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WATERVILLE — Players continued to acclimate to Colby’s indoor courts Friday during the remaining first-round matches of Maine’s singles and doubles state tournaments. 

Lincoln Academy senior Claus Hinck noted how the ball landed differently because of the court’s rubber material. He ended up using that tendency to his advantage, defeating Garrett White of Presque Isle, 6-0, 6-2. 

“With this court, it’s different than a hard court, different than clay,” said Hinck. “(The ball) really kicks on the kick serve, so I was able just to get it out wide and put an easy 1-2 for most of those points.”

Hinck will face top-seeded and reigning state champion Matt Morneault of Falmouth on Saturday morning at Bates College, an opportunity he’s exited about.

“It’s a chance to get to play the No. 1 in the state, so that’s very underdog mentality,” Hinck said. “I’m more excited than anything. Not really nervous, because it’s a chance to play some good tennis.”                                                                                                                                       

Tiebreak thriller

To stay confident during a competitive match, sometimes all an athlete needs is a personal mantra. 

Madison senior Jade Young employed that tactic when she found herself down a set to Van Buren freshman Emily Lapierre. 

“(Lapierre) was up (in) the second set, and I’m like, ‘I just need to keep my composure,’” Young said. “I said a little mantra in my head — ‘I’m Jade Young, I’m going to win’ — and I repeated that a few times. And then I got it back to 4-4 and then I got it to 5-4, and then I won that (set).”

Young eventually pulled out a tiebreak victory, 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (9), fighting from behind until match point was hers. 

“For the tiebreaker, I know it’s like the biggest lock-in of my life,” Young said. “I just try to keep it consistent and play hard shots.”

Young will face fourth-seeded Molly Tefft of Brunswick on Saturday at Bates. 

For school and country

Carlos Carbonell was representing much more than Marshwood in his first-round match against Ben Bouchard of Caribou. 

The exchange student, who is the Hawks’ lone competitor in this year’s singles and doubles tournaments, is also repping his home country of Spain. 

“It’s my first year (as an exchange student),” Carbonell said. “I’m having a lot of fun. I’m making a lot of friends. This is a great experience for everybody.”

Carbonell defeated Bouchard, 6-0, 6-1. He will play Bangor’s Hermann Dalsgaard in the second round. 

“In this level, it’s very important to finish the points in the volley because it’s really difficult to finish the point with a winner on the baseline,” Carbonell said. “So it’s important to go to the net and win the point there.”

Making the most of a long trip down I-95

Caribou traveled over three and a half hours to compete in the first round.  

The Vikings, though, picked up several wins throughout the day, making for a worthwhile road trip. 

Freshman Isabella Albert advanced by way of a walkover, and Adriana Deschaine beat Denali Momot of Windham, 7-5, 6-2. In boys doubles, the sophomore duo of Owen Tetlow and Declan Miller defeated Jack Thaller and Ryder Shardlow of Maranacook/Monmouth Academy, 6-1, 6-0.

“The first (set) was very close, but I realized the second (set) if I just play the points out and let (Momot) make the mistakes, then I could get more points that way and win easier,” Deschaine said.

In the second round, Albert will face Sophia Turker of Falmouth, Tetlow and Miller will face Falmouth’s Eli Sidhu and Luke Kusel, and Deschaine will play Kulani Granholm of Mount Desert Island.