Earlier in the week, I really enjoyed catching up with former Shepard girls volleyball standout Kendall Yerkes.

One thing I learned about her as a student at Grand Valley State didn’t surprise me.

As a sophomore and a junior, Yerkes was named to the Great Lakes Conference All-Academic Excellence Team. Knowing she was a former mathlete and student ambassador at Shepard, it was only logical.

“My academics are super-important to me,” Yerkes said. “One of my main goals in college is to keep a super-high GPA. It’s hard, with volleyball, but I’m working at it.”

Yerkes, a medical science pre-pharmacy major, is getting it done quite well.

One thing I learned about her as an athlete at Grand Valley State, however, did surprise me.

When I looked back at the stories I did on Yerkes in high school, the headlines usually started with something along the lines of “Kendall Yerkes powers Shepard past … ”

As a senior outside hitter in 2015 at Shepard, Yerkes was an all-area selection. That season, she set a program record by putting down a whopping 381 kills.

It was quite a surprise to look at her bio from Grand Valley State and see her listed as a libero/defensive specialist. Yerkes led the team in digs last season with 449, and so far in 2019 is leading the way on defense for the Lakers with 305 digs.

Of course, I had to ask.

“It just kind of worked out that way,” Yerkes said. “We needed some leadership in that part of the game. My back row skills have been one of my stronger parts of the game. So I was happy to fill in that role, and it just kind of worked out.”

The transition took a little time. Yerkes played outside hitter as a freshman at Grand Valley State. She was fourth on the team in kills, but curiously enough, did such a solid job playing in the back row she wound up leading the team in digs.

It was definitely noticed by Grand Valley State coach Deanne Scanlon.

“We were trying to find a way for her to get on the floor and stay on the floor,” Scanlon said. “The libero position was open. Her passing and her defense were definitely the strongest points of her game.

“We talked to her about it, she embraced it and really hasn’t looked back.”

To the 5-foot-10 Yerkes, it made perfect sense.

“I’m not short, but I’m not your typical L1 power hitter,” she said. “I’m your classic L2, sort of on the shorter side, more defense-oriented. I’ve always enjoyed the defensive and passing aspect of volleyball. Even when I played outside (at Shepard), back row was one of my favorite parts of playing.

“Transitioning into the libero position has been great. Just being able to focus solely on the back row aspect of the game and taking charge has been super-cool.”

You know what else she thinks is super cool?

During the summer, I did a story on junior libero Leah Bylut. When I asked Bylut who helped inspire her to be a volleyball player, she mentioned how in seventh and eighth grade she loved to go to Shepard’s matches and watch Yerkes play.

“I think it’s really nice that they still think about the times we were there,” Yerkes said. “It’s (gratifying) to realize how those younger girls looked up to us and wanted to come in and make the program proud and keep the legacy going for Shepard volleyball.”

You just can’t make a better impact.