12 sign for Southeast programs

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball, softball and gymnastics programs all announced signings during the recent NCAA weeklong early signing period. All the athletes will join Southeast for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Volleyball signs four

Southeast volleyball signed high school seniors Andrea Baylin, Berkley Idel, Colleen Yarber and Emily Coon. All are outside hitters except for Coon, a middle blocker.

Baylin, from Dublin, Ohio, is a 6-foot-1 all-stater who led her team to a 29-1 record and No. 25 final national ranking. She had 287 kills, 244 digs, 71 aces and 28 blocks.

Idel, from Lafayette High School in suburban St. Louis, is a 5-11 second-team all-stater. She was named team MVP after leading the squad with 122 kills.

Yarber, led Freeburg High School to consecutive Illinois state titles. The 6-1 Yarber, who had 227 kills and 254 digs as a senior, had 14 kills in the state championship match to earn MVP honors.

The 6-2 Coon, from Seckman High School in Imperial, Mo., led the Suburban South Conference in kills and paced her squad in blocks.

Softball signs five

Southeast softball signed high school seniors Luey Marble, Amber Ewert, Shea Cothren, Jordan Learn and Shelby Kuryllo.

Marble, from Jefferson City, Mo., helped Blair Oaks High School to their first state championship this year. She is a three-time all-state pitcher who allowed one hit in nine innings at the final four.

Amber Ewert, from Lee's Summit, Mo., near Kansas City, was a four-year outfielder starter who batted better than .400 during summer ball.

Cothren, from Paragould, Ark., is an all-state pitcher and utility infielder. She led her team to four straight state tournament berths. As a junior she batted .351 and had a 1.01 ERA.

Learn and Kuryllo attend rival high schools in Corona, Calif., but they play on the same summer team.

Learn, a third baseman, batted .350 for her summer squad. Kuryllo, a catcher, plays for a high school program ranked in the top 20 nationally

Gymnastics lands three

Southeast gymnastics signed high school seniors Erin Brady, Samantha Marrero and Kimberly Pickerl.

Brady, from Oshkosh, Wis., was a 2008 and 2009 Junior Olympic national qualifier. She placed 9th on floor at the 2008 Junior Olympic nationals.

Marrero, from Farmingville, N.Y., and Pickerl, from Naperville, Ill., were both 2009 Junior Olympic national qualifiers.

In addition to the three signees, Taryn Vanderpool from Kansas City, Kan., has also committed to Southeast. She is another 2009 Junior Olympic national qualifier.

-- From staff reports