Honors and Awards

• Academic All-MCC (2008, 2009)
• MCC Libero of the Week (9/28/09)
• Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athlete (2009)
• AU Defensive Player of the Year (2009)

Van Zuiden's Career Highs

• Digs - 34, vs. University of Sioux Falls (9/19/09)

2009 (Junior): Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete during her junior season…Received Academic All-MCC status for the second straight year…Named the MCC Libero of the Week (Sept. 28) and chosen by her peers as the Best Defensive Player on the team…Racked up a team high 525 digs as a defensive specialist, averaging 3.77 per game…Posted a .894 receiving percentage on 303 attempts…Didn't play a game without recording at least 2 digs…Reached double digits in digs on 24 occasions with a season high of 34 vs. University of Sioux Falls (Sept. 19).

2008 (Sophomore): Appeared in 57 games during the year and totaled 97 digs…Academic All-MCC selection…Recorded 13 digs against Dakota Wesleyan University (Sept. 5) and scooped up 14 digs later in the season against Alverno College (Sept. 20)…Averaged 1.7 digs per game.

2007 (Freshman): Made appearances in 31 total matches during her freshman campaign…Averaged 2.41 digs per game and recorded a pair of solo blocks.

Prior to Ashford: Attended nearby Fulton High School…Coached by Stacy Germann.

Personal: Born Tara Jo Van Zuiden on April 14, 1989…Daughter of Todd and Paula Van Zuiden…Has a sister, Tori, and a brother, Travis…Also a member of the AU track and field team…Enjoys shopping, reading and spending time with the people she loves…Chose Ashford over Sauk Valley Community College and the University of Illinois.

Major: Elementary Education.