Camila Chacon is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Barry Goldwater for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX - When Kelley Robb took over as Barry Goldwater’s head coach for girls volleyball in 2025, she inherited a program with a history of inconsistency. 

Robb’s first season was centered on adjusting to a new coaching style. In her second season, the Bulldogs are seeing progress, both on and off the court, finishing 16-9, the program's best record in over two decades.

“Honestly, I think it was the culture,” Robb said. “There were a lot of things that I saw going on between the different teams that we wanted to come in and shift.” 

An important change was making sure every player felt part of the program, no matter what level she played on.

“We wanted every girl to know that they mattered, whether they were on the freshman team or if they were a starter on varsity that played all the time,” Robb said.

One way the program has worked toward that goal is through “big-and-little sisters.” Varsity players are paired with younger athletes, allowing them to build relationships before they eventually have the opportunity to be teammates. The players stretch, work out and spend time together, helping younger athletes become more comfortable with the program.

As a sophomore who splits her time between junior varsity and varsity teams, Nathalie Araiza Amezcua has benefited from the program’s big-and-little system, which has guided her as she continues to develop as an athlete.

“They were really nice and welcoming,” Araiza Amezcua said. “They made sure that everyone was comfortable on the team and made sure you felt like you belonged.”

The emphasis on connection has helped create an environment in which players feel supported by teammates and coaches. For Robb, building that environment was an initial priority, but translating that success to the court required different standards.

“Everything kind of comes back to the culture,” Robb said. “When you have girls who have been playing for the same person for so long, and then somebody new comes in, the expectations are different.” 

Walking into an established group of 40 players, Robb’s initial learning process was getting to know each athlete as an individual before implementing new expectations.

“Luckily last year the girls were really gracious and very open to change, and we saw a lot of really good stuff,” Robb said. “And so this year, we just kind of continued to build on that.”

Senior team captain Kylee Fairbanks has experienced the program before and after Robb’s arrival and has seen firsthand how the team’s approach has shifted under the new coaching staff.

“I think when coach Robb came, it was more of striving to win,” Fairbanks said. “She wanted to win and she put in the work for us to win.”

Part of this mentality was shifting how criticism happened during practice. In her first season, Robb made an effort to explain mistakes while also noting how an athlete was performing well. 

This method slowly changed as the team adjusted to the leadership change. To understand the needs of each player, Robb met with each girl to see how they wanted to receive feedback.

“We all kind of said, ‘Tell us what we're doing wrong,’ and that's exactly what she did,” Fairbanks said. “She definitely had higher expectations, because she knew that we had it all in us.” 

The players’ ability to take critiques allowed for the team to hone their skills independently before working as a group. Breaking down the sport has helped the team improve their record and finish third in the 4A Skyline region.

The coaching change has also shaped players’ mentality and taught lessons that extend beyond volleyball. 

“She’s helped me grow as a person; I’ve gotten better at taking accountability and criticism,” Araiza Amezcua said. “She makes sure you know what you’re capable of, always believes in you and never lets you doubt yourself”

As the program continues to develop, maintaining those standards will be important for the players who will return next season. With the culture and camaraderie Robb has established, there is an opportunity to carry success beyond the current group of seniors.

“Everyone bonds together really well on all three teams and has good chemistry,” Araiza Amezcua said. “I’m excited for the team to grow bigger and have more girls joining in.”