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LEWISTON — Helena Nelson and Cici Benson always strive to uplift each other. 

Whether it’s a supportive comment here, a reassuring message there, the Falmouth tandem is always quick to uphold a positive atmosphere on the tennis court.

“We’ve always just really wanted to keep each other uplifted, especially if someone just has a moment where something happens, just keeping the positive energy,” said Nelson, a sophomore. “And, especially, if the other team even has a really great shot, just lifting them up.”

That positivity continued to be Nelson and Benson’s through line as the top-seeded duo won the state title by defeating third-seeded Lia McNaughton and Barbara Day of Yarmouth, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, in the state doubles championship Sunday at Bates College. 

“It was a long match, we were both tired and hot but just fighting through the points, getting the ball back,” Benson, a freshman, said. 

The Navigators pair dominated throughout the tournament, defeating Winthrop’s Ellie Barrett and Aida Wolf, 6-0, 6-1, in the round of 16; Ellsworth’s Jazz Smith and Allie Bivins, 6-3, 6-3, in the quarterfinals; and Brunswick’s Sophia Robertson and Bellas Farkas, 6-2, 6-1, in the semifinals. 

McNaughton and Day also soared through the tournament. They beat Lincoln Academy’s Meara McManus and Elise Lupien, 6-1, 6-2; in the round of 16, Brunswick’s Caroline Martin and May Wickwire, 7-5, 6-4, in the quarterfinals; then they took out Falmouth’s other pair, second-seeded Ava Draeger and Lilly Woolf, 6-3, 6-4, preventing the Navigators from having two teams in the doubles final.

“They were seeded one and (three), and the (Yarmouth) coach and I were talking about the fact, that’s the way it should be, one and (three) going at it,” Falmouth coach Larry Nichols said. “So we were pleased with that. Now, if they were seniors, I’d still feel great about it, but they’re so young and they persevered, used their noggin … It’s just impressive.”

Nelson and Benson started strong and took the first set, but McNaughton and Day’s command was evident as they responded in the second set to tie things up. 

Nelson had a season of doubles competition under her belt, so she was able to serve as a leader on the court while Benson was getting her first glimpse of postseason action. 

“(Nelson’s) mentorship and just poise out there helped her partner, who’s a freshman, in terms of strategy and where to be and where not to be, and just hanging in there,” Nichols said.

During the break following the second set, Nichols stressed the importance of getting out to a lead in the final set.

Nelson and Benson did not immediately get out to a lead, however. In fact, they fell behind as McNaughton and Day, both juniors, went ahead 2-0 in the third set. 

Nelson and Benson found their groove again before the deficit spiraled anymore and won the next three games. And when the two teams were deadlocked at 4-4, the Falmouth duo won both subsequent games to put an exclamation point on a successful tournament. 

“It was really stressful because (Yarmouth) played such a great game, and I’m just really proud of us and just for sticking with it ‘cause they’re really great players.”