DIXFIELD – Dirigo knew a monumental task awaited it, but despite some solid performances, it wasn’t enough to put the Cougars over the top in a Class C boys’ tennis semifinal on Saturday.
The Cougars captured some individual battles, but Waynflete utilized solid returns as the third-ranked Flyers posted a convincing 5-0 win.
A tell-tale sign of things to come transpired early as Kai Feller rallied back to win in straight sets against the Cougars’ Trevis Knapp in No. 2 singles showdown.
Knapp won the first three games of the initial set and appeared to be on a roll. But the tide turned quickly as Feller won six of the next seven games.
“I tried hitting to his back hand, but I think I tried to hard,” Knapp said. “I didn’t have any expectations coming in to today. I obviously wanted to win, but I just went with the flow.” Feller didn’t let up, and after a short break, he went on to win the deciding set, 6-2. It clinched the meet for the 12-2 Flyers. It sets up a rematch against top-ranked Winthrop in the regional on Wednesday at Bates College.
No. 2 Dirigo fell behind early as No. 3 singles Mike Holmquist was plagued by numerous unforced errors. Ben Whipple took full advantage for a 6-0, 6-1 win. Every Flyer player knew exactly where to place their volleys.
“It wasn’t a question of going against some one new,” Dirigo coach Bruce Thompson said. “We knew Waynflete had a strong team, so we wanted to be competitive, and I think we were. We felt that we might win a couple, but it didn’t turn out that way.”
Waynflete made it 2-0 moments later as Clark Smith and Nate Norberg won 6-3, 6-3 over Nate Archibald and Kalie Underwood at second doubles.
Matt Chamberlin of Dirigo couldn’t find an answer for John Asen who won 6-1, 6-love at No. 1 singles. Asen was effective by getting a first serve in deep. “This is our first-ever meeting with Dirigo, but I was confident coming in,” Waynflete coach Stephan Pejic said. “The first doubles team had played in our conference finals and all three singles players had qualified for the state singles tournament.”
The Cougars’ No.1 doubles tandem of Rye Daily and Colby Knapp fell 6-3, 6-3 to Spenser Montgomery and Will Garfield.
On the girls’ side, Dirigo came up short 4-1 again against unbeaten Winthrop on Saturday morning. The Ramblers beat Cougars by an identical score during the regular season.
Amy Gould and Melissa Harvey averted a shutout by winning a tie-breaker at second doubles.
Winthrop’s Carla Frechette and senior Elsye Cole won in straight sets against Lyndsey Kerr and Raylee Brown at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively.
“Winthrop simply has to much depth,” Dirigo coach Art Chamberlin said. “It was a good meet and we played well. The final score could have easily been 3-2, so the kids have nothing to be ashamed of.”
The No. 1 singles match was highly competitive again as Winthrop won a three sets against Jenn Harvey. The Cougars’ Mallory Child and Alison Roy lost at first doubles.
Comments are no longer available on this story