The third installment of Catching Up With Volleyball Alums, Pacific libero Katrin Gotterba checks in with Jennifer Joines Tamas, a Tiger standout from 2000-2003. The four-time All-American and Pacific's all-time leader in kills, kills per game (4.89), total attacks (4,615), attacks per game (10.14), and hitting percentage (.350) played is the third Tiger volleyball player to play in the Olympic Games.
Katrin Gotterba: What are you up to now?
Jennifer Joines Tamas: I played volleyball professionally for 9 years, was an alternate
for two Olympic Games and played in the Beijing Olympics. Currently, I am a volunteer assistant at University of Illinois, my husband (and former Tiger) is the head coach. I like the balance of staying home with our two children until practice and game time.
KG: What was your experience like at Pacific?
JJT: If I had to do it all over again…. I would. What drew me to Pacific was the incredible support the volleyball student athletes received both from the University and the community. I was recruited to Pacific when they were ranked consistently in the top five teams in America and at a time when Spanos was packed with spectators. The gym atmosphere was electric.
Our coaches (John Dunning and Jayne McHugh) ran the team like we were one big family. I felt so close to my teammates and my coaching staff.
I loved walking about in the community and getting recognized constantly as a volleyball player. The community knew who we were and they cared. I was so proud to be a Pacific Tiger.
KG: What is your favorite memory of Pacific?
JJT: Some of my fondest memories were getting together with the men's volleyball team to have fun and play pick-up games together. Whether we were on the grass, in the gym, or on the sand in an organized trip to Santa Cruz; playing with the guys and having a blast both made me a better player and also created life long friendships and also, in my case, a marriage.
KG: What's one match you will remember forever as a Pacific Tiger?
JJT: I will NEVER FORGET my first time playing because I biffed a ball so badly that the spectators gasped. Michigan State free balled a ball short which I passed because it was near me. After passing the ball to the setter I approached harder than I ever approached in my life. Adrenaline and nerves were pumping so hard that I had more leverage in my arm-swing and legs than I had ever experienced before. The setter set the ball to me and I hit it as hard as I could. The only problem was that I didn't get on top of the ball. I hit high….. really high…. and HARD. The ball ended up hitting the wall above the band at the end of the court. No touch. Point went to Michigan State and I was mortified. Thankfully our head coach kept me in and I was able to rectify that error. I played well after that and was so thankful that I wasn't subbed out after my very first collegiate touch… and HUGE ERROR.
I will also never forget beating Stanford at home in my freshman year. Because I was a Bay Area kid I was asked many times if I wanted to go to Stanford. I would always reply, " I would rather beat Stanford than play for them."
KG: What's the best advice you could give for Pacific volleyball players?
JJT: In terms of being a volleyball player I would say to them to take PRIDE in being a Tiger. If you aren't walking into the gym each day feeling like you are going to give it your all out of respect for the game and the program then GET OUT. Every Tiger before me had a burning desire to be great. After my freshmen year at Pacific I started to notice that the inner intensity was starting to fade in some players around me. Making excuses for lack of focus or lack of intensity. The Tigers before me were incredibly competitive and that gave us an edge. It is important to establish that team culture again.
KG: Do you still play volleyball? If so, how often?
JJT: I have not actually played volleyball in a while. I used to be a practice player when we coached at Cal Poly but since the children I haven't pulled the knee pads up in a while! I love coaching our team but maybe sometime this next season I will slowly get back into it. I do miss it!
KG: Do you still keep in touch with old teammates?
JJT: Molly Mordaunt is a best friend and I do still keep in contact with most all of the girls I played with through facebook or some other type of social media. The alumni of Pacific from my era and the girls that recruited me to Pacific stays in contact and I LOVE getting together with all of them when there are functions or weddings. It's a crazy, competitive, hilarious crew that I am so proud to be a part of.
GO TIGERS!
