Bethany Hammond of St. Dominic Academy returns a shot during her Round-of-16 match at the MPA singles tennis tournament at Colby College in Waterville on Saturday.

To sum up Bethany Hammond’s high school tennis career at St. Dominic Academy, one needs only a word: Consistency.

The Stonehill College commit made it all the way to the state singles final four all four years. This year, she made it to the semifinals where she fell to Rosemary Campanella of Kennebunk-Wells, 6-1, 6-2.

To make the final four this year, she had to make a choice after her first match of the tournament: continue or forfeit to be with her classmates for project graduation. She chose to challenge the state singles bracket one more time after finishing as a runner-up as a sophomore to Olivia Leavitt of Falmouth. She reached the semifinals by defeating Lizzy Michaud (Lewiston), Eva Sachs (Thornton Academy), and Kira Wolpow (Brunswick).

“I had the support of the whole team behind me and my other coaches, family, so it was a nice experience having them all of them behind me for these four years,” Hammond said. “I looked forward not only playing for me, but for them so they can come out and watch. It’s been truly a blessing to play these four years.”

Despite not winning a singles title, her coach was pleased with the effort she put up in all four years

“It would have (been nice), but I am proud of her,” St. Dom’s coach Andrew Girouard said after the loss to Campanella. “She did a phenomenal job all four years.”

In the team tournament, she help lead the Saints to another Class C regional final appearance, where they fell to Waynflete despite a 6-0, 6-4 win for Hammond at No. 1 singles over Lexi Epstein.

Unlike last season, when St. Dom’s went undefeated in the Mountain Valley Conference, the Saints moved to the Western Maine Conference this season and battled to an 8-4 record and the No. 7 seed in the regional tourney.

Hammond liked the challenge of facing new opponents this year.

“There was definitely more competition for me,” Hammond said. “Not just for me, but my team as well. For all of us, even though it was our last year, it was good to see different competition.”

Hammond’s consistent play and exemplary record have earned for her another accolade as the Sun Journal All-Region Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year.

nfournier@sunjournal.com

2017 Sun Journal All-Region Girls’ Tennis

FIRST TEAM

Bethany Hammond, St. Dom’s, Sr., Singles

Megan Chamberland, Winthrop, Sr., Singles

Lizzy Michaud, Lewiston, Sr., Singles

Maeve Hickey, Mt. Blue, So., Doubles

Brianna Jackson, Mt. Blue, Jr. Doubles

Molly Chicoine, Lewiston, Fr. Doubles

Roslyn Wailus, Lewiston, Fr. Doubles

SECOND TEAM 

Sarah Sparh, Winthrop, Sr. Singles

Chloe Morin, Lewiston, Sr. Singles

Cassidy Tibbetts, Oak Hill,  Sr.,  Singles

KK Linck, St. Dom’s, Sr., Doubles

Kassaundra Stacy, St. Dom’s, Sr. Doubles

Nora Conrad, Winthrop, So., Doubles

Gabby Blanco, Winthrop, Fr., Doubles

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.