Mount Desert Island’s Gabe Michael competes during a high school tennis match against Ellsworth on May 24 in Ellsworth. Michael won his match against Ellsworth’s Andrew McCullough as the MDI boys’ team beat Ellsworth 3-2. ISLANDER PHOTO BY MIKE MANDELL

Tennis playoff run ends with loss to Ellsworth

June 1, 2018 by Mike Mandell on High School Sports Scores, Sports, Tennis

BAR HARBOR — The Mount Desert Island High School varsity tennis teams ended their seasons on the road in the Class B North playoffs Tuesday afternoon.

On the boys’ side, No. 12 MDI traveled to Ellsworth to take on the Eagles for the second time in six days after beating them 3-2 last week. This time, fifth-seeded Ellsworth (8-5) came out on top 4-1 to advance to the regional quarterfinals.

September Murray and Michael Borge gave MDI its lone win of the day with a doubles win over Ellsworth’s Dylan Taplin and Keegan Gray. Drake Janes nearly added a singles win against the Eagles’ Arthur Jodrey but lost in three sets.

On the girls’ side, 11th-ranked MDI fell 5-0 in its preliminary matchup against No. 6 Erskine Academy. Ellie Bridgers was the top player on the day for the Trojans, taking Erskine’s Ellie Hodgkin to three sets before losing 6-4, 4-6, 4-6.

Prior to Tuesday’s loss, the MDI boys’ team toughed out a 3-2 win over Ellsworth in the regular season finale last Thursday to clinch the final Class B North prelim berth.

Murray and Gabe Michael gave MDI wins over Ellsworth’s Kenneth Hultman and Andrew McCullough, respectively, to put the Trojans ahead 2-1 after singles play. Borge and Lanvin Estacio then won their doubles set 8-5 to seal the victory.

Kate Hoff and Rachelle Swanson gave MDI a win on the girls’ side with an 8-4 win over Faith Braley and Emma Whitney. Ellsworth beat the Trojans 4-1.

Ending their MDI tennis careers are seniors Bridgers, Emily Banks, Bailey Cust and Emily Homer. The boys’ team is graduating Janes, Michael, Borge, Max Craigo, Estacio, Nolan Murphy, Warren Young and Kristian Wehrfritz.

Singles tourney

The following day, Janes and Bridgers both finished among the state’s top 48 players at the state singles tournament at Deering Oaks in Portland. Bridgers advanced to the top 32 after beating Winthrop’s Nora Conrad 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round.

“Ellie and Drake both played very well,” MDI Head Coach Ben Rowell said. “[To get as far as they did] is a great accomplishment for them.

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Mike Mandell

Mike Mandell is the sports editor at The Ellsworth American and Mount Desert Islander. He began working for The American in August 2016. You can reach him via email at mmandell@ellsworthamerican.com.