The Maidens started the bi-district match against Amarillo River Road strong on Tuesday in Dimmitt, taking the first two games 27-25 and 25-23, but dropping the next three to the Lady Cats, 25-22, 25-20, and 15-13.
“We used up all of our energy in the first two games,” junior Hope Hicks said. “The third was a battle, and we didn’t keep our intensity.”
After going 0-8 in district last year, Maidens took third place in district behind Cooper and Levelland.
“We have really come a long way from last year,” senior Haley Gann said. “We came a lot more prepared this season.”
The Maidens ended the season 22-18 overall and 6-4 in district.
“The girls had a really strong unity,” Coach Jacqueline Horton said. “Everyone has really gelled and are seasoned.”
For most of the players it was first time in the playoffs, but for the freshman on the team it was business as usual.
“It was just another game for me,” freshman Kendall Freeman said. “I went into it like any other game.”
Horton was looking for consistency and more intensity out of the team.
“We need to increase our intensity level throughout the entire match,” Horton said. “We can’t lose our focus in the middle of the match.”
Horton knows the Maidens can hold their own with most opponents.
“I wanted them to go into the playoffs knowing that the record doesn’t matter,” Horton said. “Anyone can beat anyone; it just matters on how your mentality is.”
