The Memorial volleyball team is off to a successful start in 2025. The Mavericks won the Cool in Boomtown and Denison tournaments and have a 20-4 record heading into Tuesday’s away match against Denton Ryan.
The Memorial Messenger reached out to head volleyball coach Kelli Barnett to discuss her inspiration for coaching, the qualities of successful players, team goals, key players, competition and expectations for this year’s season.
Q: What inspired you to become a volleyball coach?
A: I was inspired to become a volleyball coach because I have always had a passion for helping young women grow into confident, strong and independent individuals. Volleyball is more than just a sport, it’s an avenue to teach life lessons, build character and empower athletes to believe in themselves both on and off the court.
Q: What do you think are the key qualities that make a successful volleyball player?
A: The key quality of a successful volleyball player is putting the team first. Great players care more about team success than individual recognition. They understand their role, embrace what the team needs from them and are willing to sacrifice personal gain to do what’s best for the group.
Q: How do you motivate your players during challenging moments in the season?
A: Our players understand that challenging moments are where true growth happens. We talk a lot about being comfortable in the uncomfortable, and that pressure is a privilege that not everyone gets the chance to experience. In tough times, we lean on each other, trust our preparation and focus on controlling what we can. That mindset helps us push through adversity together.
Q: What goals do you have for the team this year, both on and off the court?
A: Our goals are simple but meaningful: show up every day with focus and effort, be playing our best volleyball when it matters most in November and make a strong push deep into the playoffs. Just as important, we want to grow off the court by building a culture of accountability, teamwork and confidence that our players can carry with them long after the season ends.
Q: Who are some key players for this year’s team?
A: Some of our key players this year include Addi Renner, our returning setter who runs the floor with great leadership. Eva Grisel, a returning outside hitter who brings consistency and firepower. And Jordan Freeman, a strong presence in the middle. I also can’t say enough about our back row: Bella Wood, Taylor Davis, Mariah Jackson, Trista Averette, Savannah Johnson and Joy Harvey. They are truly some of the best defensive specialists/liberos I’ve ever had the privilege to coach, and they give us a defensive foundation that every successful team needs.
Q: Who are you expecting to be your toughest competition this season?
A: Abilene Wylie will definitely be one of our toughest competitors this season. They didn’t graduate many players, so they’re returning a strong and experienced lineup. Last year, we split with them and ended up as co-district champions, losing in the seeding match. This year, our goal is clear: We want to win the district championship outright.
Q: What are you doing differently in the second year of the Memorial’s volleyball program?
A: In our second year, the biggest difference is experience. We returned 11 players, which gives us the confidence and flexibility to try new lineups, experiment with rotations and move players into different positions. With that varsity experience under their belts, the girls are playing with more poise, and it’s been a lot of fun watching them grow into new roles.
Q: What have you learned about your team so far this season?
A: What I’ve learned about this team is that they are genuinely one of the funniest, most lighthearted groups I’ve been around. We have 16 girls who love to laugh and be goofy together, but what makes them special is their ability to flip the switch. They know when it’s time to focus and lock into game mode. That balance of joy and competitiveness makes them a really fun team to coach.
