have a seven month old son, Mataius, and Adonia admitted the thought of leaving her parents and younger siblings was difficult to contemplate.

“I think one of the reasons this is the right decision for me is that I get to be around my brother and sister while they grow up, to go to their games like they go to mine,” she said. “And the whole family can come see my college games, too.”

Faumuina is a star club player for Long Beach Mizuno, and got her first offer from Long Beach State. She’s expected to make an immediate impact at the net for USC when she arrives in the Fall of 2022.

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