Keller can make history at state tournament as coach looks to add to family tradition
When you think of high school volleyball in west Texas, you think of Amarillo.
When you think of Amarillo, you think of Jan Barker.
Barker is the winningest coach of all-time in any sport among the Amarillo area. In 31 years, she won 10 UIL state championships, went to the state tournament 14 times and amassed 1,116 career wins to just 175 losses.
The Sandies won a playoff game in all 31 years with Barker and reached 28 regional tournaments. She coached 16 All-Americans and more than 100 college athletes.
Two of those athletes were her own flesh and blood.
Her daughters won state titles as players at Amarillo. Brianne [Groth] won state in 2006 and 2007, and Danielle won state in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Brianne is the head coach at Byron Nelson. Danielle is the head coach at Keller.
Groth also won state titles with Byron Nelson in 2019 and as an assistant coach with Lovejoy in 2014.
“I am incredibly proud. To see them choose a career in the game that we all love so much, and to reach the highest level makes me as a mom so very proud,” said Jan Barker, who retired after the 2017 season. “I have lived that life and know how very hard it can be, and yet also how much joy and satisfaction it brings.”
.jpeg "image0 (24).jpeg")
“That was all I ever knew, but looking back, I was very blessed to have all the experience in such a successful program,” Danielle Barker added. “I always thought that was just how it was everywhere, but Amarillo High and the Jan Barker era was just a different breed of volleyball.”
Now over 10 years since playing at state with Amarillo, Danielle is headed back to the sports biggest stage for the first time as a head coach. Barker, who’s in her first year with Keller, has the Indians (33-11) in a Class 6A state semifinal game against Katy Tompkins (41-4) at 5 p.m. Friday at Garland’s Culwell Center.
The 6A championship will be 5 p.m. Saturday.
“As a player, that was such an incredible experience and I’ve missed it so much,” Barker said after her Indians beat Prosper in the Class 6A Region 1 final on Saturday. “I just can’t wait to get back on that stage and be filled with that adrenaline rush that you always feel there.”
After falling flat in the opening set against Prosper, Keller rolled by the Eagles 20-25, 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 to clinch the program’s second straight state appearance.
“Oh my gosh. It’s insane. We’ve been working so hard and everything has paid off. We really wanted it,” said Keller senior setter Taylor Polivka, who had 46 assists against Prosper and was named regional tournament MVP. “Just knowing the feeling last year, winning this game and going to state.”
Last season’s state berth was a first for Keller.
The Indians beat Fort Bend Ridge Point in the semifinals 22-25, 26-24, 25-11, 24-26, 15-11. Keller lost to San Antonio Brandeis 29-27, 23-25, 25-16, 15-25, 12-15 in the 6A state championship game.
Keller can win the school’s first state title in a team sport since cross country in 2017.
“Now that we have the experience, we know what to kind of expect [at state}. We’ll be more relaxed, but really excited,” said Polivka, a Miami signee. “It will be a little different since we have that experience.”
This season, Keller played in some of the best tournaments. After the first month, the Indians were 16-7. But they started September with a 1-4 record that dropped them to 17-11. It included back-to-back District 4-6A losses to Southlake Carroll (3-1) and Eaton (3-2).
They’ve also battled injuries this season, which included USC signee Leah Ford, who was ranked in the Star-Telegram preseason Top 25. Ford has missed most of the season, but did play against Prosper where she recorded 10 kills and a game-high 0.500 hitting percentage.
“Danielle is very controlled, and poised and handles stressful situations so well,” Jan Barker said. “This year with all the injuries and having to make huge adjustments and crazy-looking lineups just shows her creativity and ability to adjust as good coaches have to do.
“I take great satisfaction knowing that both [my daughters] have become greater coaches than I ever was.”
“Just watching her over the years and seeing how she treats her players and how hard they work for her has really set the foundation for my coaching career,” added Danielle Barker about her mother. “There have been so many past players and parents that reach out to her saying how thankful they were to be a part of her program and how much she has impacted their life. She has taught me that relationships are the most important thing.”
The Eaton loss came on Sept. 16.
Keller hasn’t lost since, riding a 16-game winning streak into state, which includes the outright district championship. The Indians also have playoff wins over Chisholm Trail, El Paso Eastwood, Carroll and Denton Guyer.
Polivka is the team-leader with over 1,100 assists this season. Junior Reagan Sharp leads Keller with over 500 kills followed by sophomores Carley Wright and Brooklyn Harter, and freshman Anna Flores.
Seniors Kea Whillock and Landry McEachern are the back-bone of the Indians defense.
“When we started to know we were going to win district, they started to see things coming. The playoffs were here and the returners knew what it takes,” said Danielle Barker, who was at Flower Mound Marcus last season. “They’re really turning it on mentally.”
Added Groth, “We knew Region 1 was going to be really tough and to have Danielle not only get through it, but dominate some great teams, shows the level of knowledge and skill of her team to go out and execute. The fact that Keller battled through injuries all year, just shows what an excellent job Danielle and those girls have done.”
This story was originally published November 15, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
