RallyNorth.net

Sun, Jun 08, 2014 03:30 PM @ Andover

Team	Final
Barnstable	2
Andover	3

Andover doesn't cramp like LeBron, pulls out 3-2 state semifinal thriller

Monday, June, 16 By Christopher Smith

BURLINGTON — Give superstar LeBron James an assist for the Andover High girls tennis victory yesterday.

Golden Warriors coach Alan Hibino — who bears a striking resemblance to LeBron’s coach Erik Spoelstra — did some research after James cramped up during Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals last week.

That research became quite useful yesterday when Andover’s No. 2 singles player Karena Yan began cramping during her third set, which also was the decisive match in the Division 1 state semifinals against Barnstable.

“I was reading about LeBron and they’re saying the cramps don’t come from a lack of fluid,” said Hibino, who turns 34 today. “They come from salt loss. I took a Gatorade, put three teaspoons of salt in it and that’s what she was drinking, grimacing every sip of the way because it tasted terrible. But honestly, if I wasn’t reading about that all with LeBron I would have had just no idea.”

With Andover and fellow unbeaten Barnstable deadlocked at 2-2, Yan won the deciding match over Maggie Pedicini 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-2 to lead Andover into the Division 1 state finals Wednesday against the winner of today’s Shrewsbury-Amherst match.

“She’s as tough as nails,” Hibino said about Yan.

Having disposed of the three-time defending South champ Red Raiders, Andover will play for its first state girls tennis title since 2007. That’s believed to be the only tennis state title (boys or girls) in school history.

Yan wouldn’t have got the chance to be the hero if it had not been for No. 1 singles player Samantha Camilo — a.k.a King Comeback Camilo.

Flashback to the Division 1 North finals where Camilo was down 2-5 in the second set and facing match point against Westford. Camilo rallied for the win to give Andover the 3-2 win.

Yesterday was the same story when facing Barnstable’s Lauren Persson, who was ahead in the final set 6-5 and ahead 40-15 with match point right there for the taking.

Camilo never let Persson get to match point.

“At that point, I tried to be consistent as possible and go for all the shots I could,” Camilo said.

“Sometimes I get down, but really I have to be in the mentality, ‘I’m doing this for my team. I have to pull through for my team.’ I think that’s what I did when we played Westford. And then today, the same thing. I got down, but the mentality, you just have to stay strong.”

Camilo — who has been Andover’s top singles player for the past three years — prevailed in her match, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3).

“She just never gives up,” Hibino said. “She’s relentless. Honestly, all I say to her is, ‘You can do this. You’re the captain. Lead. You’re a warrior.’

“That’s what she needs to hear. Other people need different things. But to her, I say, ‘Just do it.’ We could get a Nike contract for the number of times I’ve said ‘Just do it’ this year.

Yan and Pedicini sat and watched Camilo and Persson’s final set before stepping back onto the court for their final set.

Pressure?

Well, Yan could have felt pressure because she actually lost in doubles in the decisive match of then top-seeded Andover’s 3-2 loss in the North quarterfinals last spring.

“That was really heartbreaking,” Yan said. “So I’m just glad it didn’t happen again.”

Hibino said about Yan, “She’s like the classic counter-puncher in boxing. She’s never going to knock you out but she’ll jab, jab, jab and when she sees her opening, she’ll take it. I think her biggest key is just her mental toughness.”

Andover will take its perfect record (21-0) into Wednesday’s championship.

“This year has been incredible,” Camilo said. “These girls mean everything to me. And playing on the tennis team the last four years has been so amazing. And the fact that it’s my senior year, and the we’re pulling through and doing so well, it’s just incredible.”

Andover certainly is the king of the comebacks.

“They’ve just battled from the practice courts every day to our league matches to our nonleague matches to the state tournament,” Hibino said. “It has come down to the last match in three of the four rounds.”