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SPRING HILL - Nobody, including Tamara Tatham, knows precisely why she picked Iowa.
But the Central senior will call the state home the next four years.
Tatham, the top setter in Bears history, on Monday accepted partial volleyball and basketball scholarships to The Franciscan University, formerly known as Mount St. Clare College, in Clinton, Iowa.
Tatham discovered the NAIA Division II school while conducting a computer search for a small college far from Florida with a successful volleyball program.
Her search turned up two schools, both in Iowa: TFU and the University of Dubuque.
"I wasn't trying to stay here," Tatham said, "so I wanted to go somewhere else."
Tatham said she decided on TFU in November and notified the school after the season.
She had been offered a volleyball scholarship when basketball coach Meg Schebler approached her with the idea of playing both sports.
"She saw me play on tape and obviously liked what she saw, because she offered me a scholarship," Tatham said.
Tatham, a two-time Times' All-Hernando/Citrus volleyball selection, owns all of Central's setting records and was part of a senior class that led the Bears to their first district championship, in 2001, and first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference title this past season.
Tatham's 479 assists as a senior gave her 1,162 for her career. She had a four-year serve percentage of 98, along with 442 digs and 55 blocks.
"We've been in the playoffs the last three years," Central coach Jim Jensen said. "If she's not with us, we don't go.
"We won a lot of matches the last three years based on her talent alone," he said.
Tatham's quickness and tenacity were crucial to a trapping defense that propelled Central's basketball team to its first 20-win season and playoff berth.
"She has a lot of natural talent athletically," Bears coach Lori Lessley said. "But she made herself into a basketball player."
Tatham was an unusual find for TFU. Each member of last season's volleyball and basketball squads was from Iowa or Illinois.
Jensen said Tatham will adapt quickly, despite the differences in weather.
"Volleyball is an indoor sport," Jensen said. "If you can handle the outside cold, it's not like you're playing football in minus-20 degrees."
Tatham's choice means she and her twin sister, Thalia, will be apart for the first time in their 18 years.
Thalia earlier accepted a scholarship to Webber International University, a business school in Babson Park, north of Avon Park.
"I'm looking forward to separating," Tamara said. "I think we need it. I depend on her too much, and she's the same way. I think we need to become a little more independent."
The next time the twins see each other on the court, it will be as opponents. TFU and Webber are scheduled to meet in basketball and volleyball next season.
"I was excited," Tamara said. "I definitely want to play against her."
Tatham could start as a freshman in either sport, since TFU's volleyball team needs a setter and the basketball squad seeks a point guard or off guard.
She plans to study criminal justice with an eye toward a career as a police officer.
Tatham became the fourth senior from Central's volleyball team to commit to a college.
Heather Edwards will join Thalia Tatham at Webber. Sharesa Scott will play basketball at Hillsborough Community College.
Kay Furman was accepted to Massachusetts Institute of Technology and could play as a walk-on. Chivone Weyde is considering an offer from Lake-Sumter Community College.
Sarah Rosario, a region qualifier in the 100 hurdles, likely will run track in college.
- Frank Pastor can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to pastor@sptimes.com