Baylor tennis player Cooper Long returns the ball during his boys' II-AA state team tennis tournament semifinal match against MBA on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at the TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Baylor tennis player Patrick Toomey serves the ball during his boys' II-AA state team tennis tournament semifinal match against MBA on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at the TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, Tenn.MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Although he wouldn't go into details, Baylor boys' tennis coach Philip Johnson spoke early this week about having "a plan" for defeating Memphis University School in the Division II-AA state finals, should the two meet.
He has a chance to put that plan into action today.
Johnson's Red Raiders advanced to today's state championship match with a 4-0 defeat of Montgomery Bell Academy at the Old Fort courts Tuesday. That match is set to begin at 10 a.m. EDT.
MUS advanced with a 4-0 win over McCallie.
In Class A/AA, Hixson saw its season end in a 4-1 loss to Trinity Christian.
Jack Gray, Cooper Long and Patrick Toomey won in singles for Baylor, while Chad Woodham with Gray and Long with Toomey had the doubles wins.
"We did exactly what we needed to do today, and now we're getting ready for tomorrow," Johnson said. "MUS has been great all year, while we've been steadily improving."
Johnson pointed to a tournament in Memphis early in the season as his team's turning point. It was there that he said the Red Raiders came together, and they have been more unified since.
"They've been on fire," he said. "Everybody's pulling for Baylor. We're going to have to have our 'A' game to win tomorrow, and whether or not we pull it off, we know what we need to do.
"We believe. This is what we've been practicing for since September."
Hixson (13-4) received its lone win from Richard Vuong at No. 2 singles. The Wildcats' Carl Phillips, who also is playing in the A/AA state doubles draw, has been hobbled with a knee injury.
"If we have him healthy, we can get to doubles," Hixson coach Raul Fernandez said. "The guys played their hearts out, but they were a little too much for us."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.
Photo Gallery
Concert for "Safe Places"
a concert to benefit "Safe Places" was held at the Governor's Mansion Grand Hall Tuesday night.