DIXFIELD – Players tend to weigh on the side of caution in a close tennis match. That’s how it fared Dirigo’s Matt Chamberlin and Nate Frechette of Winthrop played a marathon affair.
Frechette finally rallied to hold serve to win 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 for a meet-clincher as the Ramblers held on for a 3-2 win against Dirigo in a MVC boys’ tennis match Wednesday.
Winthrop (6-1) and Dirigo (5-2) were ranked No. 4 and No. 5 in the most recent Heal point standings. Winthrop received a shot in arm by taking a 2-0 lead.
“(Winthrop) was a lot tougher than I’d expected,” Dirigo coach Bruce Thompson said.
Frechette (6-1) was leading 5-4 in the third set, but Chamberlin was up three-break points. The Rambler player evened the match at deuce and the duo battled through several advantages.
“Matt has a solid serve,” Frechette said. “I (adjusted) by trying to slice my return toward the line. This allowed me to go to my backhand. I have tennis elbow, so I needed to be careful, but I’m stronger with my backhand and lined my shots up.”
Chamberlin (6-1) appeared to be in control after winning the first three games of the first set, but Frechette roared back. The Dirigo junior, plagued by numerous unforced errors, regrouped to win the middle set.
Gabe Bedoya (7-0) at No. 1 singles continued his winning ways in beating Jason Dick 6-0, 6-1. The exchange student from Peru has won 82 of 85 games this season.
Dirigo further proved itself as Rye Daley and Joey Kilbreth rallied to win 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles. A poor start had put the Cougars in a hole against Chris Blanchard and Jordan Bell, but they made some adjustments.
“We had some guys step up today,” Winthrop assistant coach Ben Rowell said. “My second doubles team came through early and then Frechette fought through an injury. Still, this was the toughest meet this season and with two three-setters, it could have gone either way.”
The Ramblers’ Derek Hall and Jon Daggett breezed 6-1, 6-2 past Steve Erskine and Mike Holmquist at second doubles.
Dirigo’s Trevis Knapp dropped the first set 7-5, but then was overwhelmed by Ryan Czado 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
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