BRUNSWICK – Five minutes after one of the most intense tennis matches of her life, Cony High School’s Ellen Sherwood was more concerned about being on time for a spring soccer match.

“I hope I make it on time,” Sherwood said through a well-deserved grin. “I guess I’d better rest a bit.”

Sherwood played the match of the day at the East III State Singles Qualifier, besting Lewiston’s Alli Bleakney in three sets, 0-6, 6-4, 6-1, to advance along with six other girls to the state round of 40 to be held at Bates College next weekend.

“We played so much alike,” said Sherwood after the match. “Neither of us came to net much. We both kind of sat back and waited for the other person to make the mistake. In the first set, I made most of them.”

Sherwood, the No. 3 player on Cony’s roster, is playing her first season at singles, and advances to the state round of 40 for the first time.

Bleakney was responsible for the upset of the day, however, when she defeated Jaimie Ward of Edward Little, the No. 5 seed overall, 8-3 in the second round.

Had Bleakney advanced, she would have joined teammates Amy Sarrazin and Katie A. Morin in the next round. Sarrazin shook off some early nerves and went on to defeat Eira Overkill of Camden Hills 6-1, 6-0 to advance.

“In my first round match, I was so nervous right from the start,” said Sarrazin. “I had way too many double faults. After I settled down a bit, I was OK.”

Morin advanced by upsetting No. 7 seed Marcia Gilbride of Mt. Ararat 6-2, 6-2. This is the third straight year that Lewiston advances two girls to the round of 40.

“My coach fought hard for me to be in the spot in the draw that I was in,” said Morin. “I figured I should go out and show that I deserved it. I got out there and was able to control the match today, to move (Gilbride) around a bit.”

Cony joined Lewiston as the only teams to send multiple players to the next round from the East III bracket. Julia Clukey, the Rams’ No. 1, advanced with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 win over Sarah Mathes of Messalonskee.

Other girls qualifying from the East III bracket were top-seeded Laura Stein of Camden Hills, who survived a tight second-round upset bid by Diana Cornell of Brunswick, Tracy Nale of Waterville, and Jillian Cohen of Brunswick.

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