With the first set of Wednesday's volleyball match at rival GPS tied at 20, Baylor's Sierra Herndon recorded back-to-back kills on perfect sets by Elaine Redman.
The versatile Redman soon provided major momentum, scoring three of the last four points via line-drive hits from the outside, and after a thrilling start, the Lady Red Raiders rolled to their sixth straight victory, sweeping the Bruisers, 27-25, 25-11, 25-14.
Tess Margio delivered five of her eight kills in the second set, and Redman filled the match's stat sheet with 13 kills, 11 assists and 19 digs, and she also blocked a shot for a two-set lead.
Baylor was missing seven starters due to suspension in a loss to GPS earlier this season, but the Lady Raiders evened the score and improved to 9-4 as Libby May (13 assists), Eli Kinney (24 digs, four kills), Emma Gray (18 digs) stepped up.
"We are fresh and starting to really click," coach Sarah Lail said. "Elaine is our big gun, and we have a world of confidence in her. She's the player you want leading you when the game is on the line. But we also have several other powerful hitters on our front line who can make this team go. I am excited about what is ahead for these girls."
Holland Moss and Nadia Sixto each added three kills for Baylor. The Bruisers' Ansley Blevins and Chapel Cunningham had three kills apiece in the first set, and Kylie Barry and McKamey Bratcher made diving stops.
Red Bank 3, Sequatchie County 1: Shante Smith and Zoe Helms each had 13 assists to lead the Lady Lions to a District 7-AA semifinal win Tuesday, 18-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-15. Smith also had 12 kills and seven aces and Helms 10 and three, and other standouts for Red Bank were Ashley Ware (seven kills, two blocks), Bailee Phillips (seven kills), Lexie Wright (six kills), Hannah Brown (four aces) and Arreyanna Glass (four kills).
* Logan Frint and Zoie Smith led Dade County to wins over Alabama programs North Jackson, 20-25, 25-12, 15-13, and Pisgah, 25-17, 25-19, on Tuesday. Frint had a combined 21 kills and 22 digs, while Smith had 34 assists and six aces, and Delaynee Davis (26 digs) and Bailey Davis (10 kills) also stood out.
GOLF
Cleveland junior Hannah Nall closed with a par round of 72 to finish at 4-over 148 and tie for sixth at the TSSAA Division I Large Class girls' state tournament at WillowBrook Golf Club in Manchester. In the boys' tournament, Bradley Central senior JT McKenzie had back-to-back 78s and tied for 32nd in the 63-player field.
CROSS COUNTRY
McCallie and the Chattanooga Lady Patriots won the team titles at Tuesday's Brainerd Meet. Sequatchie County's Grayson Kennedy (15:38) and Cleveland's Ryan Lovelace (15:50) had notable times in the boys' 5k race, and Madeline Wheatcroft (18:33) and Leah Boyd (19:00) led the Lady Patriots to victory.
SOFTBALL
Sonoraville 3, Murray County 1: The Lady Phoenix (13-6, 12-3) clinched the top seed in the Region 6-AAA championship series as ace Taylor Long pitched a two-hitter with 18 strikeouts. Daelynn Cochran, Kelly Green and Long had the RBIs for Sonoraville, which will host Coahulla Creek in the title series. Murray's Natalie O'Neal limited Sonoraville to five hits and two earned runs.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon. Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.