Fresno State Athletics
Reunited with an Old Teammate
10/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 19, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - Going into an unknown territory but yet knowing that a friendly face would be there softens any new move.
For freshman middle blocker/outside hitter Taneisha Tilque, a native of Spokane, Wash., coming to Fresno State meant a reunion with a former teammate, sophomore middle blocker Lindsay Closs.
Tilque and Closs were teammates on the Spokane Splash volleyball club in 1999, which Tilque says was one of the pluses when deciding to play for Fresno State.
"It was nice knowing someone and being able to talk to someone that was already in the program," Tilque said. "I had someone who could help me with any concerns and show me the ropes."
When making the final decision to become a Bulldog she weighed the pros and cons but the scale was definitely one-sided.
"My list was mostly pros with the area, people and program making my decision easy," Tilque said. "California allowed me to move away from home but not too far away which was one of the biggest advantages of Fresno State."
With the season halfway over Tilque has seen an adequate amount of playing time in almost every position. At Rogers High School she was a four-year varsity starter in the middle but enjoys playing anywhere on the court.
"I like being comfortable in every position," Tilque said. "Being versatile is a plus for any team. You just got to be ready to help out in any situation."
At Rogers High School Tilque also was a member of the basketball and track and field teams but always knew she wanted to play volleyball in college. Her junior year she made the move to the Spokane Splash volleyball club, which she believes, helped prepare her for collegiate volleyball.
Even though a full season is almost behind her and understanding the adjustments that had to be made, Tilque is enjoying every minute.
"I'm having a lot of fun playing volleyball at a new level and meeting new people," Tilque said. "I miss home but I'm so busy that it hasn't hit me that hard. We know how we can play and right now we're trying to put it all together. I was building myself up for some difficult times before I got here but I've handled all the pressures well and I'm having a lot of fun."
As a freshman in a new place Tilque has found that the difficulties of being a college student-athlete has more bark than bite.
