More than four hours into their first day as No. 2 doubles partners, Free State senior Rachel Walters and junior Carter Stacey finished the same way they had started — with a victory.

Walters and Stacey beat Lawrence High’s double tandem of Caroline Baloga and Maddie Mask, 9-6, helping the Firebirds earn a split against the Lions at the LHS quadrangular on Tuesday.

Earlier in the afternoon, Free State and LHS earned splits against Olathe South and Shawnee Mission South.

“We really click,” Walters said of her new doubles partner. “It’s been good. It’s been a smooth transition.”

Walters finished 12th at state in doubles last year with the now-graduated Taylor Hawkins. Stacey started the year on the junior-varsity team, but shined in her new role.

“Carter is really good at the net,” Walters said. “I think we both have pretty good serves. I’m pretty good in the backcourt, so I think we kind of balance each other out.”

Walters and Stacey combined for a 3-0 record on Tuesday, matching the undefeated day by Free State’s No. 1 doubles tandem, senior Caitlin Dodd and sophomore Ali Dodd. The Dodd sisters, 6-0 on the season, looked improved from last season, when they earned a spot in the state tournament.

“We definitely have both gotten a lot more comfortable at the net and a lot more aggressive, which has really helped our game a lot,” Caitlin Dodd said. “Obviously we’ve gotten better. We play doubles better. We’ve been practicing a lot.”

Free State freshman Kate Piper and junior Andrea Chen both went 0-3 in singles, but FSHS coach Keith Pipkin said he wanted to see how Piper would react to playing No. 1 singles.

“I wasn’t quite sure what to expect out of her,” Pipkin said. “I told her, ‘Don’t worry about the wins and losses. Just worry about finding yourself out there, and we’ll just take it as a learning experience.’ If anything, it was a success because I learned a lot about what we need to do to improve for the next time out.”

LHS split all of its matches with strong days from senior Payton Smith at No. 2 singles, and the doubles pairing of Natalie Cote and Betsy Smoot.

Smith, who played on the junior-varsity squad last year, doesn’t overpower her opponents with strong serves or returns, but she doesn’t make many unforced errors, which puts the pressure on her opponents.

“Being consistent with everything that I hit, that’s the most important thing,” Smith said.

Smith wants to work on tracking down shots down either sideline but said the start to her season is a big confidence boost.

“When I saw Payton as an eighth-grader, five years ago,” LHS coach Chris Marshall said, “I couldn’t imagine where she is today — even on the greatest day. I’m ecstatic with the way she’s playing and the way she has learned how to use her strength to win points against some very good tennis players.”

Cote and Smoot owned a 2-1 record on Tuesday, showing off their power at the net. Baloga and Mask, along with Erin Ventura at No. 1 singles, had a 1-2 record.

“I see a lot of promise,” Marshall said. “I was pretty scared about going into today. To actually come out here and split with everyone, I’m pleased.”

The Lions will compete in the Emporia Tournament, and Free State heads to the Salina Central Tournament on Saturday.

Free State 2, Lawrence 2

No. 1 singles — Erin Ventura, LHS, def. Kate Piper, FSHS, 9-2.

No. 2 singles — Payton Smith, LHS, def. Andrea Chen, FSHS, 9-1.

No. 1 doubles — Caitlin Dodd-Ali Dodd, FSHS, def. Natalie Cote-Betsy Smoot, LHS, 9-2.

No. 2 doubles — Rachel Walters-Carter Stacey, FSHS, def. Caroline Baloga-Maddie Mask, LHS, 9-6.

Lawrence 2, Olathe South 2

No. 1 singles — Cady Lynn, OS, def. Ventura, LHS, 9-1.

No. 2 singles — Catherine Serwatka, OS, def. Smith, LHS, 9-1.

No. 1 doubles — Baloga-Mask, LHS, def. Rachel Li-Jacque Stigall, OS, 9-6.

No. 2 doubles — Cote-Smoot, LHS, def. Samantha Carlton-Kennedy Menke, OS, 9-5.

Free State 2, Shawnee Mission South 2

No. 1 singles — Emily Anderson, SMS, def. Piper, FSHS, 9-3.

No. 2 singles — Mena Hass, SMS, def. Chen, FSHS, 9-8 (7-3).

No. 1 doubles — Dodd-Dodd, FSHS, def. Natalie Prauser-Caroline Mack, SMS, 9-2.

No. 2 doubles — Walters-Stacey, FSHS, def. Grace Wilson-Steele Schimming, SMS, 9-2.

Shawnee Mission South 2, Lawrence 2

No. 1 singles — Anderson, SMS, def. Ventura, LHS, 9-0.

No. 2 singles — Smith, LHS, def. Hass, SMS, 9-6.

No. 1 doubles — Prauser-Mack, SMS, def. Baloga-Mask, LHS, 9-6.

No. 2 doubles — Cote-Smooth, LHS, def. Wilson-Schimming, SMS, 9-2.

Free State 2, Olathe South 2

No. 1 singles — Lynn, OS, def. Piper, FSHS, 9-0.

No. 2 singles — Serwatka, OS, def. Chen, FSHS, 9-1.

No. 1 doubles — Dodd-Dodd, FSHS, def. Li-Stigall, OS, 9-2.

No. 2 doubles — Walters-Stacey, FSHS, def. Carlton-Menke, OS, 9-6.