Tamara Van Engelen North Central Year: Senior Sport: Volleyball Event: Middle Hitter

Any celebrations at North Central this week had to carry on without Tamara Van Engelen.

Van Engelen last attended public school in sixth grade. Since then she has been schooled at home.

Most of the time, Van Engelen appreciates her educational method and the self-discipline it imposes.

But it sure would have been nice to attend NC this week, with the Indians’ State AAA title in volleyball still on everyone’s mind.

“It’s starting to sink in now,” said Van Engelen, NC’s middle hitter and big force against Lewis and Clark in the title match. “At first it was unbelievable.”

No NC girls team had ever won a state title. Yet the Indians started rolling at the regional tournament, then gained confidence in tough pool matches at state.

“I think it helped being the underdog, but after the first day we really made a name for ourselves,” Van Engelen said.

Van Engelen chose the University of Washington for her college career because her other top choice, Long Beach State, seemed too far away. She made her decision early to circumvent “all those coaches wanting an answer from you.”

Van Engelen’s rest from volleyball will be short. Later this month she begins club play that will continue until July.

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