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Directors-

Alex Griffiths: Coach Alex Griffiths is a former elite libero and current collegiate and high school coach with over a decade of competitive and coaching experience. As a player, she earned a silver medal in 18 Open at Junior Nationals, won a Division 1 CIF State Championship with Los Alamitos High School, and received Defensive Player of the Year and Sunset League Honorable Mention honors. She earned a full-ride scholarship to Vanguard University, where she led the team in digs and aces her freshman and sophomore seasons, before transferring to the NCAA Division I University of Hawai‘i. At Hawai‘i, she helped the Rainbow Wahine reach the NCAA Final Four (3rd place), Sweet 16, and Top 12 finishes, while winning three straight WAC Conference Championships. She also competed in the NCAA’s first-ever Collegiate Sand Volleyball Conference and played professionally during the 2014–2015 season. Internationally, Coach Alex represented the U.S. on volleyball tours in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Italy, competing against professional and national teams. She graduated from Hawai‘i with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. As a coach, she has led high-level teams for several SoCal and Hawai‘i clubs, served as head coach for Santiago Canyon College (2018–2019), and is currently the head coach of both the boys’ and girls’ programs at Cypress High School, where she led the boys to a 2017 CIF Division III Championship and Division II State Semifinal appearance. She was named 2017 CIF Coach of the Year and OC Register Boys Coach of the Year. Coach Alex now serves on staff with Westcliff University Men’s Volleyball, where she helped the program earn one conference championship title, one regular-season title, and achieve NAIA national recognition with an Elite 8 finish and Top 15 overall ranking. She also serves on the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Coaches Committee, helping shape the future of the sport at the collegiate level.

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Gus Tuaniga: Coach Gus was a standout player right away. During his high school career, he contributed to his high school and club’s team success, putting his name at the top in the recruiting scene.  During his outstanding club career, he led his team to top finishes at Jr Nationals earning the gold for 15 Open and silver for 17 Open for Jr. Nationals.  Due to outstanding play, he earned the prestigious award of All Tournament Team at Jr. Nationals, twice.  Coach Gus earned a full ride to play for the University of Hawaii, where he became a quick impact and contributed to Hawaii’s success in the NCAA Division 1 conference. Coach Gus came back to California and quickly hit the beach. He played professional beach volleyball and was able to represent America Samoa in the Pacific Islands and Papa New Guinea tournament earning third and fifth place finish. Since coach came back to California, he has led the top teams for his previous and current club, as well as the Empire League Champions boys’ and girls' volleyball program at Cypress High. Coach Gus won the 2017 CIF Division III Championship title, as well as assisted the boys to Div. II State Semifinalist. Coach Gus recently helped assist one of the top teams in NCAA Division 1 beach volleyball scene, the LBSU women’s beach volleyball team 2018-2019. Coach Gus was our head coach for our 18Black team that was top three in SCVA, qualified for a DOUBLE bid in the 18Open for Jr. Nationals (before Covid-19), and fifth place at the 2019 Jr. Nationals in National Division. 

 

Tinei Tuaniga: Director Tinei is our mama bear of the club. She is behind the scenes and at all the tournaments for all ages. Director Tinei has been a coach and director for over eighteen years, including her own previous club, Aiga Volleyball. She created her own club and became a part of Apex to help create an elite and caring volleyball culture for all players, including her own, to excel. Director Tinei, is a major part to her own children’s success: Director Gus (U of Hawaii; former player), Josh (LBSU; playing professionally), Jake (LBSU; singing), Mia (LBSU; playing), Jonah (currently at Apex). Director Tinei, is also the head coach for our Apex Juniors. Beginner volleyball program. 

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Coaches-

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Candace Nicholson: University of Arizona 

  • 2x USAV Jr Nationals Medalist for 16Open & 17Open 

  • As a sophomore in 2011, led Arizona with 406 digs and had 17 matches with double-digit digs 

  • Broke Arizona’s all‑time career digs record in 2013 with over 1,313 career digs, surpassing Terry Lauchner’s mark

  • Averaged school-record 4.45 digs per set in her senior season; totaled 490 digs—another new school single-season mark

  • Recorded a career-high 36 digs in one match (four‑set win over Arizona State), earning Arizona’s first-ever Pac‑12 Defensive Player of the Week honor

  • Previous Collegiate Coaching Experience: Santiago Jr College 

  • Going into her 13th season of coaching club

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Ryan Thompson: UCSB 

  • USAV Jr National Silver Medalist 18Open 

  •  Finished his collegiate season ranked 15th in the MPSF for total blocks 

  • Earning All-CIF and all-area honors for Costa Mesa High 

  • Played professionally in Greece and Germany (Coburger Turnerschaft 1861) in 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons

  • Heading into his 10th season of coaching club

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Christopher Cons: UCSD 

  • Served as team captain and earned First‑Team All‑Region and All‑Conference honors, contributing to conference championships in both 2015 and 2016. 

  • CIF Title & CIF Player of the Year Honors in 2017 

  • Played overseas professionally for 4 seasons. 

  • Finishing his degree at UCSD as well as assisting the men’s volleyball program there

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Malia Tufuga: Stanford University

  • Apex1 Volleyball Club Alumni. 

  • Triple qualified for USAV Jr Nationals in 18Open during her senior season with Apex 

  • Earned1 Final 4, 2 Elite 8, & a Sweet 16 appearance during her time at Stanford University. 

  • During her collegiate run at Stanford- she played every position in a collegiate match. 

  • Currently Var Asst. & Head JV Coach at St Joseph’s High School

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Mickael Massaki 

  • Paris, France 

  • 5 times national champion.

  • Youth national team.

  • All Conference (Heart of America) Missouri Valley 

  • Beach National Champion (Westcliff 2023)

  • Coach at Westcliff university 

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Michael Schoffstall

  • 2x AVCA Beach national champion

  • CalPac Champion 2023/2024

  • 16’s USAV National High Performance Team 

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Rodolfo Biegelmeyer

  • Played at Reinhardt university 

    • Conference Champions (2022/2023)

    • Player of the year 

    • All-American 

  • Westcliff university 

    • Player of the Year (2023/2024)

    • All-American honors

 

Nikos Kalagasidis (Greece)

  • Played for the Greek National Team from U17 to U21

  • Played at Simpson  University

  • Currently plays at Westcliff  University

  • Setter of the Year (2022/2023)

  • Named to the First Team all four years at Simpson

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Rory Jones: CSULB

  • Graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 2006, where he played varsity volleyball for three seasons and earned All–Sunset League honors each year

  • Played for CSULB 

  • Currently head of men’s Irvine men’s volleyball program

  • Currenlty Varsity assistant for boys and girls Hunitngotn Beach Varsity program 

  • Has over 15 years of coaching experience from high school to collegiate level

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Skyler WIlliams: 

  • Apex1 Volleyball Alumni 

  • 2021 All-Big West First Team

  • 2021 Big West Academic All-Conference

  • 2021 UH Scholar-Athlete

  • 2019 All-Big West First Team

  • 2019 Big West Defensive Player of the Week – 2X - (9/9/19, 11/25/19)

  • 2019 Heineken Rainbow Wahine Invitational - Most Valuable Player

  • 2019 Big West All-Academic

  • 2019 UH Scholar-Athlete Award

  • 4th season coaching at Apex

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Karina Gatewood: 

  • Apex1 Volleybal Alumni 

  • Earned scholarship  to play for Hawaii Pacific University 

  • Played in all 56 sets across 21 matches

  • Heading into her 3rd season Coaching at Apex 

  • Apex Jrs Administrator

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Carissa Mendibles

  • Apex1 Volleyball Alumni 

  • Earned scholarship to play for Hope International 

  • Started and played for Cerritos COllege for 2 seasons for sand and indoor 

  • Earned Conference honors for indoor and sand. 

  • Heading into her 4th season coaching at Apex 

  • Apex Jrs Adminstrator

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Kookie Feomaia: 

  • The Phil Jackson of volleyball 

  • Has over 30 years of experienced coaching

  • 2 years at Jordan High School     

  • 4 years at Millikan High Shcool 

  • 7 years at Wilson High School with Susan Pescar 

  • Heading into her 12th season at Lakewood High as Var assistant & FS head coach

  • Heading into her 5th season with Apex; has coached club for over 20 years

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Mya Tillman

  • Apex1 Volleyball Alumni 

  • Currently finishing up her senior year playing at Cal State Fullerton

  • Transferred from Cal State Dominguez Hills as she made an emphasis to be a part of the statarting line up

  • Heading into her 2nd season of coaching at Apex 

  • Has over 5 years coaching experience helping her dad with

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Monserret Rodriguez 

  • Apex1 Volleyball Alumni 

  • Played 2 seasons at Cerritos College playing indoor and sand ovlleyball 

  • Earning All Conference honors for indoor season

  • Earned lengthy stint in playoffs for beach season 

  • Has coached for local high schools: Gahr, Garden Grove

 

Erica Cantley​

  • Currently plays beach volleyball for NAIA school Westcliff University

  • Previously played for Golden West College where she was team captain

  • Received First Team All-League for beach volleyball and Second Team for indoor volleyball

  • Helped Golden West achieve three conference titles – two for beach and one for indoor

  • Attended Cypress High where she was team captain and earned Empire League MVP and First Team All-League honors

  • Guided Cypress High to three league titles during her varsity years

  • Prior to college, played for several elite club teams, competed in Junior Olympics, remained in the Gold Division, and finished among the top teams in SCVA her senior year

 

Fau Alaelua

  • Currently coaches at her alma mater St. Anthony High School

  • Helped guide St. Anthony to an outright El Camino League title in 2013

  • Earned a scholarship to play at Missouri Valley College

  • Part of a historic women’s volleyball team that finished as runners-up in the Heart of America Conference and earned a bid to the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Championships for the first time in school history

  • Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology

 

Josh Tuaniga

  • USAV Men's National Team Setter

  • Currently plays professionally overseas in Poland

  • Coaches when he returns and via Zoom throughout the year

  • International standout player who received 2018 AVCA Player of the Year

  • Earned a spot on the USA Men’s Junior National Team

  • Holds an iconic record with two NCAA Division 1 Championships and two NCAA Division 1 Semifinal runs

  • Maintained an undefeated high school record at Huntington Beach High

 

Katrina Rosales

  • Currently pursuing a career as a Special Education Teacher and is an aspiring baker

  • Helps run the La Mirada Girls’ Volleyball program

  • Standout high school player who earned a scholarship to play for NAIA Hope International University

  • Served as starting Middle Blocker and contributed to her team’s success and NAIA Championship run

 

Katrina Tagaloasa:

  • Has over a decade of coaching experience from top SoCal high schools to elite clubs including Aiga Volleyball Club

  • Standout player who played collegiately at Fullerton College

  • Married to David, Apex’s honorary sub/hype man

  • Together they coach a squad of their own with four children: Tinei, Trinity, Tiana, and baby David

 

Rebecca Lowden

  • Played and graduated from Vanguard University

  • Honors include 2019 NAIA Libero of the Year, 2x GSAC Libero of the Year, 4-year All-Conference for GSAC, 4-year All-Region Team

  • Earned Honorable Mention All-American honors for three years and Third Team All-American for one year

  • Recently named to Vanguard’s All-Decade Team

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Spencer Olivier

  • Played for NCAA Division 1 Champion Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball

  • Standout player for Beckman High School

  • Named OC Register’s Player of the Year in 2017, CIF All-Tournament, and Pacific Coast League MVP

  • Played for Balboa Volleyball Club and contributed to gold medals in 2016 and 2017​

 
Peter Le

  • Graduated from UC Irvine Men’s Volleyball program

  • Currently plays for Westcliff University Men’s Volleyball under Directors Alex and Gus

  • Leads the team in aces and kills

  • Second in NAIA Cal Pac Conference and named to Cal Pac Second Team

  • Currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA)

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Mia Tuaniga

  • Born and raised in Long Beach, California

  • Played club volleyball for Apex1 Volleyball Club from 2016–2020 and double qualified for Junior Nationals in 2019

  • Named Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2020

  • Played on the USC Women’s Indoor Team, USA Junior National Team, and USA Women’s Collegiate National Team

  • Four-year varsity athlete at Mater Dei High School

  • Earned Under Armour All-American, CIF Champion in 2018 and 2019, CIF State Champion in 2019, and National Champion in 2019

  • Now coaching at Apex

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Mariah Uini 

  • Played At Stanislaus State as an Outside/Oppo

  • Athlete of the year 2018-2020

  • Won a National Championship 2024 

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Landen Tusi

  • High School 1st team all league and 1st team CIF 

  • College 1st team state JC 

  • AVP Athlete 2 years in the main draw 

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Gabriel Pizza

  • Played Beach Volleyball Brazil National Championship 

  • 2x Beach College National Champion 

  • Freshmen of the year 

  • Attacker of the year 

  • All-American 

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