91视频

Every player brings their unique talents to an athletics team.

And for three Tongan American players on the 91视频 Volleyball Team it is no different 鈥� they not only perform on the court, but they also share their traditions.

Sophomores Teena Lutui, Leanata Leakehe, and Vaimoana Mo’ungaafi, all from Utah, have a family background from Tonga, Oceania.

鈥淚 came to Missouri because I received a scholarship for volleyball,鈥� Lutui said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e never been so, I took the chance.鈥�

Along with being on the same volleyball team and being from the same state, the girls also knew each other before coming to 91视频.

鈥淲e all played at the same club in Utah, Club Union.鈥� Mo’ungaafi said. 鈥淚 played with Teena my first year there and then I played with (Leanata) last year.鈥�

In addition to sharing court time in their home state, the trio also shared Tongan traditions. With the season coming to an end, the girls made traditional leis for their teammates for their last game.

鈥淲e made candy and flower leis for the sophomores and the coaches. The Lei is a common symbol for celebration, honor, friendship, greeting or love,鈥� Lutui said.

Leis Meaning

Although the tradition of giving leis is new to their teammates and the coaches, the girls鈥� heritage consists of celebrating many things in that fashion, according to Mo’ungaafi.

鈥淟ei鈥檚 have different meanings to it. For example, if one were to graduate school, then candy leis, money leis, flower leis, and any type of lei you could think of is what we would make by hand and lay it on them, she said. 鈥渁nd that鈥檚 kind of our way of saying we鈥檙e proud of your accomplishments and this is a gift from us.鈥�

鈥淭he leis just signify the accomplishments one has been able to finish 鈥� it鈥檚 a celebration of one’s affection to another as well,鈥� Mo’ungaafi added. 鈥淔or example, if a guy were to take a girl to a school’s dance, he would come to the girl’s house with a lei and lay it on her as a sign of affection, appreciation and thanks.鈥�

With this unique tradition being brought to the team, everyone embraced this form of celebration.

Mo’ungaafi said the leis were given to the players, coaches, including head coach Lisa Mathes-Peters; Athletic Director Jay Mehrhoff, and the parents as well

鈥淲ithout them we wouldn鈥檛 have been able to compete,鈥� she said, adding that initially the recipients were 鈥渁stonished, amazed and shocked at the same time.鈥�

Although their teammates and coaches didn鈥檛 expect the gift, it is commonplace in the Tongan culture.

鈥淚 guess you could say that it was a surprise, but for us it was normal and that鈥檚 what we normally do, Mo’ungaafi said.

鈥淎ll in all, the leis represent affection, appreciation, and thanks from the person who is giving the lei and it shows with how the lei looks, the hard work and hours put into making that lei or multiple leis for one,鈥� she added.

Playing Together

As with many new teams at the start of the season, it takes time to gel with teammates as they learn to work together. The 91视频 volleyball team figured it out quickly and ended the season with a 13-6 record and as Region 16 DII Champions.

鈥淚鈥檓 not going to lie,鈥� Leakehe said, 鈥渢he beginning of the season was pretty rough for us in my opinion.

鈥淯s girls were still trying to learn how to play with each other, but as we played more games and had practice every day, we learned where everybody on the court works best and all in all, we made new friends when we weren鈥檛 on the court.鈥�

As their volleyball career at 91视频 ends, the three Tongan Americans will carve out new paths.

鈥淢y plans are to maybe get transferred to another school for volleyball,鈥� Leakehe said, 鈥渂ut if that doesn鈥檛 work out then I plan on going home to work and start on my 鈥榓dult鈥� life.鈥�