But Hammond, as she has been since she started at St. Dom’s, was also regarded as one of the top players in Maine.

And she did not disappoint, reaching the semifinal round of the MPA singles tourney for the third consecutive year.

But perhaps more satisfying, not only to Hammond, but to the St. Dom’s tennis community, is that the junior, one of seven starting juniors on the roster, helped lead the Saints to only the school’s second Class C state tennis title, and first in 20 years.

“We know that in most matches, she will be a solid win for us, so we play around that, we play with confidence,” teammate Rachel Kurtz said of Hammond after the team won the state title.

“We’re a strong team, and those (doubles wins) are the wins we need to get,” teammate KK Linck said after the team’s regional final win over Waynflete. “Always having Bethany at the No. 1 position helps a lot, too, so if we can win our two doubles points, we feel pretty good about it.”

For her efforts, Hammond is the 2016 Sun Journal All-Region Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year.

2016 Sun Journal All-Region Girls’ Tennis

FIRST TEAM

Bethany Hammond, St. Dom’s, Jr., Singles

Maddi Roy, Lewiston, Sr., Singles

Megan Chamberland, Winthrop, Jr., Singles

Maddie LeBlond, Lewiston, Jr., Doubles

Chloe Morin, Lewiston, Jr., Doubles

KK Linck, St. Dom’s, Jr., Doubles

Kassaundra Stacy, St. Dom’s, Jr., Doubles

SECOND TEAM

Alanna Taylor, Lewiston, Sr., Singles

Eryn Doiron, Mt. Blue, Sr., Singles

Rachel Kurtz, St. Dom’s, Jr., Singles

Olivia Audet, Winthrop, Sr., Doubles

Corinna Coulton, Winthrop, Jr., Doubles

Laurel Christopher, St. Dom’s, Jr., Doubles

Hannah Phelan, St. Dom’s, Jr., Doubles