CARIBOU, Maine — There have been some ups and downs along the way, but the Viking varsity tennis teams have once again turned in solid campaigns.
Coach John Habeeb, in the midst of his 27th season at the helm of the boys’ team and in his 24th with the girls, achieved a special milestone Saturday at home as his Viking girls beat Old Town for the 300th victory of his career, against just 43 defeats.
The win over the Coyotes was also significant because it took his team from being out of a playoff position to now having a great chance to reach the final 12 and play in next Tuesday’s preliminary round. The final Heal Point standings will be released later this week, but Habeeb’s girls teams have missed qualifying for the playoffs only once (in 2007) during his tenure.
“I told the girls that we needed to win or else,” Habeeb said of the Old Town match. “It was a great win for the girls.”
Habeeb said it was difficult to come up with the numbers necessary to field a team this season and losing solid players like Ashley Richards and Alexa Massey to graduation in 2013 did not help. However, Caribou shrugged off a slow start and had crept up to a .500 record heading into the final two regular season matches against Presque Isle and Madawaska.
Junior Erin Patton plays No. 1 singles and is called “heady, quick on her feet and solid all around” by Habeeb, noting she is also lauded by opposing coaches for her great sportsmanship on the court. Patton will represent Caribou in this weekend’s state singles tournament after having qualified May 16.
Another junior, Makayla Bouchard, is the second singles player. She grew up in Habeeb’s recreation program and played through middle school. She is a solid player who is adept at taking balls out of the air and serving consistently.
Clara Collins is the only senior starter and competes in third singles for the Vikings. A four-year player who has played singles each of the last two seasons, Collins has made strong comebacks in two of her matches this season to pull out victories and is relied upon as a good team leader.
Junior Bria Judd and freshman Conner Spencer make up the No. 1 doubles team. They have a 7-2 record and complement one another well. Habeeb said they have played their best tennis late in the season.
The freshman duo of Taylor Fournier-Belanger and Brittany Dickinson compete in second singles and Malari Page, another senior, is the lone reserve.
Caribou’s boys teams have also had plenty of success over the years as evidenced by Habeeb’s 271-92 mark and this year has been no exception. The Vikes have won five of their last six and are in line to host a preliminary playoff match next Tuesday.
Caribou made it to the EM finals a year ago, falling to MDI in the title match, and brought back some key players from that squad.
Brendan Cyr, a junior, holds down the No. 1 singles position. He played doubles last year, but the lefthander has elevated his game and is known as a good ball striker who possesses good footwork. Junior Michael Marquis is entrenched in second singles and took an undefeated record into his final two regular season matches. “He is tough to play against because he keeps balls in play and is consistent,” Habeeb said.
Both Cyr and Marquis qualified for the state singles championships.
Sophomore Ethan Plourde, at No. 3, was a starter in singles a year ago and owns a power game and plenty of potential in the sport down the road.
Habeeb said it has taken awhile for the combination of junior Austin Scott and freshman Austin Cheplic to jell as the No. 1 doubles team, but “they are figuring things out and are coming together,” he said. Their win over Houlton last week helped the Vikings to an important team victory.
The Coty twins — Dustin and Dylan — are juniors who opted not to play last year but have come back to make up the No. 2 doubles combo.
“We hopefully will get a good matchup in the playoffs … that’s what you hope for,” Habeeb said.
