Redhawk nation, it's time to get to know the Seattle U volleyball newcomers! Seattle U signed three athletes to their 2023 recruiting class and each will look to have an impact on the upcoming season. Our second feature is Tatum Chase. Chase hails from Catlin Gabel High School in Portland, Oregon, joining SU as a freshman and primarily plays middle blocker.
Q: How did your volleyball journey begin?
CHASE: My middle school volleyball team was short on players and a friend convinced me to join the team. No one else was interested in playing the middle so I decided to give it a go.
Q: When did you start taking volleyball seriously?
CHASE: After playing for a smaller club for a few years, I tried out for a more competitive team and made the top squad during my sophomore year. I never considered playing in college until our coach asked our team who was wanting to continue their career collegiately and everyone raised their hand. That was when I realized that it might be an option for me.
Q: How did your recruitment process with the Redhawks go?
CHASE: Seattle University was one of the first schools to reach out to me during my sophomore season. From that day on, we connected weekly and I received an official visit invitation in October. Something that I loved about my visit was how friendly and caring the coaching staff is and how often they were able to make me laugh. I will never forget when they offered me a spot on the team because my favorite song (Tennessee Whiskey) was playing in the background.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in your first year of collegiate volleyball?
CHASE: I'm super excited to travel with the team and get to know all the ladies.
Q: When you aren't playing volleyball, what do you like to do?
CHASE: I love to go swimming and find fun new river spots with my friends. In the winter, I really enjoy going snowboarding.
Q: What do you like the most about Seattle University?
CHASE: I love the fact that Seattle U is in the middle of the city but still has that college campus feel to it.
Q: Do you have any rituals or superstitions before a match or during?
CHASE: I wouldn't say I have any rituals or anything, however, I do have a very strict sleep requirement. If I haven't had eight or more hours of sleep before a game, I will think that I am playing worse than I am. Even if I'm only off by like 15 or 20 minutes.
Q: What is the strangest food combination you enjoy?
CHASE: Strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar.
Q: If you could choose one superpower, what would it be and why?
CHASE: I would choose to fly because it would be a lot of fun and I hate waiting in traffic.
Q: Is pineapple allowed on pizza? Why or why not?
CHASE: Absolutely not because it's always the canned pineapple chunks that just aren't as good.
Q: What's your go-to midnight snack?
CHASE: Trader Joe's soup dumplings.
Q: You just won the lottery, what's the first thing you buy?
CHASE: A large boat!
Favorite social media platform: Snapchat
Favorite movie: Mamma Mia
Favorite artist: Drake
Favorite Candy: 100 grand bars
Favorite food: pasta
Favorite Sport to Watch: Basketball
Favorite Pro Sports Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Stay connected with Seattle U volleyball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.
Q: How did your volleyball journey begin?
CHASE: My middle school volleyball team was short on players and a friend convinced me to join the team. No one else was interested in playing the middle so I decided to give it a go.
Q: When did you start taking volleyball seriously?
CHASE: After playing for a smaller club for a few years, I tried out for a more competitive team and made the top squad during my sophomore year. I never considered playing in college until our coach asked our team who was wanting to continue their career collegiately and everyone raised their hand. That was when I realized that it might be an option for me.
Q: How did your recruitment process with the Redhawks go?
CHASE: Seattle University was one of the first schools to reach out to me during my sophomore season. From that day on, we connected weekly and I received an official visit invitation in October. Something that I loved about my visit was how friendly and caring the coaching staff is and how often they were able to make me laugh. I will never forget when they offered me a spot on the team because my favorite song (Tennessee Whiskey) was playing in the background.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in your first year of collegiate volleyball?
CHASE: I'm super excited to travel with the team and get to know all the ladies.
Q: When you aren't playing volleyball, what do you like to do?
CHASE: I love to go swimming and find fun new river spots with my friends. In the winter, I really enjoy going snowboarding.
Q: What do you like the most about Seattle University?
CHASE: I love the fact that Seattle U is in the middle of the city but still has that college campus feel to it.
Q: Do you have any rituals or superstitions before a match or during?
CHASE: I wouldn't say I have any rituals or anything, however, I do have a very strict sleep requirement. If I haven't had eight or more hours of sleep before a game, I will think that I am playing worse than I am. Even if I'm only off by like 15 or 20 minutes.
Q: What is the strangest food combination you enjoy?
CHASE: Strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar.
Q: If you could choose one superpower, what would it be and why?
CHASE: I would choose to fly because it would be a lot of fun and I hate waiting in traffic.
Q: Is pineapple allowed on pizza? Why or why not?
CHASE: Absolutely not because it's always the canned pineapple chunks that just aren't as good.
Q: What's your go-to midnight snack?
CHASE: Trader Joe's soup dumplings.
Q: You just won the lottery, what's the first thing you buy?
CHASE: A large boat!
Favorite social media platform: Snapchat
Favorite movie: Mamma Mia
Favorite artist: Drake
Favorite Candy: 100 grand bars
Favorite food: pasta
Favorite Sport to Watch: Basketball
Favorite Pro Sports Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Stay connected with Seattle U volleyball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.