Rock Bridge Tennis to Play Semifinal on Thursday

The Bruins travel to Springfield to face undefeated Ladue Horton Watkins for a spot in the state championship match.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Tennis

Expressive editorial sports illustration showing two tennis players in blue and gold kits mid-rally on a hardcourt surface. — Rock Bridge High School's girls tennis team travels to Springfield this Thursday to face Ladue Horton Watkins in the state semifinal match. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Does your community benefit when local high school sports teams consistently reach state championship levels?

Rock Bridge High School girls tennis team will compete in the state semifinal match at noon this Thursday, October 29, 2026. The Bruins face an undefeated Ladue Horton Watkins squad at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.

Why it matters

Rock Bridge aims to secure its 14th state championship title and win its first trophy since 2018. The team looks to overcome a previous 5-4 loss against their semifinal opponents from earlier this season.

Rock Bridge has secured 13 state championship titles in program history, including 10 under current coach Ben Loeb. The team enters the matchup following a 5-4 defeat to Ladue Horton Watkins in early September.

The players

Ben Loeb

He has served as the head coach of the Rock Bridge High School girls tennis team since 1999.

Rock Bridge High School

This educational institution in Columbia serves as the home base for the competitive girls tennis program.

Ladue Horton Watkins

This high school sports program enters the semifinal round with an undefeated record for the season.

The details

Coach Ben Loeb, who has led the team since 1999, is evaluating the results of the teams prior meeting to inform lineup decisions. The winner of this semifinal will advance to play the victor of the Nixa and Liberty matchup.

Ben Loeb has coached the program since 1999.
Rock Bridge last won the state title in 2018.
The team finished as state runner-up in 2022 and 2025.
The semifinal match starts at 12:00 PM on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This semifinal match serves as a crucial inflection point for the Bruins after falling short of the title in both 2022 and 2025. A win here would propel the team into the state final and represent a significant turnaround from their early season loss to the same opponent.

The Bruins must flip a one-point margin from their previous 5-4 defeat to Ladue Horton Watkins to advance to the state championship. Success in this match determines whether Rock Bridge proceeds to compete for the state title or the third-place trophy.

The takeaway

The upcoming match highlights the importance of tactical adjustments in high-stakes postseason rematches. Fans should look for how historical coaching experience influences the team's response to an undefeated opponent.