All 12 of the tennis teams involved in the state championships are pleased to have reached today’s finale at Colby College in Waterville.
The girls from Scarborough and Lewiston, who will meet in this morning’s Class A title match, might bring an extra dose of delight into the proceedings.
Lewiston lost twice in the regular season and again in the conference championship to top-seeded Brunswick before beating the Dragons 3-2 in Wednesday’s Eastern Maine finals.
Fourth-seeded Scarborough dropped a 4-1 decision to Gorham during the regular season, then reversed that score in Wednesday’s Western Maine finals at Bates College.
“I’m proud of the way they played,” said Scarborough Coach Lincoln MacIsaac. “They beat an opponent that, over the years, we haven’t been able to beat. For us to come in and beat them means a lot, because we know they’re a very talented team.”
Gorham reached the state finals a year ago and returned a team with four seniors but Scarborough (12-3) won Wednesday at second and third singles, with Brazilian exchange student Fernanda Delboni and junior Rachel Webber. The Red Storm also won both doubles matches, with good athletes from other sports who this spring have grown into formidable tennis players.
Senior Courtney Hughes and sophomore Maria Philbrick both excel at soccer, with Hughes planning on continuing that sport at Merrimack College in the fall. They play first doubles.
“Maria and Courtney are some of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever worked with,” MacIsaac said. “For them, it’s their will versus their ability sometimes. They’ve willed themselves to win over the last three weeks. They’ve willed themselves to be better. You can’t teach that.”
Seniors Christina Bilodeau and Laura Flewelling play second doubles.
While today marks Scarborough’s first trip to the state finals, Lewiston is the five-time defending state champion.
“We’re just happy to be there,” MacIsaac said. “But we’ll go to contend and we’ll hope good things happen.”
Here’s a brief look at some of the other matches, all scheduled to be played on the blue courts of Colby. Class A matches are scheduled for 10 a.m., Class C at 1 p.m. and Class B at 4 p.m.
CLASS A BOYS: Lewiston saw a seven-year state title streak come to an end in last year’s state championship, courtesy of Windham. The Blue Devils (15-0) defeated Hampden Academy 4-1 in the Eastern finals.
Second-seeded Scarborough (14-1) pulled an about-face on top-seeded Kennebunk in the West finals, winning 3-2 two weeks after losing by the same score. The difference-makers were juniors Dan Slavin and Zach Pelczar at second doubles, who won 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) in only their third match together after Slavin’s previous partner broke his wrist playing soccer.
CLASS C GIRLS: Despite an eighth seed in the regionals, Waynflete (11-4) overcame early-season injuries to reach the state championship match for the first time since 2006.
The Flyers will face George Stevens Academy (12-3) of Blue Hill, which lost to North Yarmouth Academy in 2007 and 2009.
CLASS C BOYS: Three-time defending state champ Waynflete (10-5) returns to the finals after replacing five of the top seven players in its line-up, including the 2010 singles champion, Brandon Thompson. The two who returned, however, are current singles champ Patrick Ordway and his older brother, Eric, whose gritty third-set tiebreaker victory in the regional semifinals at Winthrop put the Flyers in position to win it all once more.
Standing in the way is George Stevens Academy (13-2), the Eastern representative for the eighth time in 10 years.
CLASS B GIRLS: Three-time defending state champion Falmouth (15-0) is a heavy favorite against Waterville (14-1). The girls from Falmouth have dropped only two sets and no matches all season, and only one of those sets by the varsity lineup.
Waterville lost 5-0 to Falmouth in the state final two years ago, but now features four freshmen in its starting lineup.
CLASS B BOYS: Falmouth and Ellsworth take identical 15-0 records into the match. The Yachtsmen are coming off a tough 3-2 victory over long-time rival Cape Elizabeth while Ellsworth, the 2009 runner-up, edged Presque Isle in the Eastern finals.
Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at:
gjordan@pressherald.com
Twitter: GlennJordanPPH
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