Erica Dunn of the Jefferson City Lady Jays is good at developing chemistry on the tennis court. And that's not by accident. Bailey Higgins is the third doubles partner Dunn has reached the state tournament with in as many years.
Two years of state competition as the younger partner has helped prepare Dunn for her senior year, and her third Class 2 doubles tournament, beginning today in Springfield.
"My previous partners taught me a lot about what it means to lead on a tennis court," Dunn said. "I've used that hopefully well with Bailey. I've tried to learn as much as I can from when I was an underclassman and use it this year."
"They must have taught you really well, because you're a really good leader," Higgins added.
Dunn said she's learned from her past partners when to play aggressively and when to play defensive tennis. She had been the more aggressive player on her previous two doubles teams, but said Higgins has attacked more this year, letting her play more conservatively.
The two weren't always paired up throughout the season, switching around to other partners to help out in duals, but put together a 14-5 record. And when the postseason rolled around, Higgins and Dunn turned it on. They beat Camdenton's No. 2 team and Lebanon's No. 1s 6-0, 6-0 at districts, and beat teammates Bailey Patrick and Susan Meyer 6-4, 6-0 in the championship. And despite not playing together for the team tournament, the two beat Ozark's Bailey Major and Jadyn Engel 6-3, 6-2 in the sectional round to advance to state.
Dunn and Higgins play in the double-elimination bracket at 9 a.m. today against Alexis Woodman and Morgan Kane of St. Joseph's Academy.
Dunn and Higgins are the sixth doubles team Jefferson City has sent to state in the past six seasons. Dunn was also a member of the team that went to state her freshman year.
"Erica has a wealth of experience that helped," Jefferson City coach Henry Thompson said. "Throughout the district and sectional matches, it wasn't easy for them to get past that doubles sectional match, and Erica had to step up and be the leader that day, and she did. She's been through this. Overall I think they just mesh together really well."
Their chemistry helped them in the run-up to state, when Dunn's knowledge of a player's tendencies helped her give instruction to Higgins.
"She told me to stand in the alley, and I said 'It's not practical,'" Higgins said. "She said 'Just do it,' and we won, so I have to give credit to her, because she was right."
Dunn did not medal in either of her two appearances in the state doubles tournament, and said the tournament is notorious for knocking out Lady Jays' doubles teams. But she and Higgins played some doubles together last year, too, and that all-important chemistry is the strongest she's had with a doubles partner. And, while at state, Dunn can continue to pass on the knowledge and leadership skills she's accumulated to the next class of players, starting with Higgins.
"It's been really helpful, because she's a really good leader," Higgins said. "She tells me where to position things on the court to be successful, where to go on the court to be successful. Everything in her mind is based on success, and having fun."