MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The Notre Dame girls' tennis team came to Murfreesboro with full intentions of playing in today's match for the Class A/AA state championship.
Coach Anne Ricksecker did her part, booking rooms for Monday and Tuesday in advance. All the Lady Irish had to do was earn the program's first state-tournament team victory.
It was a task they proved more than ready for.
The Lady Irish defeated Page 4-0 on Tuesday at the Old Fort courts and will play today at 10 a.m. EDT for the championship.
In addition, the GPS and Baylor girls' teams will battle for the fourth time this season -- this time with the Division II-AA state title at stake -- after both won 4-0 over Harpeth Hall and Hutchison. The two Chattanooga rivals will face each other at 12:30 p.m. EDT.
Notre Dame (13-0) was dominant as Katie Joyce, her sister Sarah, Danika Dorris and Allyson Ross dropped only one game in their matches. Callie Voges was ahead in No. 3 singles when the match ended.
"I thought we looked great out there," Ricksecker said. "I thought we looked relaxed, and we played smart and took advantage of our opportunities. We came out with great scores, and we're in line for more history in the making.
"The girls played well and deserved this win."
GPS's victory over Hutchison seemed lopsided, according to the final score. Yet the Bruisers (13-3) had to scrap and claw for every point in every match. They earned the doubles point with wins by Mary Claire Spann and Brighton Goodhue at No. 2 and by Michelle Fleenor and Jennie McBrayer at No. 3.
Spann and McBrayer also won their singles matches, as did Hannah Morrow to seal the team's victory. Hutchison (15-3) got its sole win at No. 1 doubles, by defending state champions Maggie Leavell and Caroline Orr.
Baylor's Lady Red Raiders (12-0) eased into contention for their second consecutive state championship by defeating Harpeth Hall. They earned the doubles point with wins from Samantha Caswell and McCall Morgan at No. 1 and Maggie Crumbliss and Jenna Thorstenson at No. 3.
Samantha and Harper Caswell, Crumbliss and Morgan then claimed singles victories to seal the win for Baylor. Mary Walker Mixon and Christine Palisoc were ahead in their doubles match.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.