Editor's note: This story will be updated after Saturday's action.
Caleb Lian went down fighting.
It took over two hours, but Guerin Catholic senior Charlie Phillips overcame the Bloomington South junior 6-3, 7-6(3) in the quarterfinals of the IHSAA state boys singles tennis tournament at Park Tudor on Friday, Oct. 23.
It was just the fourth loss of the season for Lian, the first Panther to qualify for state singles since 2014.
More: 'Wild ride' takes Bloomington South senior to IHSAA state tennis finals
The Panthers' doubles team of Abe Corry and William Liao are on deck at 10 a.m. on Saturday against Barr-Reeve's Grant Armes and Kierson Lengacher. The Vikings legged out a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 win over Evansville North's top duo in the quarters.
The other doubles semi pits Hamilton Southeastern's Logan Foust and Brady Stump against Brebeuf Jesuit's Andrew Held and Eli Rabinowitch, who also won a tough opener, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-1.
The championship match is at 2 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington South's Caleb Lian drops lengthy battle at state singles