Taupou – Carrying culture through volleyball

If you can imagine 2 metal poles being held upright inside a tire with concrete and a volleyball net attached in between, that’s where I first started playing volleyball. My dad and my grandfather started a church in Carson, CA and we had the biggest if not the best (some would say otherwise) Samoan youth in the South Bay – South Bay Youth, aka SBY. Aside from church activities and serving the community we played a lot of sports and had tournaments where we would compete with other churches. Volleyball was one of the popular sports and we would “practice” outside on the black top using our metal poles and 1 volleyball after song practice. I say “practice” because it was 6v6 with the adults telling you how to play, where to stand, and what to do, knowing they’ve never played volleyball outside of this church league. Most of them played barefoot and wore ie lava lava’s which are traditional Samoan wrap around skirts.

That is where volleyball started for me. Looking back to where it all began reinforces everything that’s kept me in this sport. In my culture there’s a lot of things you learn growing up. Your name isn’t your own, you carry your family with you everywhere you go. Respect isn’t optional. Be grateful for all things. To serve is an act of care and love for those around you. Loyalty is everything, and when our family needs anything, you show up. Volleyball is all these things to me, and coaching volleyball is an extension of that.

Live it! Love it! Coach it! –

O le ala I le pule o le tautua – The path to leadership is through service

Culturally speaking, leadership isn’t something you take. It’s something you earn through service. I have had the privilege of coaching almost, if not all, levels of the game and for a long time. There was a period in my 20’s where I was coaching 4-5 teams at once, which I wouldn’t recommend, by the way. Somewhere along my journey, coaching became more than volleyball. It was a way for me to serve others while honoring my culture and the values that shaped me. I’ve always dreamed of coaching at the highest level possible, however I didn’t always know how to get there. I took a less traditional route. I never coached at a power 5 and I was never on the national team or affiliated with USA volleyball. I just coached A LOT of volleyball and I watched/listened to a lot of coaches. I stayed informed by going and being a part of camps and clinics with people who were. I helped build communities and co-directed a small club (shout out Vegas Aces!). I did a lot of lessons and helped a lot of not so good players get better and helped the better ones become some of the best in their state. My journey into this space wasn’t built on prestige or a long list of accomplishments. It was built through service, relationships, and living out the values I was raised with.

O le fogava’a e tasi – We are all in the same canoe

This is volleyball. It’s a team of 12 or more all working in their roles to achieve something great. There’s a shared responsibility within the group, and we’re all moving together working towards something. We can’t succeed alone. If you know any or are around Samoans, you know we never travel alone. We’re usually in groups, and typically when we go places, it’s to meet another group. This is another reason why volleyball, and coaching volleyball, has connected with me so deeply. This sport has mirrored so much of how I was raised. The trust, the connection, the sacrifice, and especially the responsibility to care for the people around you. I’ve had a few conversations with other coaches discussing coaching philosophies, what is at the foundation of great teams, and I strongly believe that great teams are built through culture first. Being in it with people that trust each other, serve each other, and can commit to a shared purpose. This is what I love about volleyball! O le fogava’a e tasi – We are all in the same canoe.

E le sili le ta’i I lo le tapua’i – No one is greater than the support/community behind them

In the Samoan culture, hanging out with friends and going places with them isn’t common. Your siblings and your cousins are your friends, and when you wanted to do something, those are the people you go out and do it with. Not that I never had friends, but my family was always with me. My mom always told me that your friends will be there when you get in trouble, but your family with ALWAYS be there to get you out of it. This lesson has stayed with me throughout my life, and in many ways, volleyball has reflected that same feeling. Some of the best teams and programs I’ve been a part of have felt like family. From the team to our coaching staff, all the way to the front office, and higher ups, this is what has always made volleyball seasons unforgettable. This is what volleyball looks and feels like to me, and it’s the same feeling that I hope to create for the athletes I coach.

Volleyball has given me more than I could ever imagine. It’s opened doors for me, challenged me, and given me opportunities to grow both personally and professionally through moments of success and adversity. Through my journey I’ve also learned to embrace my cultural differences and now it’s become one of my greatest strengths. Being Samoan and growing up rooted in values like service, family, humility, resilience, and community has shaped the way I lead, build relationships, and coach others. Those lessons continue to guide me every day and have allowed me to authentically serve the game and the people within it. I’m so grateful to volleyball for the purpose and opportunities it’s given me. Thank you to the AVCA for providing a platform to share stories like mine, and to Kennedy Wells, for giving me the opportunity to share my journey.

Lastly, thank you to my friends and family. This is my story, but my story isn’t possible without you all and the legacy we are continuing to build and leave for future generations.

Coach Melody Nua is an assistant coach with Major League Volleyball’s San Diego Mojo.

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