Yarber combines talent, work ethic
Paul Kopsky/STLhighschoolsports.com | Freeburg's Colleen Yarber.
Championship athletes don’t just happen by chance. They are created through a combination of natural talent and work ethic.
Freeburg senior Colleen Yarber is no exception.
From the moment she stepped through the door at Freeburg her freshman year, Yarber possessed a natural offensive talent that helped her make the varsity volleyball team that season. But Yarber wasn’t content to be a one-dimensional player. Her extra work and dedication to defense allowed Yarber to play the back row her junior and senior seasons.
“For me to be able to play the back row also benefited the team,” Yarber said. “Playing the back row keeps me active and pumped and ready for each point.”
Yarber, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter and Southeast Missouri recruit, responded by leading Freeburg with 3.00 assists per game and was second on the team in serve receives (234) and digs (242). Yarber helped lead Freeburg to a 39-2 record and to its second consecutive Class 2A championship.
Her versatility, along with her leadership during this season’s state title run, have earned Yarber recognition as the Post-Dispatch’s Player of the Year.
“It’s awesome to have a player with that hunger,” Freeburg coach Lesa Bolt said. “She always did great as a front-row hitter, but she wanted a defensive spot.”
Yarber’s dedication epitomized a special senior class at Freeburg. Yarber, Kayleigh Cox and Sam Kassing formed a tight-knit leadership group.
That bond was tested in the state final when a heavily favored Freeburg squad was taken to a third game by Chicago Christian. After letting a convincing lead in Game 2 slip away, Freeburg responded with a 25-17 win in Game 3.
“I was thinking that we all needed to pull together and win this one,” Yarber said. “This was what we worked for. We were able to push through together to win the state title.”
Volleyball success is nothing new for Freeburg. Since 1997, the Midgets have gone 339-99 and have won at least 20 matches for 13 consecutive years.
But postseason success had been elusive. Freeburg hadn’t won a state title since 1982 before last season.
“It sounds cliché, but postseason is all about teamwork,” Yarber said. “That’s why we’ve been so successful. Before, there was always a little drama. The last couple of seasons, there has been none.”
Yarber and the others wouldn’t tolerate any distractions.
“She’s very vocal with the team,” Bolt said. “Communication is very important. She developed into a great leader this year as a senior. She kind of took the team on her shoulders along with a couple of other seniors.”
Yarber said she chose Southeast Missouri because the program is still growing and the school has a wide variety of majors to choose from.
Yarber hopes she can earn playing time as a freshman.
“Their hitting techniques are just a little different,” Yarber said. “There are several things I have to work on, like keeping the ball in front of me so I can hit with more power.”
Earning playing time means putting in some hard work — Yarber’s specialty.
