The volleyball team has a record of 23-6 after taking a rare loss 25-15, 28-26, 18-25, 25-13 to Frenship on Sept. 20. The Maidens will take on Permian in Seminole on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

The Maidens are currently ranked ninth in 4A on the Texas Girls Coaches Association poll, having been as high as fifth in the past few weeks.

“It feels really good to be state-ranked,” senior middle blocker Sara Stone said. “It also feels like we have to live up to those expectations.”

No matter what their state rank the Maidens must get past tough District 4-4A competition.

“We’ve always lost to them in the past,” senior setter Julie Nave said. “We better crush them.”

Monahans has been a rival since junior high and continue to be a perennial threat.

“They’ve always been a tough team,” Stone said. “Our mental game has been weaker with them.”

To keep their exceptional record and to beat Monahans or any other team that challenges them in district, the Maidens are working to help each other improve.

“We’ve worked together better,” Stone said. “We help out on the court.”

The Maidens adopted the IMF–Impossible Missions Force motto this season. They are protrayed on posters as secret agents on a mission.

“Coach [Jacqueline Horton] yells it at us in a game to motivate us to work hard,” senior middle hitter Amanda Peters said. “It serves as a reminder that nothing is impossible.” District play will open with Monahans at home at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 27.