Futi Tavana: Mormon Athlete

Va’afuti “Futi” Tavana is an American volleyball player and plays middle blocker on the US men’s national volleyball team. He also plays on the club level. He played in the 2013 FIVB Grand Champions Cup. He has played professionally in Italy, France, and Indonesia.

Tavana was born in 1987 in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Saipipi, Samoa, and Kalaheo, Hawaii. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in commercial management. He played volleyball at BYU and in his senior year he was named to the AVCA All-America First Team and All-MPSF First Team.

He married Tumua Anae (Olympic gold medalist in water polo) and they are the parents of a daughter, Olive. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.