LEWISTON – The Lewiston High School tennis program has little to prove to anyone.

Anyone that is, other than its own players.

After enjoying undefeated regular seasons in the SMAA for several years, the Lewiston girls’ lost their opener in the KVAC this season to Mt. Ararat. On Wednesday, they have a chance at redemption.

“It’s a chance to prove ourselves where we didn’t before,” Lewiston tri-captain Amanda Bergeron said. “We started the year off on the losing end. We’ve worked hard all year to make sure we didn’t lose again, and this will be a good chance to test that.”

In the loss, Bergeron and the No. 2 doubles team of Katelyn Ouellette and Ashley McWhorter won their matches, and if the Blue Devils hope to win this time around, those two points will be essential.

“First doubles had never played together before at that match,” Bergeron said. “Now they have played against our other doubles team in every practice and against the rest of the league, and that alone should make them better.”

For Lewiston coach Anita Murphy, the anxiety is already starting to build.

“We were hoping that we would get another chance to play against them, really,” Murphy said. “I don’t think that we were ready mentally to play them in that first match of the season. The team is much stronger there now. They are a good team, but I think we are, too.”

Another unknown

On Saturday, the Lewiston boys narrowly defeated Hampden Academy, 3-2, in their tightest match of the year so far.

On Wednesday, the test will be even tougher.

“We know how solid Bangor is at the top, obviously,” Lewiston coach Ron Chicoine said, referring to recently crowned state champion Brian Brown at No. 1 singles. “I think we have an advantage at No. 2 singles, and while I think our no. 2 doubles teams have a legitimate shot, I would think that Bangor would be favored there.”

Using that conventional wisdom, that leaves three matches up in the air, including Lewiston No. 1 Mike Burke’s battle with Brown.

“I think I can win that match,” Burke said. “I definitely have to make it a better match than I did last time I played him. I want to play at least as well as I did against (Hampden Academy No. 1 Eliot) Potvin last week.”

Potvin finished as the runner-up in this year’s singles tournament, and Burke beat Potvin in the first set of the their three-set match last Saturday.

“I need to be as aggressive as I was in the match when I play Brown,” Burke said. “Then I’ll have a chance.”

Nick Bonenefant at No. 3 singles will have his hand full, as will the No. 1 doubles tandem of James Morin and Mike Sarrazin.

“They haven’t been tested as much this year,” Chicoine said of the KVAC doubles champions. “This will really make them work and think.”

“We really have a good team all around,” Burke said. “It’s really, I think, going to come down to whether or not we can outplay them (Wednesday).”

Both the boys’ and girls’ matches are scheduled for 4 p.m. at Colby College in Waterville. The winners in those matches will play in the state final on Saturday, which has been moved from Bates College to Lewiston High School.

[email protected]