Keller volleyball has a different look. Here’s what head coach Danielle Barker expects
Head coach Danielle Barker and Keller volleyball are attempting to make anotherdeep postseason run.
In 2022, the Indians made it to their second consecutive UIL state tournament, reaching the Class 6A semifinal and losing to Katy Tompkins High School in five sets.
Barker said Keller volleyball has “made a name for themselves” and expectations are always high. On Wednesday, teams were announced and the varsity squad had its first practice, marking the start of a new season.
Barker said the team will look different than last season, given five players graduated and two who moved out of state.
“We’ve got a lot of young kids that are really eager, and we’ll be super athletic,” Barker said. “So, hopefully we can put all those pieces together. But we’ll still be really good.”
Keller volleyball’s new look
On of Keller’s young athletes is sophomore setter Anna Flores. She played on varsity as a freshman, receiving playing time as a middle due to injuries.
She’ll be taking over setting duties from the graduated Taylor Polivka, who will be attending the University of Miami. Polivka was named the 2022 Star Telegram Setter of the Year, tallying 1,302 assists.
Flores is being tasked to replace Polivka’s elite production.
“She is fabulous,” Barker said. “She’s got such a high volleyball IQ and can do anything I asked of her on the court, so she’ll definitely fill those shoes.”
Although Flores stepped up as a middle in her freshman season, she has always been a true setter. The team needed Flores to fill a certain role, and she stepped up to the challenge.
“She has such a high volleyball IQ,” Barker said. “She was doing really well at reading the play, blocking, getting off and knowing to be available.”
Flores will be assisting senior Reagan Sharpe, who had 558 kills as a junior. Barker said Sharpe’s emotion and love for the game is contagious.
“When she is hot and feeling it the girls are super pumped,” Barker said. “She gets super pumped for the girls, and she can really bring up the emotions of our team. She’s really grown as a leader. She’s really stepping into that leadership role. Girls respect her.”
Another Keller hitter to watch is junior Carly Wright, a left handed right side. Barker said Wright will be an “explosive attacker.”
“Having a lefty is always really awesome because they’re pretty rare and bring a different look,” Barker said. “She has grown so much since last season and her ball control is really good. So, she’s someone I could have do six rotations pretty easily. But her blocking and attacking has gotten really awesome.”
A strong defense and growing offense
Considering the new athletes involved and the freshness of the season, Indian volleyball still has many questions to answer and roles to fill. Barker did mention, however, that scrappiness stood out as a strength during tryouts.
“I mean we were picking up everything and going after everything,” Barker said. “It was just really cool to see that it was hard for my hitters to score because they were just digging everything.”
Before the start of the season, the team will need to focus on the connection between Flores and the hitters. They’ll have to work on chemistry, timing and communication.
“We just need to work on those connections because we do have a handful of new hitters,” Barker said. “Once we can get those connections down, we’ll be good there.”
Barker said repetition will help, and Flores will quickly learn the tendencies and preferences of hitters. She also mentioned the team will have a big presence at the net defensively.
Barker said she expects some of the players from JV to become stars.
“Other coaches will soon be surprised to see the new faces play such a big role for us,” Barker said.
Keller varsity volleyball has its first match 5 p.m. Monday at home against Aledo.
