Yarmouth tips Camden in ‘B’ George Stevens battles, buts drops Class C match to Waynflete

PORTLAND – After taking the first two matches in the Class B portion of Saturday’s schoolgirl State Team Tennis Championship, it looked like Camden Hills had a firm grip on its first state title.

Both Windjammers’ doubles teams walked off the searingly-hot Deering Oaks Park courts with straight set wins and all Camden needed was to go 1-for-3 in the singles matches against Yarmouth. With top singles player Laura Stein – an unseeded freshman who upset three top seeds en route to finishing as state runnerup in the Maine Singles Tournament – warming up, things looked good.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the awards table. The Clippers, who know a thing or two about upsets themselves as they won the West title despite a No. 7 seeding, won the No. 2 and 3 singles matches in straight sets to set up a dramatic clash between Stein and senior Kathleen Fleury.

Fleury, who might have met Stein in the singles tourney quarterfinals had she not forfeited her opening round match due to a prior commitment, showed she did her homework by using crisp passing shots and deep returns to the corners to frustrate Stein and rally for a shocking 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.

The 3-2 win gave the 13-4 Clippers their first state title in their first state final appearance and handed the Windjammers their first loss of the season.

In Class C, Waynflete of Portland downed George Stevens Academy of Blue 4-1. The Class A crown went to unbeaten Lewiston, which won its fifth title in nine state final appearances with a 3-2 win over Mount Ararat of Topsham.

Class B – Fleury enjoyed almost pinpoint control as she used Stein’s propensity to attack the net against her.

“I watched her play Elizabeth Currie in the semifinals, so I knew her strategy was to come in,” Fleury explained. “I knew if I returned it and chipped it well at her feet, she’d have to hit defensive shots and then I could hopefully put it away.

“My passing shots were really on today, luckily, because I needed those to win.”

Another key was five service breaks of Stein, the fourth of which was the biggest as it put Fleury up 1-0 in the third set.

“That was a big energy shift and it really helped me,” Fleury said. “It was probably THE key game.”

Stein said she was unable to get the depth and placement on her shots she normally does.

“She knew how I played and unfortunately, I didn’t hit very good approach shots so that set her up nicely to pass me,” Stein said. “That was kind of frustrating.”

It was a frustrating day all-around, especially for Camden seniors Rebecca Stein, Karinna Russo, and Christine DeMichele, who elected to miss their Project Graduation party Friday night to focus on their matches.

“It was up to each of us,” said Rebecca, Laura’s sister. “We wouldn’t have gotten off the boat [tour out of Portland Harbor] until four, so we would have been tired.”

Nine-year coach Sue Sulzer’s ‘Jammers wind up the year 15-1.

Class C – The 11-3 Flyers made it look easy against the Eagles as both teams made their state championship debuts, but GSA gained some respect just the same.

“I hope we’re putting the program on the map with some of the other successful sports we have,” said coach Tim Farrar, whose Eagles finish up 10-7. “We had 45 kids out for the teams this year and I think as we become better-recognized, we’ll attract even better athletes.”

Everyone but graduating senior and No. 3 singles player Courtney Lawsing returns next spring.

Unbeaten No. 2 doubles team Anne Marie Napolatano and Alex Hammerly-Brown notched GSA’s win with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 decision.

Despite his status as heavy favorite, Flyers coach Michael Gelsanliter took nothing for granted.

“We knew their doubles were strong, but I really wanted to get at least one point out of doubles because neither of us had been here before and there were lots or nerves early on,” he said.

Class A – Anita Murphy’s Blue Devils had to fight to avoid losing their third state final in five years by a 3-2 score, but they did it on the strength of their doubles teams, which both won in straight sets. Top singles player Amy Sarrazin did the same with a 6-2, 6-4 upset over Molly Gilbride to clinch Lewiston’s victory.