WATERVILLE – The heat of the day was getting to Sarah Albertson, not to mention a stubborn opponent.

But with the help of some shade, a banana, a break between sets and sheer determination, the Camden Hills of Rockport junior regrouped to win the decisive match as the Windjammers defeated Presque Isle 3-2 to win the Eastern Maine Class B girls tennis title at Colby College on Wednesday.

Camden Hills, which had lost in the regional final each of the last two years, advances to Saturday’s state title matches in Lewiston, along with Eastern C champion Madawaska and Class A winner Lewiston.

Victories by Camden Hills’ Erika Blauth at first singles and Presque Isle’s Amy Michaud at third singles left those teams tied at 1-1, with the final three matches to be decided in third sets.

“All of us were on the sidelines biting our nails just waiting to see what was going to happen,” said Blauth. “We were really stressed out because they were all really close matches.”

No. 4 Camden Hills took a 2-1 lead when its first doubles team of Lizzie Mitchell and Amanda Kava rallied for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Brittany Bearden and Alyssa Farley.

That left the ‘Jammers needing one more point.

Albertson was locked in a tight match with Presque Isle second seed Allison Dean, with Albertson winning the first set 7-5 before Dean rallied to square the match with a 6-4 second-set victory.

“In the second set I felt like I couldn’t possibly play a third set, but I just went out there and was thinking I’d try to play my best and whatever happens happens,” said Albertson.

What happened was that Albertson took control of the third set early, moving out to a 5-1 lead before earning a match-clinching 6-3 victory.

Presque Isle’s second doubles duo of Jen Steeves and Madelyn Carson capped off the match with a 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Kerry Gross and Katie Weiler.

“It’s really exciting,” said Blauth. “The last two years we’ve faced Waterville in the Easterns and lost real close matches. This year we didn’t know what would happen, but we’re playing really well right now. We’re really peaking.”

In Class C, second-seeded Madawaska earned its title with a 4-1 victory over No. 4 Dexter.

Experience played a role in this match, as the bulk of the Madawaska squad was back from last year’s team that reached the final before dropping a 3-2 decision to George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill.

“We had that experience from last year,” said Madawaska coach Dean Gendreau, “and that helped us.”

Dexter, meanwhile, may have arrived in the regional final a year ahead of schedule, with coach Peter Murray’s Tigers fielding five sophomores among seven varsity players.

“We definitely didn’t know what to expect [from Dexter], but we did really well,” said Madawaska third singles player Megan Hebert. “Both teams did well.”

Hebert, one of three Madawaska seniors, scored the match’s first point with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Carol Wing at third singles. Sophomore Audrey Bergeron followed with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Dexter’s Sarah Murray.

The Owls’ first doubles tandem of Cindy Lagasse and Jamie Nadeau scored the clinching point with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Crissy Mountain and Danielle Burton before Dexter struck back at second doubles as Cally Mountain and Katie Eastman topped Denyse Guerette and Jenna Parent 6-2, 6-3.

Madawaska’s Nicole Daigle outlasted Dexter’s Denise Robinson in the longest match of the meet, 7-5, 6-2 at first singles.

“I started off with no intensity out there but I ended up coming back,” said Daigle. “I just worked hard and knew I could do whatever I set my mind to, and I came out on top.”

In Class A, second-ranked Lewiston won its third straight EM title with a 5-0 shutout of No. 3 Brunswick. The unbeaten Blue Devils, who have won the last two state titles, scored five straight-set victories in the regional final, led by top seed Chantalle Lavertu’s 6-2, 6-1 win over Lucy Morrell.

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