The journey to an 11th consecutive state championship began on Monday and it was smooth sailing for the reigning 5A state champions.

Oxford defeated Warren Central 7-0 in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs at the John Leslie Tennis Complex.

The Chargers (17-0) will host Madison Central in the second round on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Grace Anne Jones and Bo Nash won their singles matches in straight sets and dropped only one point combined. Nash won 6-0, 6-0 and Jones won 6-1, 6-0.

“It turned out OK,” Oxford coach Louis Nash said. “I thought our mixed (doubles) did OK. They struggled. …They’re all about serving well and returning well. We hadn’t been doing that.”

The team of Abbie Mounce and Emma Jones had to battle in a three-set win over the Warren Central team of Taylor and Lainey Smith. Jones and Mounce won 5-6, 6-5 (10-1).

Another three-set win came from the mixed doubles team of Savannah Nagle and Downing Koestler. They won 6-4, 1-6 (10-5).

Both boys doubles matches and the other girls doubles match won in straight sets.

Thursday’s match will be between the reigning 10-time Class 5A champions and the two-time defending Class 6A champions in Madison Central. Oxford faced the Jaguars early in the season and came away with a 4-3 win.

Their rematch will be for a ticket to the 6A North Half match later next week.

“The champs are coming,” Nash said. “They’re good and it will be tight. It will be close. Quality tennis and we’re going to have to show up to play.”