One hundred years ago, Baylor won the first Baylor-McCallie
tennis match, 2-0, in the spring of 1914.
Today, the Blue Tornado opened the second century of tennis
between the two prep schools with a 6-1 win at Baylor (6-3) as both schools celebrate
100th anniversary seasons, simultaneously.
The visiting Blue Tornado (4-1), claimed the doubles point
and then won five of the six singles. But the match was much closer than the
score indicated, with McCallie winning three of the four, three-set singles
matches.
“I felt good about the way our doubles played as we came out
aggressively,” said McCallie coach Ercic Voges. “It was important to get that
team point going into singles.”
McCallie won at Nos.1-2 doubles, while Baylor claimed a win
at No.3.
“We won 6-1, but
looking back at all the matches we know how close it was,” Voges stated.
McCallie was up 3-0 after straight set wins by Conner
O’Brien (No.6) and Turner Voges (No.2), but Baylor won the first set at Nos. 3-4-5
and split sets at No.1.
“We needed just one more point, but all the remaining
matches went three sets so it was far from over,” Voges stated.
Taylor Burgan clinched the win for McCallie with a 4-6, 6-1,
6-4 triumph at No.5. He was down a break at 3-4 in the third set, but won the
final three games for the victory.
McCallie’s Cody Gubin then won at No.1, closely followed by
Luke Orthner at No.3.
“We could have fought a little harder today and been in
better shape, but we will be in better shape when we play again in three weeks,”
said Baylor coach Philip Johnson. “We need that refuse to lose mentality.”
The second meeting (Tues. April 29) at McCallie is the one that counts
in the D-II Middle-East Region standings…. McCallie is at MBA Thursday in a
region match ...All three teams plus Memphis Univ. School will compete in the Carter Invitational in Nashville April 25.
McCallie 6, Baylor 1
Doubles
Cody Gubin-Turner Voges (McC) def. Jack Gray-Chad Woodham, 8-5
Luke Orthner-Carter Eaves (McC) def. Marko Mandic-Ethan Palisoc, 8-3
Cooper Long-Barrett Schock (Bay) def. Conner O’Brien-Taylor Burgan, 9-7
Order of Finish: 2,1,3
Singles
1 Cody Gubin (McC) def. Marko Mandic, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-2
2 Turner Voges (McC) def. Jack Gray, 7-6 (3), 6-0
3 Luther Orthner (McC) def. Chad Woodham, 5-7, 6-4, 10-4
4 Cooper Long (Bay) def. Carter Eaves, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
5 Taylor Burgan (McC) def. Stewie Austin, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
6 Conner O’Brien (McC) def. Ethan Palisoc, 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish: 6-2,4, 5,1, 2
Records: McCallie (4-1), Baylor (6-3)
Doubles
No.2 Doubles – McCallie 8, Baylor 3 - First off the Court …
McCallie won 4 of the first 5 games also in this match … gained a second break
in game 6 and served out the match for an 8-3 win.
No.1 Doubles – McCallie 8, Baylor 5 – Second off the Court
to Clinch the Doubles Point … McCallie won four of the first five games (4-1)
and broke Baylor in games 4, 6, 8 for a 6-2 lead … but Baylor gained a break in
game 9 and then held in game 10 to pull within one break at 4-6 and then again
at 5-7 but McCallie’s Voges held serve for the win at 8-5
No.3 Doubles – Baylor 9, McCallie 7 –Last off the Court …
Baylor’s Cooper Long-Barrett Schock won a close set
Singles
No. 6 Singles – Conner O’Brien def. Ethan Palosic, 6-2, 6-3
… O’Brien won in straight sets to put McCallie up 2-0
No. 2 singles – Turner Voges (McC) def. Jack Gray, 7-6 (3),
6-0 … Voges played from behind most of the set, earned a service break in the
10th game, but Gray broke right back to force the tie breaker …. Voges won it,
7-3 ... Voges claimed the second set, 6-0, shortly after O’Brien’s win for a
3-0 team lead.
No. 4 Singles– Cooper Long (Baylor) def. Carter Eaves, 6-2,
2-6, 6-3 …. Long took the first set as the host Red Raiders were up a set in three
of the four remaining matches … Eaves took the second, but Long earned the win
with a 6-3 win in the third and Baylor trailed 3-1.
No.5 Singles – Taylor Burgan (McCallie) def. Stewie Austin,
4-6, 6-1, 6-4 … Burgan trailed 3-4 in the third, but gained a service break and
held for the match and the team clinching point at 4-1.
No.1 Singles – Cody Gubin (McC) def. Marko Mandic, 7-6 (3),
2-6, 6-2 … Gubin came out of the gate fast to lead 4-1 in the opening set, but
Mandic fought back to with two breaks and forced Gubin to win at 5-6 to force
the tie breaker … Gubin won it, 7-3 … Mandic took the second set, 6-2, and
Gubin closed it out, 6-2 in the third for a 5-1 team lead
No.3 Singles – Luke Orthner (McC) def. Chad Woodham, 5-7,
6-4, 10-4 … Woodham claimed the first set, but Orthner rallied to win the final
two sets … and the final team point.
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net