On Saturday, the college women’s volleyball match was set between No. 12 Minnesota and No. 21 USC women’s volleyball teams. The matchup had “David vs. Goliath” vibes written all over it, especially considering the Golden Gophers’ impressive stats heading into the Galen Center. Meanwhile, the Trojans were hoping their newfound fiery form and team chemistry would be enough to pull off a stunning upset. And guess what? In the end, the Trojans’ fans got to witness a little bit of both!

The Trojans secured their eighth straight home victory, taking down No. 12 Minnesota (9-5, 2-2) in four sets (25-23, 22-25, 25-11, 25-18). It marked their first win over a ranked team this season and their first since they knocked off No. 15 Arizona State in November 2023. Additionally, its seniors put on a superior performance. After the match, seniors Mia Tuaniga and redshirt sophomore Adonia Faumuina shared a heartwarming moment during the post-match press conference as they celebrated their 8th straight victory. They celebrated the Trojans’ 8th straight victory. But in the end, they celebrated each other’s stories as well. 

In the net sessions, these two players have marked several examples of ‘hunting in pairs’.When asked what makes their connection so special, an emotional Tuaniga, tearing up, said, “This is family right here.” Beside her, Faumuina flashed a smile, soaking in the moment. Despite the chemistry, this Saturday night match marked the first time they played together, which made the moment even more wholesome. The raw emotion on display wasn’t lost on the fans either.

USC’s volleyball Instagram handle jumped in on the action, posting a clip of the touching press conference, teasing fans with all the feels. One fan summed it up perfectly, commenting, “Bawling my eyes out!” Meanwhile, Tuaniga, who seemed to be the emotional heartbeat of the team that night, let a few secrets slip that kept everyone intrigued.

One of the most moving moments came when Tuaniga opened up about Adonia Faumuina’s struggles. During the press conference, Mia shared, “You don’t know what she’s been through.” For a brief moment, the room fell silent, the weight of those words sinking in. But Tuaniga didn’t stop there, adding, “She didn’t play for two years.” Faumuina had been sidelined for nearly two and a half years due to a career-threatening injury—an injury that could’ve ended her volleyball journey entirely. Despite the long road to recovery, Faumuina never left the USC women’s volleyball team.

Rather, Faumuina became the most common name among the players in case of fulfilling any need away from the volleyball court. That approach paid off well, as Faumuina was assisted in rediscovering her mojo and returning to the court. This season, she has scored double-double kills five times so far. The Long Beach native is now looking forward to continuing with such a recent form.

But before that, she didn’t miss acknowledging Mia Tuaniga and her other teammates for helping her to attain her form. In the same press conference, Faumuina made sure to give credit where it’s due, thanking Mia Tuaniga and the rest of the squad for helping her get back to top form. And fans? They were living for it. The USC volleyball post had the comments section buzzing with fans celebrating the duo’s comeback

Volleyball fans are here for the Faumuina-Tuaniga magic!

This season, Ally Batenhorst made the switch from Nebraska to USC, trading in her Cornhuskers jersey for a Trojan one. And while she’s been fitting right in with her new squad, emotions ran high during her recent match against her old team. But it wasn’t just facing Nebraska that had her feeling some type of way—watching her teammates, Mia Tuaniga and Adonia Faumuina, take a trip down memory lane after their big win stirred something deep. Batenhorst couldn’t help but share in the moment, posting a sweet comment, “the best 🥹❤️.” standing firmly behind her two Trojan sisters.

She wasn’t the only one feeling all the feels. Another Trojans fan chimed in, “Rooting for you both!! Awesome time to witness you guys success! Malo!” The awesome time can hint at the present moment when both players are on the verge of saying goodbye to their college careers. Now, in such a high time, achieving success together has come as the icing on the cake. Another fan commented, “You ladies balled out last night! So inspiring for all the young women and athletes in the crowd! The energy inside the Galen Center was awesome.”

On Saturday, the Trojans’ performance stood to be spot on. Surely the camaraderie between the players played a big role in their home arena. That led another fan to cherish the bonding of the Trojans and the concerted approach in the match. Meanwhile, the fan commented, “I’m crying! Good character is what these young women represent! Proud of you ladies!” That concerted team effort was all over the court.