More Than the Hometown Kid: Tatum Tindall’s Sophomore Transformation
- Sophie Smith
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Kansas State Volleyball’s Tatum Tindall made headlines last season as the hometown kid — the Manhattan native who chose to wear purple just minutes from where she grew up. But now, as a sophomore, her story isn’t about where she’s from. It’s about how far she’s come.
"Something that I struggled with was coming in as a freshman last year. It’s a whole new environment, new people, older teammates, new coaches… and honestly, people don’t understand how hard being a student-athlete is," Tindall said. "Balancing school work, friends, family — all of it — was tough, but I’ve learned to adapt this past year."
Part of that growth meant figuring out what kind of teammate she wants to be. Tindall says she wants to bring reliability and energy every day. “The type of player I want to be known for is being a good teammate. I want to be someone people can lean on, and my coaches and teammates have told me I’ve done a good job with that. I just want to keep being that person.”
Even as she comes into her own, Tindall hasn’t lost the hometown support that raised her.
She remains a Manhattan favorite, even appearing in the Kansas Lottery’s Rivalry Riches
scratch-ticket promotion — a reminder that the community still claims her as one of their own.
Her mom, Jennifer Tindall, has seen that growth up close. “Last year she was home all
the time… I’d make dinner, do laundry, whatever they needed. But this year she’s really flourished. I hardly see them — I wish I could see them more,” she said.
Living in town as a high schooler is one thing, but balancing college athletics is another.
Now, Tatum is finding her independence, her confidence, and her place on a team she loves.
No longer just the hometown story, Tatum Tindall is stepping fully into who she is — an
athlete, a leader, and a young woman carving her own path.
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