MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Hunter Smith and Benji Taverne didn’t pair up for doubles until right before the tennis postseason last year.
That didn’t stop the Baylor duo from rolling to a TSSAA Division II-AA state title.
With a year together under their belt, the second time around was much easier.
The Red Raiders doubles team earned its second consecutive title, defeating McCallie’s John Knight and Charlie Park on Friday at the Adams Tennis Complex. Smith and Taverne were the only tennis players from Chattanooga to win state titles outside of team competition this year, as Silverdale Baptist Academy’s Addison Horton fell in straight sets to Knoxville Webb’s Audrey Yoon in the Division II-A girls’ singles final and Baylor’s Landie McBrayer lost to Ensworth’s Maggie Cannata in three sets in the Division II-AA final.
Smith and Taverne didn’t drop a set in Murfreesboro.