Lilly Smith returns a serve in her state tournament match against Page’s Emma Baker. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
Lilly Smith made quite the impact among the best tennis players in the state.
In just her freshman year playing with the Eaglettes, Smith collected a singles district and region championship en route to qualifying for the Class 2A state tournament—marking the first individual player to do such in 15 years.
As part of her run to the Spring Fling and participating in the Class 2A state tournament, Smith kept a simple approach to her game and just focused on her strengths.
“I’d say it was a great year. I was focused on my game and trying to go as far as I could. Once I got to regionals, in the first match, I kind of got through it. In the second match, I had a run for my money because she beat me in the first set and I came back in the last two sets and beat her. Once I got to state, the girl I played was just really good. Next year, I hope to make it back there,” Smith said.
Smith paired up against Page’s Emma Baker.
In the state quarterfinal match, Baker got the upper hand on Smith and despite a stellar effort in her first state tournament appearance, defeating Smith 6-1, 6-2 to advance.
Still, Smith knows the path she trekked to the state tournament wasn’t by accident, yet still knows there are areas of her game she plans on fine tuning before her sophomore season.
“I think I know what I need to work on and get better at. I’d like to work on my serve getting better and just volleying more and getting to the net,” Smith said.
With her freshman year in the rearview mirror, Smith plans on playing in summer leagues and competting in the Junior Team Tennis with the hopes of competing at the state level in Chattanooga later this summer.
“I’m going to JTT in Murfreesboro and they have state in Chatanooga and I’ll probably go to that, too,” she said.
