‘Burn the Boats’: Silina Damuni, Utah State Volleyball push through adversity

In March of this year, sophomore setter Silina Damuni arrived home from her mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she served in Fiji. Damuni was recruited by the Aggies prior to her mission in 2024.  

Once returning home, Damuni only had a few months before she would be expected to play at the season opener in Kentucky on Aug. 28.  

Damuni said before she returned from her mission, she got an email from Utah State Volleyball head coach Keith Smith stating he was the new coach for Utah State University, and he would love to chat with her.  

“I will forever be grateful for the chance that they gave me to be here at Utah State,” Damuni said. “I’ve loved every second of my time here at Utah State despite the struggles and adversity that we’ve faced this season. … I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” 

Damuni said female athletes who serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints typically only miss one athletic season. Because of the timing, she ended up missing two full seasons of volleyball. 

“That was probably one of the hardest things I had to do in my life, coming back after not playing for two seasons,” Damuni said.  

Damuni said if she could describe how she felt in one word after returning, it would be “behind.” 

Additionally, Damuni experienced an ankle injury in late September, which put her out for several weeks during the beginning of October. Despite “the aches and pains,” Damuni has fully recovered and is back to being a full-time setter. 

Smith said a series of challenges have made it hard for Damuni to stay in her groove.  

“It’s just so hard what she had to try to do,” Smith said. “When I didn’t play for a month, I felt the rustiest in my life — let alone two years without even thinking about volleyball, so I think what she’s had to do is really impressive.”  

Owen Clarke

Utah State setter Silina Damuni, 5, and outside hitter Justyna Novakova, 28, in the USU vs. Gonzaga match on Sept 26. in the Wayne Estes Center. (Utah Statesman / Owen Clarke)

The team has also faced a series of challenges this season, only winning four of its first 20 games. 

Smith compared the team’s current strategy to a story of a war general who sailed to battle and, once arriving at shore, decided to burn their boats with no option of retreat.  

“That’s kind of where we are at: burn the boats. There’s no other option now but to win,” Smith said.  

If the Aggies can win at least five of their final six matches, the team will have the opportunity to participate in the Pac-12 tournament. Smith and Damuni expressed how despite coming off a streak of losses, they are staying positive and keeping their goals the same. 

“The expectation is to win championships,” Smith said. “Just because the first 19 matches haven’t gone our way, our goal is still the same.” 

Damuni expressed similar sentiments, saying despite what the record has shown so far, they feel hope for the next set of games. 

“We’ve been talking a lot about the word ‘yet’,” Damuni said. “Just because we’ve only won three games doesn’t mean that we can’t win the next seven.” 

The team appears to be achieving its goals so far, winning the first of their final seven games on Oct. 29 against Washington State University.  

According to the Utah State University Athletics match recap, Damuni set a career record of 57 assists during their match. Smith described Damuni as “one of the best setters in the conference.”  

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Silina Damuni (5) a sophomore from Provo, Utah, sets up teammate Sophie Scott (42) for a point against Washington State University in their Oct. 29 match at the Wayne Estes Center. (Utah Statesman / Owen Clarke)

Damuni comes from a family of athletes. Her brother Raider is currently a safety for Brigham Young University football. Her sister Selai previously played as an outside hitter for Western New Mexico University. Her other brother, Dayson, played sports in high school and is now a pilot, and Damuni described him as the “brains of [their] family.”  

As the youngest of the four, Damuni says she has “three great examples to look up to.” 

“All my siblings, they all play sports in some type of way,” Damuni said. “Just watching them, how much they overcame, how much they accomplished, I just wanted to follow in their footsteps.”  

Damuni grew up in Maui, Hawaii, where volleyball wasn’t a big sport at the time, but decided to try volleyball because of her sister Selai, who began playing volleyball when she was twelve years old.  

Damuni described her older sister Selai as an “amazing track star” and a “big inspiration in [her] life.”   

“I just remember watching her on the court — the passion she had for the game and the joy she had,” Damuni said. “She was definitely someone that inspired me and I looked up to in my journey to volleyball.” 

Her family often comes up to support her at USU home matches, and after matches, they enjoy dinner together. Damuni lives in Logan with her “auntie” and uncle. Her favorite post-match ritual is eating her “auntie’s Fijian curry.”  

Additionally, Damuni loves to play pickleball and run. Damuni is very family-oriented and enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew.  

Damuni feels as though serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reminded her of her purpose and of why she plays volleyball in the first place.  

“I want to use the gifts and talents that my Heavenly Father has given me to be a light, to share his gospel and to help the people around me,” Damuni said.  

On her mission, Damuni helped host volleyball camps for the areas she served in. 

“Prior to my mission, I kind of lost a lot of my love for volleyball,” Damuni said. “But it was when I started doing those volleyball camps in Fiji where I found that purpose and why I play this sport.” 

Damuni hopes to inspire other girls who want to play college sports and serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and show them it is possible. 

“I would just say don’t be afraid to go on a mission,” Damuni said. “It will teach you the greatest lessons of your life and overall make you the best version of yourself.”