Indiana University Athletics
Tatum Thrilled for Big Ten Opportunity
7/17/2023 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Tatum Q&A
After an outstanding freshman campaign at Cincinnati, Avry Tatum made the move to Bloomington to continue her collegiate career with the Indiana volleyball team.
Originally from California, the 6-foot-2 opposite hitter/middle blocker has found a new home in the Midwest where she will bring experience and talent into a deep rotation of hitters for the Hoosiers this season.
Led by assistant coach Kevin Hodge and associate head coach Rachel Morris during her prep days at WAVE and La Costa Canyon High School, Tatum is no stranger to the high level style of volleyball that the Big Ten Conference brings.
We caught up with the Solana Beach, Calif. ahead of the final weeks of summer before fall camp starts and the volleyball season gets underway in Bloomington.
What has your adjustment to IU been like?
"All the girls are super sweet. They automatically brought me in and have helped me feel like I'm not a new person. Bloomington is amazing. It's a cute little town. It's different than what I'm used to but it already feels like home."
When did you begin taking volleyball seriously?
"I started playing around 14. I began at a club and realized that volleyball could turn into dreams and if you stick with it, you can grow and go to college. I never knew what that process looked like but going on throughout the years I realized I wanted to play college volleyball at the highest level."
What was the process of being approached by schools like for you?
"Both my parents were recruited but they decided to skip the whole college experience and just go with their careers. My mom is an interior designer and real estate agent and my dad transitions surf trucks. I'm kind of the first one out of the family to go through the whole process of being recruited."
What was it like playing high level club and high school volleyball?
"It was really crazy. We really didn't have a break. High school volleyball is usually a little bit more lax but in California it's a really big deal. There's no breaks. It's as intense as club. It was nice because you never really snapped out of it, you had to be levelheaded and ready for every match."
What was the recruiting process like during COVID-19 for you?
"I had to send practice film to coaches every single week. I never thought I'd watch as much film as I did. It was weird to have zooms and phone calls and then have to take a leap of faith with where I originally was and not being able to visit."
How did your first year at Cincinnati go?
"It was really fun and a great experience to get a look at what college volleyball really is. It's extremely competitive and a whole new animal of volleyball."
You played high-level teams early on, how did you adjust quickly to the college level?
"I don't even know. I couldn't even think about it. I just went out there and did it. You just have to play and acclimate immediately against teams like those because they're no joke."
What was the process of getting to IU especially with some connections already in the program?
"When I talked to her [Rachel Morris] after jumping in the portal, she knew what I needed to hear and was honest. I immediately knew this is what I wanted to be a part of. Talking to Steve [Aird] and his vision for the program and how the next years are going to be amazing, it was incredible. And playing Big Ten Volleyball has always been a dream."
What's the level of excitement about playing in the Big Ten like?
"I feel like it's every volleyball girls' dream to play in this conference. You play a championship match every single day. It's exciting and the adrenaline is so different. I'm excited. I crave the adrenaline of matches and that environment of playing different teams. I'm excited to play some of the best kids in the nation."
How do you keep yourself level headed in big situations?
"I've come into a routine of calming myself down and being super levelheaded to play a level like this. This game is a game of mistakes so you can't get hard on yourself. I try to stay very mellow but try and get the job done when it's needed."
What can IU fans come to expect from you?
"If the match super tight, I will get fired up. When it's up-and-down, I just want to help and get the job done. I'm very tunnel visioned."
After an outstanding freshman campaign at Cincinnati, Avry Tatum made the move to Bloomington to continue her collegiate career with the Indiana volleyball team.
Originally from California, the 6-foot-2 opposite hitter/middle blocker has found a new home in the Midwest where she will bring experience and talent into a deep rotation of hitters for the Hoosiers this season.
Led by assistant coach Kevin Hodge and associate head coach Rachel Morris during her prep days at WAVE and La Costa Canyon High School, Tatum is no stranger to the high level style of volleyball that the Big Ten Conference brings.
We caught up with the Solana Beach, Calif. ahead of the final weeks of summer before fall camp starts and the volleyball season gets underway in Bloomington.
What has your adjustment to IU been like?
"All the girls are super sweet. They automatically brought me in and have helped me feel like I'm not a new person. Bloomington is amazing. It's a cute little town. It's different than what I'm used to but it already feels like home."
When did you begin taking volleyball seriously?
"I started playing around 14. I began at a club and realized that volleyball could turn into dreams and if you stick with it, you can grow and go to college. I never knew what that process looked like but going on throughout the years I realized I wanted to play college volleyball at the highest level."
What was the process of being approached by schools like for you?
"Both my parents were recruited but they decided to skip the whole college experience and just go with their careers. My mom is an interior designer and real estate agent and my dad transitions surf trucks. I'm kind of the first one out of the family to go through the whole process of being recruited."
What was it like playing high level club and high school volleyball?
"It was really crazy. We really didn't have a break. High school volleyball is usually a little bit more lax but in California it's a really big deal. There's no breaks. It's as intense as club. It was nice because you never really snapped out of it, you had to be levelheaded and ready for every match."
What was the recruiting process like during COVID-19 for you?
"I had to send practice film to coaches every single week. I never thought I'd watch as much film as I did. It was weird to have zooms and phone calls and then have to take a leap of faith with where I originally was and not being able to visit."
How did your first year at Cincinnati go?
"It was really fun and a great experience to get a look at what college volleyball really is. It's extremely competitive and a whole new animal of volleyball."
You played high-level teams early on, how did you adjust quickly to the college level?
"I don't even know. I couldn't even think about it. I just went out there and did it. You just have to play and acclimate immediately against teams like those because they're no joke."
What was the process of getting to IU especially with some connections already in the program?
"When I talked to her [Rachel Morris] after jumping in the portal, she knew what I needed to hear and was honest. I immediately knew this is what I wanted to be a part of. Talking to Steve [Aird] and his vision for the program and how the next years are going to be amazing, it was incredible. And playing Big Ten Volleyball has always been a dream."
What's the level of excitement about playing in the Big Ten like?
"I feel like it's every volleyball girls' dream to play in this conference. You play a championship match every single day. It's exciting and the adrenaline is so different. I'm excited. I crave the adrenaline of matches and that environment of playing different teams. I'm excited to play some of the best kids in the nation."
How do you keep yourself level headed in big situations?
"I've come into a routine of calming myself down and being super levelheaded to play a level like this. This game is a game of mistakes so you can't get hard on yourself. I try to stay very mellow but try and get the job done when it's needed."
What can IU fans come to expect from you?
"If the match super tight, I will get fired up. When it's up-and-down, I just want to help and get the job done. I'm very tunnel visioned."
Players Mentioned
Opposite/Middle Blocker
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