Competitive fire fuels champion

PORTLAND – Laura Stein plays tennis primarily for personal enjoyment.

But a tendency to pump her fist after crucial points suggests a highly competitive side, one that has carried the Camden Hills senior to the top of the Maine schoolgirl tennis world.

The top-seeded Stein capped off a dominant run through the state singles tournament at the Waynflete School athletic complex Thursday, powering past No. 2 Louise Taylor of Yarmouth 6-3 6-1 in the championship match.

“Laura’s so aggressive and has so many weapons,” said Taylor, a senior who won more games off the unbeaten Stein than any other opponent this season.

“She attacks the net better than anyone. Her serve is really improved, and she’s mentally tough and very athletic.”

Experience at this level also played a role in Stein rolling through her last five tourney foes – winning 60 of 67 games – en route to her first state singles crown. As a freshman, she lost in the state final. The last two years, she had reached the semifinals.

“There’s no question I would have been disappointed if I had lost today,” said Stein, “but I don’t play tennis for one title. I just love the game and love to work as hard as I can to get better, and that’s the mind-set I took into the matches. I didn’t want to put added pressure on myself, because if I was playing with pressure that was unnecessary then I wouldn’t be playing my best tennis. I think in the past four years I’ve really matured in that respect, because I’m now really able to appreciate the game for what it does for me and to play tennis for myself.”

Stein’s game is built on controlling the net, which didn’t come easily against Taylor, who used high, deep groundstrokes in an effort to keep Stein on the baseline.

But Stein was patient, and eventually did get to the net against an opponent she defeated twice during the 2003 season – including the state singles quarterfinals.

“I had to pick my opportunities wisely because if I rushed it she could pass me or lob over me pretty easily,” said Stein, who will attend Amherst College this fall. “It helped to have played her twice before because I knew a little bit better when I could make that move forward.”

Stein, who defeated No. 4 Kristen Meahl of Falmouth 6-1 6-1 in the semifinals, took a quick 3-0 first-set lead against Taylor before Taylor mounted a modest rally to within 5-3.

“I really wanted to take control early and start out playing my game, and that’s definitely what I did,” Stein said. “It was good that I took control early because I knew she was going to start making more shots than she did in the first few games.”

Stein also used an early break in the second set for a 3-0 lead, and broke again at love for a 5-1 cushion before ending the match when Taylor hit a service return into the net on the fourth match point.

And that prompted one final fist pump by the new champion.

“I guess it’s just part of me keeping my intensity and focus,” said Stein, who fought off leg cramps late in the match. “I don’t even realize when I do it.”