Baylor girls three-peat

photo Samantha Caswell
photo McCall Morgan

With contributions from all around, the Baylor girls' tennis team was able to secure its third straight Decoturf national championship this weekend in Louisville, Ky.

The Lady Red Raiders defeated Cookeville, Harpeth Hall, Ravenwood and Jenks (Okla.) -- the final a 5-4 victory Saturday -- for the championship win.

Baylor No. 1 singles player Samantha Caswell earned the clinching victory after McCall Morgan won at No. 4 in what coach Dustin Kane called "one of the best matches I've ever seen her play." That was after Jenks took a 4-3 team lead.

Baylor's other victories in the championship match were from Ashton Jenne in singles, Caswell and Maggie Crumbliss at No. 2 doubles and Harper Caswell and Morgan at No. 1 doubles.

"This was one of the toughest competitions we've had at this tournament," Kane said. "To be honest, I don't know how we won the finals. The girls played unbelieveable; we were down and had to win two matches, but McCall and Samantha came through. I always have a lot of faith in her -- the last match is always nerve-racking, but she was fantastic. I'm so proud of her and the team."

Kane said that for the first time the team received contributions from all players who traveled with Tennessee's two-time defending Division II-AA champions.

"Ashton Jenne played No. 6 singles for us. She had a tough match that came down to a tiebreaker that she won 12-10. If she loses that, we lose the match," Kane said. "It's the first time we've ever had all nine of our players contribute points toward our win, and moving forward that bodes well for our depth as well as the future of this team."

Upcoming Events