When national letter of intent day for volleyball came around on this week, there was little doubt for which college Manhattan Beach Mira Costa's Falyn Fonoimoana was going to ink her name on that dotted line.

It's been no secret to the volleyball community that this 6-3 senior with a rocket-launcher for a right arm would be making a short trek from the beach to just south of downtown Los Angeles.

"Why not USC? I've known since I was a freshman I wanted to go there. It's a great program and I can study communications broadcasting,” said Fonoimoana in an early Friday morning interview after a 16-kill, two-dig, four-ace performance in a quick 3-0 victory over La Canada-Flintridge Flintridge Sacred Heart in the CIF Southern Section Division IAA playoffs Thursday night.

 

"Plus, I have a single mom who would go crazy if I went too far away,” said Fonoimoana, in a tone that despite all the awards and recognition she's received, was girlish and showed appreciation for the woman who's helped her get to where she's gotten.

That woman, her mother, is Deborah Fonoimoana, a stage hand at CBS who played volleyball at Mira Costa and then at UCLA.

She also has a volleyball famous uncle, Eric Fonoimoana, Deborah's brother. He won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics in Beach Volleyball. 

While Falyn has been on everyone's volleyball radar screen for a couple of years, she got in the hopper for this award after we saw her in action at the Torrey Pines California Challenge in mid-October.

In the semifinals, she very nearly toppled Goleta Dos Pueblos single-handedly, registering 35 kills, 11 digs and four aces in a five-game loss.

Even in defeat, Fonoimoana was upbeat and smiling. "We've come out of a few holes but we can't do it every time. We'll be back, though.”

Last week, the Mustangs continued the comeback and Falyn was there leading the charge. For the second time since the loss to Dos Pueblos, the Mustangs dispatched arch rival Redondo Beach Redondo Union.   

In this 3-2 road win just south down the beach, Fonoimoana took over and finished with 30 kills, 17 digs and four aces. She had seven kills and an ace in the deciding fifth game.

Opposing coaches call it the "Falyn factor.”

"We pulled that one out,” said Fonoimoana, who with her performance justifiably earned the ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com Girls State Athlete of the Week.

In fact, since the Dos Pueblos loss, ESPN RISE High School Volleyball FAB 50 No. 20 Mira Costa (25-7) is 9-0 going into a Saturday night matchup at No. 28 Lakewood in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

"That loss to Dos Pueblos was a spark to us, a setting stone for us to improve,” said the 3.0 GPA student-athlete on her cell phone between classes.  

"Falyn is pretty amazing to say the least – has all the skills, front row and back. She stacks up very well with the best ever at Mira Costa,” said Mira Costa head coach Lisa Zimmerman, a married mother of two toddlers and the former Lisa Arce, who starred at Mira Costa before playing at Cal and then Pro Beach Volleyball.

"It helped that she played with Alex Klineman. She was able to visualize leadership but she stayed true to herself,” said Zimmerman, in her 18th season on the staff and third year as head coach at Mira Costa.

Klineman, whose picture largely graces the first page of the most recent edition of the ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com State Record Book & Almanac Girls Volleyball section, along with Fonoimoana, are two of four Mustangs to be named CalHiSports Ms. Volleyball State Player of the Year since 1974.

Klineman accomplished it in 2006 and Fonoimoana won in 2007 as a sophomore.

Taylor Carico was the 2005 winner and Piper Hahn was the first Mira Costa girl to garner the honor, winning in 1989. 

Winning the award and following in the footsteps of so many great players and such a long tradition, including seven state championships, was a lot for Falyn.

"Last year she wanted to lead. This year, Falyn's found the balance between being part of a team with being a leader,” said Zimmerman, whose team this season won a state record 25th consecutive league championship.

"Now, she's like having a coach on the floor who can talk to the girls. She picks up on things and brings them to the table. She'll be a great coach some day herself,” said the coach proudly.

It's already started with Falyn mentoring younger players and teammates.  

Her response to who are her best friends starts with sophomore Jordyn "Jojo” Schnabl, a 5-8 setter and outside hitter.

"She's a great athlete and connected with me right away,” Falyn says of Schnabl.

Then there's senior Lauren Wellbaum. "She played club with me on Sunshine. She's competitive like me and has the same kind of spirit. I think Lauren's going to do well at the next level in volleyball or track.”

Can she help lead Mira Costa to an eighth state title?

"Yes we can. We can win state,” said Falyn in an Obama-like tone.

"Our team has grown and bonded so much, and persevered. They've shown me we can do the unexpected. It's really amazing.”

The Mustangs are hot right now and they're led by an amazing young woman, Falyn Fonoimoana, this week's ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com Girls State Athlete of the Week.   

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