High school volleyball enthusiasts around Texas might look at the teams qualified for this year's state tournament and assume it was business as usual for Caldwell. The Lady Hornets, after all, are making their seventh appearance.

That might have been the case last year, when a veteran group of Lady Hornets reached the Class 3A semifinals, but not this season. Caldwell had to rebuild this year, which makes its return to San Marcos more special.

"Whenever you're rebuilding like that, you're not even sure how you're going to do as far as district goes," Caldwell coach Jane Anne Giese said. "I'm fairly new at this -- it's just year No. 6 -- but one of the things that I've figured out is when you give the kids an expectation, they'll reach it. Especially with attitudes like these young ladies have."

Caldwell (31-12) will face second-ranked Monahans (40-5) at 1 p.m. Friday. The second 3A semifinal will send defending state champion Lucas Lovejoy (41-7) against Wimberley (33-12).

Only four teams earned return trips to the state tournament this year. Caldwell and Lovejoy are joined by Amarillo and Austin Westlake in Class 5A. The Lady Hornets made it back to state even though junior middle blocker Sondra Flippin is the only Caldwell player in the same position she played last season.

The Lady Hornets who saw significant playing time last year but have changed positions include outside hitter Melissa Cumby and defensive specialists Callee Norman and Taylor Noack. Right side hitter Blair Brinkman has gone from a supporting role to being one of Caldwell's top attackers.

Caldwell's lineup also features middle blocker Vantazia Jackson, outside hitter LeeAnn Simpson, setter Allison Alford and libero Ashlee Hollis. Sophomore Alford was the most valuable player at the Region III tournament, where the Lady Hornets beat Carthage and Mexia.

"Sometimes I wonder myself how they did it," Giese said of returning to state. "There's not one thing that really stands out as our strength. It's really all the girls working together. Our unit ends up being our strength. Everybody does their little jobs, and that makes our group hard to beat."

When the Lady Hornets are clicking and passing well, Alford has a couple of dangerous weapons in the middle with the 6-foot-2 Flippin and leaper Jackson.

Giese played on two Caldwell teams that reached the state tournament. The Lady Hornets captured the 3A title in 1998 and lost in the semifinal round the next year.

Region I champion Monahans will be favored against the over-achieving Lady Hornets, but that doesn't bother Giese.

"Just like the rest of the season, if we show up and play, we're a tough team to beat," Giese said. "We have some kids that got to see the state tournament last season, and they have a hunger to win that state championship."