By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The Viking girls tennis team experienced its first regular season loss since the 2008 season, losing to Mount Desert Island Saturday, 3-2.
Caribou coach John Habeeb said the team’s limited time on outdoor courts during the preseason was certainly a factor in the defeat.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
Phil Smith, Caribou’s No. 3 singles player, connects on a forehand during Monday’s home match against Houlton. Smith salvaged his team’s only victory on the afternoon.
MDI, who Habeeb said will be among the top contenders for an Eastern Maine Class B title this year along with the Vikings and Camden Hills, moved to 4-0 on the season thanks to wins in singles play by Grace Robbins over Laura Collins, 8-4, and Julia Christie over Karlee Pinette, 8-3, and a doubles victory by Mia Musetti and Caroline Brown over the Vikings’ Alexa Massey and Aly Michaud, 8-6.
Caribou’s wins were recorded by Jenna Selander in first singles over Mea Clark, 8-1, and by the doubles team of Katie Keaton and Ashley Richards over Megan Phelps and Hannah Worcester, 8-6.
The Vikes finally opened its home season Monday against Houlton. Caribou players gave up a total of just two games in the easy 5-0 triumph. Selander won her match, 8-0, while Collins picked up an 8-2 win over her opponent, Megan Gerath.
Both doubles teams for Caribou earned shutout victories.
On Friday, the Vikings had posted a 5-0 blanking of Presque Isle at UMPI.
In boys’ action, Caribou managed a 4-1 win over MDI, but dropped its other two matches.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
Senior Jenna Selander reaches down for a shot during a volley against her Houlton opponent at Monday’s home match. Caribou improved to 2-1 following the 5-0 victory over the Shiretowners.
Against the Trojans, Matt Coty and Phil Smith were both singles winners, with Coty knocking off Andrew Dalton, 8-4, and Smith besting Ian Sampson, 8-5. The doubles team of Lucien Caverhill-Tyler Willey prevailed by an 8-6 score over Elliot Klaver and Sam Jacobson, while Zac Gorence and Cameron Hill combined for a hard-fought 8-6 win over Caleb Cough and Luke Krebs.
In first singles, Ezra Duplissie-Cyr was beaten by Garrett Lee, 8-2.
Smith came up with Caribou’s only victory in Monday’s match against Houlton, while the Vikes were shut out by the Presque Isle Wildcats on Friday afternoon.
