In 2015, Michael Nacy and Brad Hendrix ended their season one set short of a berth in the state tournament. Monday, they made sure their senior season didn’t end so soon.
Nacy and Hendrix bulled their way past Bailey Longley and Jordan Gangemi of Ozark, 6-3 6-2, to advance to the state tournament for the first time. Nacy and Hendrix had lost to a team from Glendale in three sets in last year’s sectionals.
“I was a little bit nervous (before the match),” Hendrix says, “but I realized we were playing a team that I believed we were capable of beating, so I calmed myself…and really put myself in the mindset to go out there and play today.”
Nacy says the loss in sectionals last year shaped their mindset heading into Monday’s match.
“Last year in sectionals, when we lost in three sets, we both had that in our minds. We just wanted to get out there and get past that, because you always want to get better,” Nacy says. “I was nervous. You’re always nervous before a big match; how well you shake it off is what determines the outcome of the match. I feel like we did a pretty good job of shaking it off in that second set.”
The match was moved from Nixa to Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. Fortunately for Republic, Nacy has experience with the surface on the indoor courts and could share with Hendrix what to expect.
“These courts play a little bit faster,” Nacy says. “I told him ‘Don’t be aware of the ceilings.’ Another weird rule is that if it hits the ceiling, it’s out. He kind of flipped out about that. Really, just play the same tennis.”
Hendrix says it didn’t take him long to adjust.
“This is my first time ever coming to Cooper. Walking in and seeing these indoor courts, it was a little bit intimidating. But I adapted (and) got used to it. I enjoyed the AC–not having to be out in the hot sun. I rolled with it at that point–shook it off once I got out on the court.”
For Nacy, qualifying for state in doubles is the fulfilment of a long-time goal — and it wouldn’t have been possible without Hendrix.
“Freshman year, I made it my original goal to get to state,” Nacy says. “Originally, I though it would be in singles, because… I never thought somebody of (Brad’s) caliber would come out of Republic without any training–just an incredible amount of natural talent–and here we are.”
Nacy and Hendrix will be back at the Cooper Tennis Complex for state tournament play a week from Friday.