PORTLAND — It was good to be a seeded player Friday in the first round of the Maine Principals’ Association singles tournament — unless you were facing Waterville’s Sammi Saulter.
The Purple Panthers’ ace dispatched Lindsey Nevin of George Stevens Academy in the first round before recording the upset of the day in the girls bracket with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 8 Crystal Bell of John Bapst in the round of 32 at the MPA singles tournament at Deering Oaks.
Otherwise, it was business as usual for the higher seeds. Aside from the obvious — the extra rest and the ability to sleep in — the seeded players also avoided the sun for the first half of a sweltering spring day.
Katrina Mason was one of those not seeded, but drawn into a bye. Her match was the closest of the round of 32. She prevailed, 7-5, 7-5, over Cara Foggarty of York.
Top-seed Rosemary Campanella breezed into the round of 16 with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Fiona Laing of Lincoln Academy. Her sister, second-seeded Grace Campanella, dispatched Miriam Nelson of Ellsworth.
Abby Svor, seeded ninth in the 48-player girls field, made quick work of Eleanor Bridgers of MDI, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the round of 16 on Saturday. To do so, she had to fight through not only her opponent’s shots, but a biting breeze that swayed the treetops all afternoon and cause some serve tosses to go awry.
Svor was among a healthy Lewiston contingent on hand Friday — all three singles players for both the Devils’ girls and boys teams made this year’s round of 48. Her twin sister Julia won her opening-round match against Daphne Stratton-Gignac of York before bowing out to third-seeded Izzy Evans of Greely. Teammate Roslynn Wailus also won her first match against Sarah Pelletier of Fort Kent before falling to Cape Elizabeth’s Kate Gilman in the round of 32.
“It’s just great for them all to get out here and experience this tournament,” Lewiston girls’ coach Anita Murphy said. “For then this year, especially the freshmen, it’s about making sure they have fun and get a feel for the tournament.”
On the boys side, Lewiston’s Caden Smith had to wait what felt like forever to play his first match. The day started for the players at 8 a.m., but Smith’s first match wasn’t until after 6 p.m.
That wait contributed to a tough match for Smith, who bowed out to Falmouth’s Matthew Ray in the round of 32.
Teammate Sam Frechette opened with an early win over Kazu Kawashima of Foxcroft Academy before falling to eighth-seeded Zach Flannery of Hampden Academy. Ben St. Laurent, drawn into a bye, fell to Yarmouth’s William Nicholas in the round of 32 in the lone three-set match of the round.
In the main boys draw, the top seeds all advanced into the round of 16, including No. 1 Nick Forester of Falmouth and No. 2 Declan Archer of Kennebunk/Wells, who breezed to straight-sets wins.
Other area players who competed Friday included Nora Conrad of Winthrop, who lost in the first round to Bridgers; Maeve Hickey of Mt. Blue, who lost to Miriam Nelson of Ellsworth; Chris Marshall of Mt. Blue, who fell in the round of 48 to Charlie O’Brien of Camden Hills; and Joe Crandall of Mt. Blue, who lost to Abe LeMole of Oceanside in the opening round.
Play is set to resume with the round of 16 on Saturday at Deering Oaks. The matches will be pushed inside to Racquet and Fitness in Portland in the event of inclement weather.
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