Tamika Eastman’s graduating class at Sioux County High School in Harrison had five graduates.
                Coming from a small school in the northwest Panhandle did not deter Eastman from achieving her dream of playing college volleyball as the first step of her dreams was playing two years at Western Nebraska Community College.
Now, the 5-foot-10 outside hitter will be taking her volleyball skills to the four-year level after inking with Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa.
                Eastman said coming from a small high school gave her the will power to keep playing.
                “I mean a lot is really rewarding. I don't think three years ago, I would have thought I would have been playing at a university now,” Eastman said. “So, this just means a lot to me.”
                Coming from Sioux County High School, no one really thought she would be playing college volleyball, but her dedication and dreams were fulfilled.
                “I really, really wanted to (play college volleyball), and it actually wasn't until my dad and my stepmom told me that I was good enough to go play college and then I pursued it,” she said. “I'm extremely glad they gave me just that kind of push and everything and I'm really glad I'm here.”
                Eastman will be heading to Briar Cliff as she will study radiology. Briar Cliff has a new head coach in Lauren Boatman and Eastman said everything felt right about becoming a Charger.
                “I'm going to Briar Cliff University. It's just on the outskirts of Sioux City, Iowa, and I'm really looking forward to going there because it's a smaller university, so it kind of resembles here a little bit,” Eastman said Thursday in a signing ceremony. “It's more comfortable and I just love the coaches. They've been really, really helpful in the recruiting process and they're just super, super sweet. I have been there for admissions. They have my desired study, radiology, so I think it's a pretty good place for me.”
                Eastman has grown a ton at WNCC and playing one year under Fatima Balza is something that she will cherish.
                “I think playing here definitely helped me grow a lot and just give a lot more confidence, especially this past season,” she said. “I was able to play a lot more and just it's been really a dream, honestly. Being able to just play a bunch beside a bunch of girls that just have endless talent and support with just the enthusiasm on the court and everything. It's just been a really great experience and I don't regret any of it.”
                Eastman’s sophomore year was one that shows how hard work can make dreams come true, especially for Eastman who came from a graduating class of five and now will go to a bigger city in Iowa.
“I made a lot of memories and a lot of friends and everything,” she said. “I've learned so much about them and it's just been a really great experience.”
As a freshman at WNCC, Eastman played in just 16 sets and had two kills, six digs and one ace serve. One year later during her sophomore campaign, she stepped up emmensily as she was named a Region IX South All-region player. Eastman played in 138 sets as a starter with 290 kills, 38 ace serves, 258 digs, and 52 blocks. Eastman was a 6 rotation player for the Cougars, who finished last season with a 28-10 record.
                Eastman knows that she still has room to improve, but her drive and skills on the court and her off the court demeanor is what makes Eastman succeed. It was coming from a small school that sometimes had just barely enough players to scrimmage to playing with a bunch of girls from different states and countries was something that will stand out.
“That was a huge stepping stone and that kind of solidified it right there for me to play college volleyball,” she said. “I'm like, I wanna play college,”
She has been to Sioux City a few times already and she said while it is away from home, it isn’t too far.
“I mean, it's not as far as, like Tennessee or anything like that,” she said. “It's within driving distance, but I think also just being on the outskirts of a big city, it'll be a lot of fun to be able to experience new things.”
For the meantime, she still has another month at WNCC with her “Cougar family” and a couple more spring scrimmages to play with her teammates one more time. The last month will be emotional, for sure, for the young lady from Harrison, Nebraska, which has a population of 240.
“It's going to be very emotional, I think, for me, just because, like, the reaction on the sideline, on the court, everything,” she said. “I mean I had really great connections with these girls and coaches and everything. I am going to miss playing at Cougar Palace,”
Eastman’s advice to all the players from small schools, anyone can play at college, you just have to have the drive and go for it.
“If you want it bad enough, you'll truly find ways to go get it,” she said. “I mean, excuses are excuses, but you can always find ways around them, and then you can achieve whatever you want.”
Eastman will major in radiology for now, but said she might switch to respiratory care and medical laboratory.?