By Matt Gade

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — When it comes to some rivalries, some run deep, and others are more about just having fun with each other. 

For Rapid City Central volleyball coach Reese Niu, the cross-town rivalry between the Cobblers and Rapid City Stevens is more about fun than anything. 

For Niu, it’s especially fun because her daughter, Marley Seumanutafa, plays basketball for the Raiders.

“There's a little smack talk at dinner sometimes, but she supports me and where I'm coaching at, and I support her and her athletic journey,” Niu said of Suemanutafa. 

Coach Niu during the Cobblers volleyball match at home against Spearfish. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

Seumanutafa, an eighth grader, was moved up to the varsity level last season by Raiders head coach Adam Dannenbring because he knew she could have an immediate impact on the team.

As a seventh grader, Seumanutafa scored 55 points and grabbed 75 rebounds for the Raiders. She shot 42% from the field and 53% from the free-throw line. Dannenbring said she was the Raiders' second-leading scorer and top rebounder on the junior varsity team last season.

Niu, who just completed her second year as the head coach for the Cobblers, said they let Suemanutafa decide where she wanted to attend high school. 

And while she’s still enrolled at Southwest Middle School in Rapid City, Suemanutafa said she chose Stevens really because that was the closest of the two high schools to home. 

Despite playing for the Raiders, Suemanutafa has been on the bench with her mom throughout the past two seasons during Cobbler volleyball matches.

“They’ve been great,” Niu said of the Central girls welcoming Suemanutafa. “It's been fun watching her build these friendships with the girls at Central, especially during volleyball season. I could really tell when they had that scrimmage the other week at Central, (Suemanutafa)  was laughing and giggling with some of the Central basketball girls who also play volleyball. 

Marley Suemanutafa watching the Cobblers match from the bench earlier this season. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

“It's just so much fun to have Marley as a part of the volleyball journey as a coach over at Central and to see her build friendships with the kids at Stevens and Central through both Sports.”

Given the friendships she’s made at both schools, Suemanutafa said she kinda wishes someone made a Raiders/Cobblers combination T-shirt style apparel so she could cheer on both teams. 

Niu and Suemanutafa both said the only times they really cheer against Central or Stevens is when their team is playing them. Otherwise, they want to see the teams succeed.

“Even though, when we play against Stevens, you can't help but to still root for those kids, and vice versa when it's basketball season,” Niu said. 

“It's a little like fun to have that rivalry, but like, also at the same time I enjoy getting to know all her players,” Seumanutafa said. “I had a nice time getting to spend time with her team and hang out with her and support her through her coaching career and stuff. 

“I would say during basketball, of course, I kind of tease her back. But like, volleyball, I don't know, I kind of like cheer for both. It's like, puts me in a different position.”

Niu, who played volleyball in college, said she and Suemanutafa are learning from each other. Niu said she knew nothing about basketball until her daughter started playing, and Suemanutafa said she knew nothing about volleyball until spending time with her mom. 

Suemanutafa said that since she already started seeing varsity time last season as a seventh grader, her mom has really started to help her with the recruiting process.

Suemanutafa said getting to play in the state tournament last season was an “incredible” time, and is excited for the Raiders to return. At least that is the team’s expectation.

“The biggest transition is probably like physicality, or just the way that I was coached, and playing against older girls,” Suemanutafa said of jumping to the varsity level. “In high school sports, you're practicing every day, and it just takes up so much more of your time. And I would say that it was just like a big new experience for me.”

Niu said the Cobblers squad has been more than welcoming to Suemanutafa with her on the bench, and said things might get really fun if Suemanutafa decides to try out for volleyball with the Raiders next year.

So far, though, Suemanutafa and Niu enjoy their little jabs at each other and are enjoying being in each other’s corners.

“Specifically, during volleyball season, I’ll be like, ‘Marley, we're gonna go up against each other. Who you rooting for? Are you gonna wear a Central shirt?’ Just always kind of giving her a little bit of crap about who she’s gonna cheer for and stuff like that,” Niu said. “And always, her response is ‘I'm cheering for both.’”

“I definitely wish there's just, like a shirt that was half red, half blue,” Suemanutafa said.

Rapid City Stevens' Marley Suemanutafa goes up for a basket during the Raiders game against Douglas on Monday. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)