Hearts can be mended.

Sometimes it just takes a while.

Nine days before Valentine’s Day 2014, Larry “Tui” Tuileta’s decision to sign with USC over Hawaii felt more like an arrow that not just pierced the collective heart of the Rainbow Warrior football and volleyball programs but left it in two separate pieces. One side left without the award-winning quarterback of a state champion football team and the other without the national high school volleyball player of the year who helped Punahou to three state titles as an outside hitter.

Super Glue has nothing on the 6-foot-2 Tuileta, whose duality of talent now is being showcased in one sport but at two positions. A junior by NCAA regulations — an appeal to restore a year of eligibility is a possibility — Tuileta has been key to No. 5 Hawaii’s success this volleyball season, playing both libero and outside hitter … sometimes in the same match with little advance notice.

“He comes to the games with both jerseys,” Warriors volleyball coach Charlie Wade said, referring to the the libero jersey that is in a contrasting color from those worn by the rest of the team.

“He’s been an outside hitter all of his life and when he’s there (at hitter) for us, it’s more of a reward because he does like to hit. But at some point it might be out of necessity.

“The joke with him is he’s getting to do what he does without someone trying to tackle him.”

Tuileta has brought some of the football mentality to the volleyball court, a subtle aggressiveness that is combined with his no-fear approach as a former competitive fire knife dancer.

“Being a quarterback, he has that mind-set, that mentality of reading the defense,” said Warriors senior hitter Kupono Fey, a volleyball teammate of Tuileta’s at Punahou. “He’s super talented and it’s great to have him back as a teammate.

“I was crushed when he decided to go to SC.”

There was an instant credibility when Tuileta joined the volleyball team in late December after being officially accepted for the spring semester. While the other Warriors had been together for fall camp, Tuileta was at Kapiolani Community College acquiring enough credits to become eligible to play. (Because some of his credits didn’t transfer from USC to UH, he said, he had to make up classes to meet the NCAA’s standard of academic progress).

Just days before the semester started, the Warriors voted on captains. Tuileta received votes, including one from Fey, one of the current captains.

“A lot of the local guys already knew what he was going to bring, but once he got with us, everyone realized it,” said sophomore setter Joe Worsley, who has played libero for the U.S. at several international tournaments. “Besides the obvious things on the court, it’s what others don’t see. It’s the way he cares about the guys, supports everyone. You expect nothing but the best whichever position he’s playing.”

Tuileta has started all nine matches when he’s been with the team — he missed against Ball State to perform at his sister’s wedding — eight at libero. He leads the Warriors in digs (2.10 dps) and had 10 kills Sunday in his lone start on the outside.

The 21-year-old is just happy to be home, living with his family minutes away from campus in Kaimuki. The fourth of Larry and Maile Tuileta’s eight children, Tui said he felt disconnected from his Polynesian culture — dad was born in Samoa, mom is part-Hawaiian — when on the mainland and it was part of the reason he wanted to return.

“It’s a lot easier to wake up, being able to see my family and friends every day,” the communications major said. “It’s the little things in life, looking outside at the beautiful weather. In California, there was pollution and it felt gloomy. I feel healthier. It’s easier to thrive in this environment.”

Tuileta likely “burned” a year of eligibility competing in offseason volleyball matches for USC while a sophomore in the fall of 2015. He did not play for the Trojans in spring 2016, instead transferring to KCC.

“Hopefully I’ll get the extra year back,” Tuileta said of a potential successful appeal. “But for now, I assume it’s burned and I’m focused on getting this team where we want to be this season and next.

“My parents remember the arena selling out in the Yuval Katz days (1995-96) and the Klum Gym crowds (prior to ’95). How cool would it be if we could get it like that again?”

Wade was reminded of Tuileta’s initial decision when listening to the National Letter of Intent Day discussions on the radio this week.

“That was the day he broke my heart,” Wade said. “But things have a way of working themselves out.

“The one thing I’ve already learned this season is he needs to be on the floor for us at some position.”

Tuileta has not ruled out playing football for the Warriors, saying he has spoken with coach Nick Rolovich. But volleyball is where Tuileta’s heart is now and the volleyball one he broke three Februarys ago has mended quite nicely.