Larry “Tui” Tuileta is the perfect person to ask.
Why doesn’t men’s college volleyball get at least a little bit more attention nationally — especially compared to other sports … like, well … how about football?
“Maybe it’s the visual aspect,” the University of Hawaii communications major said. “Do people want to see guys hit a ball over a net or tackle each other?
“At the same time, although the volleyball community is big, there are not a lot of high-level competitions (for college men),” Tuileta added. “There are only six teams in the national tournament compared to the (68) teams who make it for basketball. A lot of schools have great football programs that don’t have volleyball programs.”
Tuileta plays for one of those six teams; he’s the libero for the Rainbow Warriors, who take on Penn State in the opening round of the NCAA Championships next Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. (One good thing about it compared to the much bigger brackets of March Madness is UH needs to win just three matches instead of six or seven games to take the title.)
Tuileta also was once a member of of one of those “great football programs.”
He’ll be paying attention to the NFL Draft this week. If your former roommates were among those to be picked you would, too, right?
“JuJu Smith-Schuster, Damien Mama,” Tuileta said. “We’re still friends. I’m hoping they get picked high.”
Smith-Schuster and Mama are USC football players. In 2014 they were all Trojans. Tuileta was a freshman quarterback who did not play that season. The next spring, though, he did compete — as a member of the USC volleyball team.
He had originally committed to play both sports at Hawaii after leading Punahou to four state championships (three in volleyball, one in football). But the allure of going away from home changed his mind.
“I talked about it with my friends, what-not,” Tuileta said. “I wanted to make sure no stones were left unturned. I took an unofficial trip to USC. I decided to take a leap of faith and go with a gut feeling.”
It was a gut feeling for the UH football and men’s volleyball programs and their fans — like a punch to the gut, or actually, a left-right combo.
He dealt with being called a traitor by some fans.
“I’m kind of used to it, people have different opinions,” he said. “There’s always a good side and a bad side to any decision. I accept it.”
Most of the state didn’t get the bad news until signing day. But Warriors coach Charlie Wade knew what was happening, that Tuileta was going to become a Trojan.
“So I wasn’t surprised. I was just disappointed we were missing out on one of greatest athletes to come through (Hawaii) ever,” Wade said. “I can’t help but speculate on what his contribution would’ve been on the football field his freshman year. Those first two years (2014 and 2015) with so many injuries he may have been playing quarterback in some games for UH.
“It’s interesting how life unfolds.”
Indeed. Tuileta’s time at USC was just the start of his college journey.
He eventually realized his first choice during recruiting was what he really wanted after all. He returned to Hawaii and took classes at Kapiolani Community College in 2016 before transferring to Manoa in time for this year’s volleyball season.
“It means a lot (to be back), especially since the school gave me a second chance to come back after going away,” Tuileta said. “I have a chance to play a sport I love in front of my family.”
Or, maybe two sports.
“Oh man, that’s still up in the air, for sure,” Tuileta said, when asked if he will try to play football at UH. “I’ll probably talk to (coach Nick) Rolovich after the season is over to see what the options are. I’m pretty locked in for the next week and a half.”
No one who knows him is surprised Larry Tuileta is a key player on a team contending for a national college championship. It was always just a question of which school and which sport.
“I always refer to him as the Pied Piper,” Wade said. “He’s this guy that people follow naturally. He has led a lot of teams to victory, whether it be on the gridiron or the volleyball court. When he’s on the team, your team wins a lot. It’s not always statistically, but there’s this force of will. He makes teammates relaxed and play at a high level.”
