Lewiston—The George Stevens Academy girls tennis team made its fourth consecutive appearance in the Class C North finals on June 4 at Bates College in Lewiston, losing 3-2 against Mattanawcook Academy.
The match was tied 2-2 when senior first singles player Julianna Allen took the court against her opponent. Coach Tim Farrar said it was unfamiliar territory for Allen.
George Stevens Academy first singles player Julianna Allen stretches out to return a shot during a semifinal match against PCHS on June 1. Photo by Monique Labbe
“She told me before the match that she wasn’t used to the match being tied when it was her turn to play,” said Farrar. “But that’s what you want, really, is for the match to be determined by your two best players.”
The match went down to a second set tie break, and Allen lost 4-6, 6-7 (3-7).
Second singles player Courtney Bianco lost her match in straight sets, 4-6, 4-6, while Chloe Politte was the only singles player to win her match, going three sets for a final of 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
The doubles teams of Yulia Heggested and Erika Hipsky, and Hattie Slayton and Libby Weed, both won their respective matches.
George Stevens Academy second singles player Courtney Bianco returns a serve from her PCHS opponent during a semifinal contest on June 1. Photo by Monique Labbe
“It got really tense there for a while,” said Farrar. “It was really exciting, and Bates is such a great atmosphere to play in. The seating is stadium-like, and so the players are really close to the fans.”
The Eagle girls are graduating five seniors this year, including Allen, Weed, Slayton, Bianco and Heggested. Politte and Hipsky will be the only varsity players returning next season.
The task of putting together almost an entirely new lineup next season does not seem as daunting to Farrar, because Mattanawcook is also graduating five of its varsity players. The two teams have faced off four times in the postseason in the same amount of years. Mattanawcook holds a 3-1 record in that time, with GSA’s only win coming in the semifinal round of the 2017 season.
George Stevens Academy’s Erika Hipskey is ready to serve in a doubles match against PCHS during a semifinal contest on June 1. Photo by Monique Labbe
The Eagles beat out PCHS in the semifinals, 5-0, and Van Buren in the quarterfinals, 5-0, to make it to the regional finals.
“It’s been a good season,” said Farrar. “Historically, we’re a very successful program, I would say.”