Falyn Fonoimoana

Falyn Talei Fonoimoana[1] (born March 3, 1992) is an American professional indoor and beach volleyball player who plays as an opposite hitting for indoor professional league Athletes Unlimited. She has also represented the U.S. National Team in the 2015 Pan-American Games, earning a gold medal with the team.

Falyn Fonoimoana
Falyn Fonoimoana playing for USC.
Personal information
Full nameFalyn Talei Fonoimoana
Nationality United States
Born (1992-03-13) March 13, 1992[1]
Hermosa Beach, California, U.S.
HometownHermosa Beach, California, U.S.
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Spike325 cm (128 in)
Block305 cm (120 in)
College / UniversitySouthern California
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter / Opposite Hitter
Current clubUnited States Athletes Unlimited
Number19
Career
YearsTeams
2010–2011United States Southern California
2012–2013Puerto Rico Orientales de Humacao
2013–2014Puerto Rico Criollas de Caguas
2014–2015Poland PGE Atom Trefl Sopot
2015–2016Puerto Rico Changos de Naranjito
2016–2017Puerto Rico Indias de Mayagüez
2017–2018Puerto Rico Criollas de Caguas
2022United States Athletes Unlimited
National team
2015United States United States
Honours
Women's indoor Volleyball
Representing the  United States
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place2015 TorontoTeam
Women's beach Volleyball
Representing the  United States
NORCECA Beach Tour
Gold medal – first place2018 Punta CanaBeach
Gold medal – first place2019 Ocho RiosBeach
Gold medal – first place2019 Hato MayorBeach
Silver medal – second place2019 AguascalientesBeach
Silver medal – second place2019 Cayman IslandsBeach
Bronze medal – third place2019 VaraderoBeach

Personal life

Falyn Talei Fonoimoana was born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California. Her ancestral background is African American, English, Irish, Austrian, German, Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Samoan.[2] She comes from an athletic family, as her uncle, Eric Fonoimoana, was a gold medalist in beach volleyball in the 2000 Summer Olympics. She attributed her interest in volleyball from a young age to Eric, as she used to be a ball girl for him.[3] Her mother, Debbie, also played beach volleyball and trained with her sister, Lelei Fonoimoana, who swam in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec at 17 years old.[1]

In high school, she attended Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California. The top-ranked national recruit in her graduating class, she was regarded as one of the best players ever at the high school level.[1]

Fonoimoana has a son who was born in August 2012.[4]

Career

College

During Fonoimoana's freshman season in 2010, she was 2nd on her team in kills and was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, as well as AVCA Pacific Region Freshman of the Year.[1] However, her collegiate career was cut short during the beginning of her sophomore season in 2011: Southern California abruptly announced she was ineligible for the season. It was not clear why she was ineligible, but she never returned to play collegiately again.[5]

Professional clubs (indoor)

After retiring from indoor competition in 2016, she decided to return to it in 2022 and signed with American professional league Athletes Unlimited. During her season, she was voted MVP 1 of the match by her teammates and opponents when she posted a team-high 15 kills with seven digs. Not far into the season, she had five games with 10 or more kills.[6] By the conclusion of the season, she ranked #19 out of 44 players with 2,209 total ranking points, averaging 2.86 kills per set, 103 digs, and 9 solo blocks.[7]

USA National Team (indoor)

Fonoimoana was selected to represent the United States at the 2015 Pan American Games. United States won the gold medal after defeating Brazil in the final.[8]

Awards and honors

Team
  • 2013–2014 Puerto Rican League – Gold medal, with Criollas de Caguas.
  • 2014–2015 CEV Cup – Silver medal, with PGE Atom Trefl Sopot
  • 2014–2015 TURON Liga – Silver medal, with PGE Atom Trefl Sopot
  • 2014–2015 Polish Cup – Gold medal, with PGE Atom Trefl Sopot
  • 2015–2016 Puerto Rican League – Gold medal, with Criollas de Caguas.

Individual
  • Puerto Rican League - Best server (2012–2013), with Orientales de Humacao.
  • Puerto Rican League - Best receiver (2013–2014), with Criollas de Caguas.

College
  • AVCA Pacific Region Freshman of the Year (2010)
  • Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (2010)

Beach volleyball

Fonoimoana committed to the AVP Tour in 2018 and has competed in several professional tournaments. She finished 4th in the 2019 AVP Austin with partner Nicolette Martin.[9] In August 2021, Fonoimoana and her partner Geena Urango finished in 13th place at the Women's AVP $100,000 Gold Series Atlanta Open.[10]

USA National Team (beach)

Fonoimoana has also represented the US in beach competition. She has won three gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal in the NORCECA Beach Tours.[11]

References
  1. "USC profile". usctrojans.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  2. "Kim's Chat: A Conversation with Falyn Fonoimoana on Judgment". avp.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  3. "My Life as a Professional Athlete: Falyn Fonoimoana". roseyjames.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  4. "Origin Stories: Falyn Fonoimoana on Volleyball, Motherhood, Mental Health, Racism, and Body Image". medium.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  5. "Loss of volleyball star not serious". dailytrojan.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  6. "Falyn Fonoimoana returns to indoor volleyball dream with athletes unlimited/". auprosports.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  7. "2022 AU Pro - Stats". auprosports.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  8. "USA Women Win Second Gold Medal In Pan Am Games History". FIVB.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  9. "Women's AVP $75,000 Austin Open May 16-19, 2019". bvbinfo.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  10. "Women's AVP $100,000 Gold Series Atlanta Open August 11-15, 2021". www.bvbinfo.com. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  11. "Falyn Fonoimoana: Beach Volleyball Database". www.bvbinfo.com. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
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