Volleyball, music, snow, smoothies

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published September 8, 2005

Palm Harbor University's Christine Tan is one of the county's top volleyball players, a standout on her nationally-ranked club team and a Division I recruit. She recently committed to Minnesota, the national runnerup last year and a Final Four team in 2003.

Here are a few other things you might not know, like who she thinks is the best volleyball player, her last concert and her favorite drink (hint: it's made of white grape juice (from concentrate), lime sherbet, frozen strawberries, fresh squeezed lemon juice, frozen peaches and ice):

JCC: Say you and I are going to do a high school fantasy volleyball league. You get first pick. Go.

TAN: I'd take Sloane Baby (former Clearwater setter). I just love in volleyball when you find that all-around player who can dig, set and spike, and she can do everything. She's also the hardest worker I've ever seen.

JCC: What's your greatest volleyball moment?

TAN: When we won Junior Olympic Nationals two years ago (for Randy Dagostino's under-16 Black Tampa Bay Juniors Volleyball Club).

JCC: Your coach at PHU, Tara Burton, has some game when it comes to beach volleyball. You?

TAN: Oh yeah, I play. That's how I started playing volleyball. Both my parents (Felix and Ivonne) used to play at Clearwater Beach in tournaments.

JCC: You're going to Minnesota next year. Why?

TAN: I love the campus and it's a chance of a lifetime. To be able to play competitive volleyball there, I'm really looking forward to it.

JCC: I hear it's kind of cold up there. Just in case you didn't know.

TAN: Oh, I know. It's very cold in Minnesota. I've been to Minneapolis. They actually have a player from Tampa (Durant grad Doneila Jackson) who was recruited two years ago and she doesn't mind it. Plus they have underground tunnels that connect the buildings.

JCC: What's on your iPod?

TAN: I don't have one.

JCC: What? Shameful.

TAN: But I have a laptop with iTunes.

JCC: Well, okay. What's on it?

TAN: You would find a huge mix of stuff, like Dave Matthews, Santana, old school stuff like Journey and Boston. My dad is kind of into the classic rock stuff.

JCC: Wow. Journey?

TAN: Oh yes! I went to a Journey concert last year. It was great.

JCC: You guys are 2-0. Tell me why you'll be good this year.

TAN: I think because of our team chemistry. We've got players that have played together for at least three years. I don't think any other team plays as well together as a team than we do.

JCC: Best player you've ever shared a court with?

TAN: That's a tough one. I want to say my parents just because I learned the game from them. My mom played at the University of Puerto Rico.

JCC: Fair enough. Describe your room at home.

TAN: I have two big pictures from Hawaii framed. I looove Hawaii. And my desk is the size of my bed. My schoolwork is a huge part of my life. There's stuff scattered all over. My trophies are in the closet.

JCC: Messy?

TAN: It's pretty messy.

JCC: Last book you read?

TAN: The Scarlet Letter.

JCC: Your last meal, what would it be?

TAN: A smoothie.

JCC: No, not last movie ... last meal.

TAN: I said smoothie.

JCC: Ohhhhhhh.

TAN: I work at Jamba Juice. Smoothies are my favorite. My favorite one is the Strawberry Surf Rider.

JCC: You'd recommend that one to me?

TAN: Oh yeah.

[Last modified September 8, 2005, 01:50:14]