Signal Mountain tennis player Kylila Tucker warms up Thursday at the tennis courts in Signal Mountain.GIRLS’ TEAMS TO WATCH1. Baylor: The Lady Red Raiders return their entire lineup from the three-time defending Division II-AA state champions.2. Boyd-Buchanan: The Lady Bucs return most of their lineup from the Region 3-A/AA champions.3. GPS: The Bruisers lost three players from the Division II-AA state runners-up but return a solid core.BOYS’ TEAMS TO WATCH1. Dalton: The Catamounts are off to a solid start this season, having not lost to an in-state opponent.2. McCallie: The Blue Tornado lost only two of their top six from the Division II-AA state semifinalists.3. Notre Dame: The Irish return their entire team from the Class A/AA state semifinalists.GIRLS’ PLAYERS TO WATCH1. Samantha Caswell, Baylor: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signee is the two-time defending Division II-AA state champion.2. Michelle Fleenor, GPS: The Washington and Lee signee was one-half of the Division II-AA state doubles champions.3. Kylila Tucker, Signal Mountain: She was the Class A/AA state singles runner-up in 2013.BOYS’ PLAYERS TO WATCH1. Charles Jabaley, Notre Dame: He was the Region 4-A/AA runner-up last season.2. Marko Mandic, Baylor: He played No. 1 singles for the Red Raiders and has a doubles state championship during his career.3. Blake Savard, Grace Academy: He was a Class A/AA state quarterfinalist who went 17-1 last season.
Kylila Tucker fell one match short of obtaining a state tennis singles championship last season, and while she hopes to have another opportunity to get back to Murfreesboro, she’s hoping she can bring a few of her friends with her this year.
The Signal Mountain senior was the Class A/AA state runner-up in 2013, falling to Fayetteville’s Skyler McDonald in the championship match. She didn’t win a game in the finals, which has stuck with her over the offseason. As a result, she started playing in a lot more USTA tournaments in trying to get more used to pressure-packed atmospheres, and she feels better heading into this year.
“It was a disappointing end to the season, but overall I had a good, positive season,” Tucker said Thursday. “There was definitely a lot to learn from and build on.”
She said that in years past, she wouldn’t play much tennis once the school season ended — aside from some in-town tournaments — but decided to travel the state and play in more competitive atmospheres last the summer.