Collinsville junior setter Sabrina Flohr knows what it takes to be a leader.
It would be easy to point to her position on the volleyball court and say the need for leadership out of a setter is a no-brainer, but the 5-foot-5 Flohr takes it much deeper than that.
Flohr is the daughter of Collinsville principal Eric Flohr.
She says having a parent in such a prominent leadership role in the community has paid its dividends.
He taught me a lot about being a leader, in seeing it as I grew up, Flohr said. Seeing him (lead) as a principal has helped me (know how to lead) in a volleyball setting.
The younger Flohr is doing wonders for Collinsville (10-5) in the leadership department.
Not only is she a leader in what she says, she’s shown solid leadership in what sheåÕs done, and the statistics are there to back that up.
Flohr has amassed a team-best 15 service aces, 232 assists and 84 points, to go along with 85 digs, one block and two kills.
I have been playing it so long, it’s just a part of my life right now, Flohr said. I enjoy every second of it. The in-game atmosphere really gets me going.
Flohr’s coach said the reason for her success is simple.
Sabrina probably has one of the best work ethics of a kid that I’ve had, Collinsville coach Tracy Plagemann said. She always wants to better herself. She does a lot of stuff in the offseason to make herself a better player.
She’s usually the first one, athletically, pushing herself to be that team leader for us, Plagemann added. She’s come in and she’s a lot more confident this year. She’s more confident about where she’s going, and what she’s doing. I think that’s a tribute to her.
A lot of that progress in Flohr’s game came not on the court in Virgil Fletcher Gymnasium, but on the courts around the area’s summer camps and club volleyball scene, where Flohr spends her offseason.
I played select volleyball over the offseason, and I went to camps over the summer, Flohr said. I did that to keep fresh for when the season started. As a team, we can get better together and if I can get that little bit better, then the team will get better.
As far as Flohr sees it, the program has grown by leaps and bounds and she has the numbers to back it up.
The Kahoks won just 15 matches in both her freshman and sophomore seasons, going an identical 15-19 each year.
But in 2012, the Kahoks are doing much better.
The program has really improved this year, I think, Flohr said. Playing for Collinsville is just great. I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else. Our team is so good together and we have such good connections. We just have fun.
While being the principal’s daughter could be awkward for Flohr, she says that just isn’t the case.
To the students at Collinsville, she’s Sabrina first, not Principal Flohr’s daughter.
I do get that at school, sometimes, Flohr said. Most people know me before they make the connection, though. It really doesn’t change anything.
As far as Eric Flohr is concerned, he’s a proud parent.
He said it fills him with pride to see any Collinsville student excel, but when it’s his own daughter, it’s even more special.
I am so proud of her, she’s a great student, she has a great work ethic, and so much heart, Eric Flohr said. It makes any parent proud to see their child succeed. The great thing about (Sabrina) is that she works so hard at it, and it pays off.