PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Monica Bearden is in the ninth year of her second go-around as the coach of the Presque Isle girls tennis team and her teams have consistently made it into the post-season, and this year is no exception.
The Wildcats are in seventh place in Class B North and will host a preliminary playoff match on Tuesday, May 29, with the opponent not yet officially determined. It most likely will be Oceanside, which is currently in the 10th position. The final standings will be released by Thursday, May 24.
The season was a streaky one, as PI lost four of its first five before bouncing back to win five consecutive matches. The Wildcats did lose their final two to finish at 6-6.
Bearden said the slow start could be attributed to the inability to get onto its home courts (at the University of Maine at Presque Isle) until almost six weeks into the season, which she said was the latest ever.
“Volleys and net play can be worked on in the gym but it is difficult for accurate serving and receiving ground strokes,” Bearden said “but the players did a great job staying motivated under those conditions and we also alternated gym time with conditioning and strength training.”
Presque Isle has a young team, with only one senior and one junior to go along with two sophomores and a freshman. The team improved as the players gained confidence and received court time, which led to the mid-season winning streak, according to Bearden.
The five-player roster means the Wildcats can only fill four of their five starting spots, which leads to a forfeit in No. 2 doubles every time out. Still, she said the players “kept their heads up” and worked hard to overcome that adversity.
“When they stop onto the court, they focus on their match and not the fact that we already have a loss,” Bearden said.
Sophomore Hana Boucher is the No. 1 singles player after having played third singles last season. She has good speed, which has kept her in a lot of matches, and holds a record of 5-7 against more experienced players.
Miranda Bragan, the lone senior, retained her No. 2 singles spot from last season and rolled to an impressive 9-3 record after improving on “her deep ground strokes and placements for many winning shots,” according to Bearden.
Junior Anna Robinson plays third singles and went 5-6 after making the adjustment from being a doubles player.
Sophomore Gaby Halley joins freshman Jenna Ouellette as the No. 1 doubles team. Bearden said the two have started to jell as a duo and both have improved on their play at the net.
Bearden said it has been a successful season, with four of the team’s losses coming to Caribou, John Bapst and Ellsworth, who all are in the top six in Class B North and feature numerous experienced competitors.
“I’m fortunate to work with a great group of hard-working young ladies and I’m extremely happy with our record and being able to be in the playoffs,” Bearden said.
Summaries of the team’s final three regular season matches played last week are as follows:
Fort Kent 3, Presque Isle 2 — Singles: Sarah Pelletier (FK) def. Hana Boucher 9-8 (7-5), Miranda Bragan (PI) def. Cassidy Lovely 8-4, Sydni Pelletier (FK) def. Anna Robinson 8-4; doubles: Gaby Halley-Jenna Ouellette (PI) def. Autumn Bouchard-Isabel Charette 8-6, Kailee Guimond-Hannah Daigle (FK) won by forfeit.
Caribou girls 5, Presque Isle 0 — Singles: Gabrielle Marquis def. Hana Boucher, 6-2, 6-1; Ashley Matlock def. Miranda Bragan, 6-1, 6-3; and Hailey Holmquist def. Anna Robinson, 6-0, 6-2; doubles, Maddie Stratton and Ciara Richards def. Gaby Halley and Jenna Ouellette 6-0, 6-0; and Samantha Tourk and Sage Dubay won by forfeit.
Presque Isle girls 3, Fort Kent 2 — Singles: Hana Boucher (PI) def. Sarah Pelletier 8-5, Miranda Bragan (PI) def. Cassidy Lovley 8-3, Anna Robinson (PI) def. Syndi Pelletier 8-5; doubles: Isabelle Charette-Autumn Bouchard (FK) def. Gaby Halley-Jenna Ouellette 8-3, Lexi Lovley-Hannah Daigle (FK) won by forfeit.
