This past tennis season, Mt. Blue High School senior Sullivan Abbott was a more patient, calm player. That’s not to say when he wanted to or had to let it rip, Abbott couldn’t bring it.

“He has power. Sully has a huge serve,” Zac Conlogue, Mt. Blue boys tennis coach, said. “When he’s on, his approach shots are unhittable.”

It was a newfound ability to control and harness that power at the right times this season that helped Abbott emerge as one of the top players in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference. Abbott went 12-2 this season, and reached the first round of the state singles tournament. Abbott also was 2-0 in the playoffs, helping the Cougars advance to the Eastern Class A semifinals.

For his efforts, Abbott is the Morning Sentinel Boys Tennis Player of the Year. Ilyas Khan of Waterville also was considered.

“I feel like I stepped up, as far as consistency goes,” Abbott said. “Last year, I had stretches where I played well and stretches where I didn’t play so well.”

The biggest reason he was able to play more consistently, Abbott said, was changing his mental approach. In the past, any struggle would become a distraction. That wasn’t the case this season. Conlogue said he saw a more mature player in Abbott this season. A player, who even though was not selected a captain, became a team leader, offering help and support to his teammates like a second coach.

“He had to step up in other ways. He was a leader even though he wasn’t a captain,” Conlogue said.

“I changed my mindset. I was in control of my emotions,” Abbott said.

Abbott also entered the season in better shape, and that helped him get through longer and tougher matches.

“I felt like I was hitting the ball better and came in with better conditioning,” Abbott said. “I wasn’t feeling sluggish at the end of matches.”

While he didn’t rely on his power, it was still a big part of Abbott’s game.

“The approach shot is one of my favorite shots. I love that ability to just overpower the opponent,” Abbott said.

Abbott plans to travel to Virginia this summer to play in U.S. Tennis Association tournaments. Abbott plans to take a year off before deciding on his college plans, but he expects to choose a school at which he can continue his tennis career.

“I plan to get down (to Virginia) sometime this summer,” Abbott said. “It will be nice to be able to have that experience. Playing against so many talented guys will help me.”

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM

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