Kaitlyn Thompson wanted a different approach and a different result Saturday.

The St. Dom’s senior entered last year’s Maine Principals Association singles tourney feeling pretty good about her chances and subsequently lost in the first round.

She had different plans for Saturday at the Racket and Fitness Center in Portland.

“I tried to go in not like I did last year,” said Thompson. “I was a little too overconfident last year. I just tried to be patient this year.”

That demeanor and approach paid off in a 6-2, 6-2 in over York’s Emily Campbell. Thompson advances to Monday’s round of 16 at Bates College.

“It means a lot for my senior year,” Thompson said.

Campbell proved to be a challenging foe for Thompson. Campbell was tall, strong and athletic. Thompson had played her before in high school but that was a few years ago. Campbell had improved and had advanced by beating Lewiston’s Rebecca Michaud.

“I’m exhausted,” said Thompson, who was the 12th seed in the tourney. “I’m glad I didn’t have another match. I think she’s one of the best players I’ve played all season.”

Thompson tried to push play a little while trying to force Campbell to her backhand. Thompson also maintained an even keel over the course of the match.

“That’s one of my biggest issues,” said Thompson of playing with patience. “My coach (Kevin Cullen) told me to really slow down and focus.”

Thompson was the only local girl to reach Monday’s matches.

In the first round on the girls’ side Saturday, only Winthrop’s Amber Pritchard, Lewiston’s Kirsty Beauchesne and Mt. Blue’s Savannah Swain managed to advance with wins. All three lost in the second round.

Beauchesne beat Presque Isle’s Kayla Girardin 6-0, 6-3 to earn a second round match.

“I’ve been playing first singles all year,” said Beauchesne. “My opponents, like at Brunswick and Hampden, are very, very good players, and even though I lost horribly to them, I think playing those players have made me a better player.”

Beauchesne then advanced to play the third seed, Colleen O’Donnell of Waterville. Though Beauchesne put up a good battle, O’Donnell won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Beauchesne held her own, but being a year-round player gave O’Donnell a pretty good finishing touch.

“I was happy with how I played,” said Beauchesne. “I got a lot of points to deuce. I didn’t think the score represented how I felt I played.

“My goal was to get to this round and hopefully get to the next round, but it’s all luck of the draw.”

Swain was a bit of a surprise winner in the morning, even to herself.

The Mt. Blue junior, who normally plays third singles for the Cougars, beat Brewer’s Ashley Gibula, 6-4, 6-2.

“I didn’t really intend to make it this far,” Swain said. “We figured out that the girl I was playing was their first singles player, but it was exciting to win. I just tried to stick it out and hit more balls back.”

In the second round, Swain drew NYA’s Lena Rich, a freshman. Rich won, 6-0, 6-0.

“The girl wasn’t ranked, and I hadn’t heard of her,” said Swain. “I didn’t expect to win, but I didn’t expect to be blown away. She was amazing. She was really good.”

Prichard won her morning match, 7-6, 6-4. It was the first time she had won a first round match.

“When I found out it was indoors, I was like, ‘Sweet, I can do this,'” said Pritchard, whose outdoor match last year was delayed by rain. “I learned to play indoors. It’s where I became a tennis player. So I was a lot more confident for this match.”

Pritchard watched an early lead slip away before rallying to win the first set, 7-6.

“I was up 4-0,” Pritchard said. “Then I don’t know happened. I think I just let it get to me. Then we were tied 4-4, but I just pulled it through. I just kind of slowed myself down.”

She trailed 2-0 in the second set but settled herself to win 6-4. That earned her a second round match with Waterville’s Tiffany Suchanek. She was seeded fourth in the state and was a player Pritchard played against frequently when she was younger. As a freshman, she watched Suchanek beat many of the Winthrop boys’ players. So Pritchard knew what she was up against.

“I was just happy to get by the first round,” Pritchard said. “I wanted to try my hardest, but before I could even move the point was over. I just tried to hit it as hard as I could.”

In other local first round matches, Dirigo’s Ryanne Dailey lost to Maddie Abbott of Deering, 6-2, 6-0. Her teammate Addy Fuller also lost her match to Christine Levesque of Mt. Ararat, 6-0, 6-1. Lewiston’s Michaud lost to Campbell, 6-1, 6-1. Mt. Blue’s Mackenzie Conlogue lost to Ina Maloney of Ellsworth 2-6, 6-3, 7-6.

On the boys’ side, St. Dom’s Zach DeBlois was the only ranked local player, seeded 10th. He lost in straight sets to Oceanside’s Cameron Butler, 6-3, 6-3.

In other boys’ matches, St. Dom’s Baiyu Liu won his first round match, beating Caribou’s Zac Lawrence, 6-1, 6-0. He lost in the second round to Lincoln’s Jordan Friedland, 6-0, 6-1. His Saints teammate Austin Christopher lost to John Bapst’s Matt Dunning, 6-2, 6-1.

Monmouth’s Kasey Smith lost to Falmouth’s Aiden McGrory, 6-0, 6-1

kmills@sunjournal.com