WATERVILLE — Waterville Senior High School’s No. 1 singles player Colleen O’Donnell walked off the court after winning her match with Caribou’s Carlee Pinette. Waterville coach Jill Cristan quickly did the math. O’Donnell’s win was the Purple Panthers’ third win of the day, and that clinched the Eastern B title.

“They played their game,” Cristan said of her team, “and that’s all I can ask of them… It was much tougher than the score reflected.”

Waterville won the match 4-1, for its second straight regional title. Waterville (15-0) will face Western B champ Falmouth (15-0) in a rematch of last year’s state title match at 10 a.m. Saturday at Colby College. Falmouth is playing for its fifth consecutive state championship, while Waterville is in the state match for the fifth time in seven years.

“We know Falmouth is going to be a tough team, but we’re more prepared knowing what we’re getting into, especially for the singles players,” O’Donnell said. “And I think we’re excited. We’re ready to go.”

The Panthers’ first win of the match came at second doubles, where Brittany Saucier and Melanie Bureau defeated Clara Collins and Emma Duplissie-Cyr, 6-0, 6-2.

Olivia Lopes gave Waterville its second win, taking a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Ashley Richards at No. 2 singles.

“She was trying to keep me moving,” Lopes said. “She threw in some short balls, had me running around the court.”

Shortly after Lopes’ win, O’Donnell finished her match with Pinette, winning 6-2, 6-3 to secure Waterville’s victory.

“I was just trying to hit it hard and hit it more consistently,” O’Donnell said.

Before the match, Cristan told her team to relax and have fun. In singles play, Cristan asked her trio of singles players, O’Donnell, Lopes and Jayme Saulter, to work on approaching the net, and playing the patient tennis they’d played all season.

“I just think our patience pays off,” Cristan said. “We might be a human backboard, but we’re not one that’s going to get it done in three shots. We’re more of a patient, set it up kind of team.”

In her No. 3 singles match, Saulter took the first set over Katie Keaton, 6-2. Keaton jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set, before Saulter rallied for the 7-6 (1) win to seal the match. Saulter’s comeback in the second set was indicative of Waterville’s heady play, Cristan said.

“They rise to the occasion. They’re a strong team. They’re definitely a thinking team,” Cristan said.

Caribou (14-1) took its only win at first doubles. Alexa Massey and Erin Patton defeated Lauren Hallenbeck and Emily Dufour, 6-4, 7-5 (5).

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

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