Lanuola Tupou has grown significantly over the past year, and much of that growth has come from how she thinks about the game. She has learned that volleyball is as much mental as physical, and she has built the ability to bounce back quickly rather than let a mistake linger. She values team chemistry highly, understanding that her own level of play is tied to lifting up the players around her, and she brings a strong work ethic and steady communication to every rotation as a middle. Since last season, her ball placement has become more purposeful. She isn’t just swinging for power anymore. She is identifying open spots and playing with real intention behind every attack. Lanuola is early in her recruiting process and has been working to push past her natural shyness, signing up for more clinics and showcases to get in front of coaches and grow more comfortable being seen. That willingness to step outside her comfort zone is already changing how she shows up on the court.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Lanuola Tupou Lanuola Tupou 6'2" | MB CA earned MVP at the NorCal StockUp Showcase, August 14, 2026.

Lanuola plays the middle, textbook style, with her blocking abilities and length that gives her real presence along the net. She seals blocks quickly and reads the hitter’s shoulder to anticipate shot placement rather than guess at it, which is why she houses so many balls at the net. Blocking is her calling card, and it shows in how often she wins that matchup outright. Her work ethic matched her tools throughout the showcase. Coaches had to pull her off the court to get her a break, and that competitiveness is exactly the kind of habit that translates to the next level.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247