Although the TSSAA volleyball state tournament doesn't start until the middle of this week, Baylor seemed in a hurry Saturday to get there.
The Lady Red Raiders needed 50 minutes to dispose of St. Benedict 3-0 in a Division II-AA sub-state match at Baylor.
Baylor (43-2) will play Father Ryan in a state semifinal Wednesday at Middle Tennessee State University's Murphy Center at 6 p.m. EDT.
St. Benedict led Baylor 3-0 at the outset, then was outscored 75-25 the rest of the way. Set scores were 25-13, 25-8, 25-7.
"I think we had some pregame nerves," said Baylor coach Sarah Lail, noting the magnitude of playing in a state quarterfinal.
Paris Buckner, one of the Lady Raiders' four seniors, scored their first point on a tip and their second on a kill and got them headed in the right direction. The Lady Eagles' last lead of the day was 6-5 in the first set.
"All our power hitters have a job to do," Buckner said. "I don't know, I think at first we were a little nervous, with the whole going for the sub-state title. Once we got back on our feet, we were good to go. They didn't get a lead after that."
Baylor had some long scoring runs - the longest one increasing a 5-3 lead in the second set to 14-3 behind the serving of Sarah Sumida. Sumida was the Lady Raiders' assists leader with 28, and she also totaled five aces.
Baylor also had an 8-0 run in the third set behind Lilly Turner's serve and a little later a 7-0 spurt with Gabby Gray serving. The Lady Raiders were led by Ally Craig's six aces and Gray joined Sumida with five.
"Once we settled in, we built some confidence," Lail said. "Serving was the key to our confidence. We had 17 aces for the match."
Baylor's kills were spread across its frontline players with Jane Wilson leading with seven. Buckner, Craig and Gray each had six.
"The first thing on our board was we wanted to win the serve-and-pass game," Lail said. "I felt confident enough in our offense that if we won the serve-and-pass game we'd be able to get the win."
Turner led Baylor in digs with eight.
The Lady Raiders will be attempting to win their fourth volleyball state title.
"I think we're up for the challenge," Buckner said. "If we play as good as we can, we have a chance to win the state tournament."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.