The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
The Millikan girls’ volleyball program is looking to start a new era, and they’re turning to a dynastic volleyball family in the city to do it. The Rams welcome in Gus Tuaniga as their new coach this year, and it’s hard to imagine a coach coming from a family with deeper roots in the sport and city.
“I was born and raised in Long Beach, my whole family raised here,” said Tuaniga. “I wanted to give back to the community–I think Millikan has always been right there, and I think me and my family can take it to the next level.”
The Tuaniga household is just a few minutes drive from Millikan in East Long Beach, and it may as well have been an elite volleyball factory for the last two decades. Gus’ parents Junior and Tinei met playing volleyball while college students, and their children have made their mark on the sport.
Gus played at the University of Hawaii and then professional beach volleyball, Josh Tuaniga was a National Player of the Year and two-time NCAA champion setter at Long Beach State just down the road who is now playing pro, Mia Tuaniga was an All-American at USC who’s embarked on a pro career, and little brother Jonah is a sophomore QB at Millikan who’s also on the USA youth national team.
The Tuaniga coaching roots are also deep, between the Apex club and the 91 Volleyball Club that Gus recently founded. He said that it’s been fun taking over at Millikan, a proud athletic school but one without much of a volleyball history (the Rams’ last Moore League title was in 1996).
“We’re coming from a pretty high standpoint and it’s been a little bit of a culture shock, but the girls are learning from us and we’re learning from them as well,” said Tuaniga. “We’re meeting each other in the middle.”
Tuaniga said that while it’s easy to take over a program and just preach high expectations and win totals, that’s not the angle he’s approaching it from.
“Winning is obviously nice, but before we can think about winning, we gotta think about practices,” he said. “Our practice culture is going to be intense–we’re really pushing them to the limit. There’s going to be a lot of tough love, but a reason behind it.”
Lila Walters is the team’s senior setter, and a leading voice in the senior class the Rams are counting on to help usher in a new era. She admitted that practices have been at a different pitch this Fall.
“They’ve definitely set the tone with our Hell Week and stuff, but it’s also really fun,” she said. “We know that we have to grind and work especially early in the season. I think it’s helping the closeness of the team.”
Walter also said that she’s soaking up everything she can from Mia Tuaniga.
“I’m just soaking up every little thing I can from here, the knowledge and experience, she’s been in every position that I could be in so I’m so happy that she’s my coach,” she said.
In addition to Walters, the Rams are expecting big things from junior outsides Parker Brumbelow and Estela Lopez, as well as returning middle blockers Willow Lebron and Paige Mundon.
“I’m really excited to play with all of them,” said Walter. “Our chemistry is really good and I’m excited to see what we can do this year.”
Tuaniga is aware that there’s a three-time defending Moore League champ between his team and their goals.
“Poly is the team that we need to beat to kind of take over Long Beach and I know they’re going to be good,” he said. “We’re going to take it one game at a time.”
