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.
"I feel like it was a much better year for us overall," Smith said.
With the Smith-Taverne victory Friday, Baylor finished the decade with four boys' doubles championships as well as the 2016 team title. The program is tied with Montgomery Bell Academy with 16 team titles, most in TSSAA history, while the 16 doubles titles is one fewer than Memphis University School's 17.
"Last year our doubles win took away from losing in the (team) final," Taverne said. "This year, being a senior, winning back to back feels awesome."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.