Valentina Martinez is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Corona del Sol High School for AZPreps365.com

“Linija, linija!” Mia Lomigora shouts to a teammate during a volleyball match, urging her to hit the ball down the line. After playing with sisters Mia and Ella Lomigora, their Aspire teammates are well-versed in calls being made in Bosnian.

Mia is a senior at Corona del Sol. Ella chose to join her sister at Corona and is currently a sophomore. Both girls play for the varsity volleyball team. 

Though Mia and Ella are first generation Americans, their Bosnian roots remain strong. “It’s very different for us,” Mia said. “Our parents are very different from American parents.” 

A huge difference is Senad and Mirela Lomigora’s beginnings in the U.S. Following the Bosnian war in 1995, Senad and Mirela Lomigora came to the U.S. as refugees. They had originally intended to establish residency in New York where Senad’s cousin was living; however, when they arrived at the airport, with a suitcase packed with snow boots for a New York winter, Mirela questioned what Phoenix, Arizona meant on their tickets. 

She quickly asked the on-boarding flight clerk what the two words meant. Mirela believed it was some sort of code. The flight clerk told Mirela that Phoenix, Arizona was to be the couple’s destination. Mirela quickly refused, explaining that her and her husband were supposed to be traveling to America. The clerk then assured her that Phoenix was in America and the couple never looked back. 

“It was a surprise,” Mirela chuckled. 

Though Senad and Mirela left Bosnia, their culture never left them. Bosnian culture is a part of Mia and Ella’s everyday lives. Although the girls haven’t been able to visit Bosnia recently because of their demanding volleyball schedules, their ties to the country are well established. 

Mia and Ella both converse in Bosnian, sometimes at practice, which is a point of fascination for their teammates. The girls agreed that the most common question their friends will ask them about being Bosnian is the food. Mia and Ella have since decided to make Bosnian food for their team, sharing a delicious piece of their culture. 

Mia and Ella are proud of their bilingualism. “It's always been an asset,” Mia said. 

The girls speak Bosnian at home and enjoy the fact that they are able to understand everyone when they do travel to Bosnia. 

Not only are the sisters linguistically skilled, but they’re also athletically talented. School. Gym. Sand. 

Most weekdays don’t conclude until 9 p.m. for the Lomigora sisters. Weekdays consist of school at Corona then volleyball practice with their high school team, following a beach volleyball practice in the sand. Weekends consist of more volleyball.

“That’s been our life,” Mirela said. “That’s what we do.” 

Mirela treasures the time she’s spent with her daughters throughout their journey as volleyball players. Even the most seemingly minor moments, like driving them to practice or tournaments, Mirela views as one of her favorite times with her daughters. 

“I cannot tell you how blessed I am to have had all the time all these years just hanging out with them,” she said.

To Mia and Ella, the Corona volleyball team is family. Ella said the volleyball program allowed her to meet people she could rely on, people she could turn to in case her sister wasn’t around. 

Mirela’s smile grew wide as she spoke about her daughters and their inherent ability to rise to the occasion—whether that be in school, playing volleyball, or life in general. 

“It teaches them way more than volleyball,” Mirela said. “When things are not going good, do you quit or do you push through? I don’t think many places can teach that.” 

The bond shared between sisters is an important one. “They’re complete opposites,” Mirela said. “But they complete each other.” 

According to Mirela, Mia’s had a strong personality since she was a child. By 16 months, Mia was speaking Bosnian in full sentences. “I never knew how to treat her,” Mirela said. “It was like this grown up person in diapers.” 

Ella, however, didn’t start speaking until she was around two-years-old. Mirela believes Ella didn’t start speaking as early because “Mia was always talking for her.” No one could understand what she was saying, except Mia, who would translate for her baby sister. 

Ella has an easy-going, bubbly personality. Despite Ella being the youngest, she emphatically shared that she keeps Mia on track and in check. Mia grinned and was quick to nod her head in agreement. “We’re really balanced,” Ella said with a smile. “If I need something, she’ll always be ready for it. If she needs something, I’ll always have advice.” 

Although their lives may not always be centered around being volleyball players, the bond shared between Mia and Ella is long-lasting. They are a true dynamic duo, on and off the court.