Cougar play tennis doubleheader

RUMFORD -- Good weather is upon us, let's play two! That’s exactly what the Dirigo girls' tennis team did.

The Lady Cougars played Mountain Valley at its regularly scheduled time and then the lights were turned on at Pierce courts for a match against Jay.

The results were mixed, but a 4-1 win over Carrabec completed its regular-season schedule at 9-3, compared to 4-8 in 2010.

The action began with a 4-1 win against rival MV, in pro-set matches.

Betsy Noyes avenged a three-set loss earlier to the Falcons' Alyssa Greene, 10-7. Noyes showed great patience and played the long point, waiting for the shot she needed for a winner. Noyes gained control early by winning two games, but Greene made a run at her, winning six of nine games to trail 6–5. After a coaches break, Noyes broke her serve and held on for the win.

“It was a great match,” said Dirigo coach Art Chamberlin. “We decided on pro-sets partly because the weather was threatening, and partly because of the upcoming doubleheader.” 

At No. 2 singles, Addy Fuller battled a stubborn Hillary Cayer, winning 10-4. Meredith Brown won at third singles 10-1 against Kelcie Virgin.

“That was a better match than the score indicates,” said Chamberlin. "Meri has found her game this season, moving and hitting much cleaner shots, creating points not just playing the ball back.”

In doubles, Cassidy Bigos and Ryanne Dailey got going early in their set and dominated the net play to win 10-4 over Taylor Dickson and Vanessa Swett.

Coral Howe and Grace Hebert had been undefeated at second doubles. However, the Falcons' Steph Garcia and Abbey Pinkham rallied to win, 10-8. 

Hebert and Howe got back on track and won their point Jay and came from behind at Carrabec to get to a 10-all tie and win the tiebreaker, 7-4.

“We were close to getting Jay under the lights,” said Chamberlin, regarding the 3-2 loss.

First doubles (Emily Ray subbed in for Bigos, couldn't stay for the late game) lost a close 10-8 contest and Brown lost to Buotte, 8-10, so either of those could have changed the team score. Jay had played at St. Doms and won.

Athletic director Charlie Swan bought them pizza and then played on until approximately 9:30 in the mist under the lights.