LEWISTON — Helena Nelson is a sophomore, and that makes her the wise veteran mentor in this situation. Cici Benson is a freshman, the neophyte.
They are young, but put them on a tennis court together, and they are dominant.
Wednesday afternoon at Bates College, Nelson and Benson completed an undefeated season as Falmouth’s No. 1 doubles team with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Brunswick’s Sophia Robertson and Bella Farkas. Their triumph was a piece of the Navigators’ third consecutive Class A team championship.
“It was a lot of competition for who would be paired up with who,” Nelson said in reference to the preseason. “I’m really happy I’m paired up with her.”
Their season included winning the state doubles championship last month.
If it was as easy as just pairing two players and rolling the balls onto the court, Falmouth girls tennis coach Larry Nichols wouldn’t worry about it. But there’s chemistry to consider — is this team going to click?
Nelson and Benson didn’t click at first. Communication was, to put it kindly, lacking. Collisions as they both went for a return shot. Balls bouncing between them that should be played. But they learned from it, Nelson said. They figured out that communication leads to winning points, which leads to winning matches, which leads to winning state titles.
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“In the beginning, I thought, wow, I don’t know what I’m doing,” Nichols said. “Then it quickly turned into a situation where you couldn’t not put them together.”
In Wednesday’s match, they switched with fluid ease, moving about the court and giving each other space. They keep their communication short and simple.
“We just say words and hope the other person listens,” Nelson said.
Nelson played second doubles last season. Nichols thought the experience she gained would make her a good fit with Benson. After the early struggles, he was proven right. Nelson’s optimism and enthusiasm rubs off on Benson.
You don’t think of a sophomore being a mentor, but on the court with Benson, that’s exactly what Nelson is.
“The reason it works is because Helena is the calming factor,” Nichols said. “You have to have someone who has a very good learning curve. Cici keeps the ball in play, starts to understand angles, and just stepped up. … They communicate so well, and they adjust according to the opponent, which doesn’t (usually) happen with a sophomore and freshman.”
Wednesday, Benson was at her best playing the back, returning the ball and allowing Nelson to prowl near the net, where she was adept at making quick, short returns to places neither Robertson nor Farkas could get to.
“As the season goes on, we know when we want to switch. We know what the other person is going to do. It just gets more and more natural,” Benson said.
Most importantly, they don’t go for a point when the point isn’t there. Nelson and Benson are content to make a simple return and regroup, Nichols said. Let it play out. They’re playing at a much higher level than he expected when he put them together in March, Nichols said.
And they could be together for another season. Falmouth isn’t losing any seniors from this state championship squad. It’s too early to say what next season could look like, but Nichols can envision a scenario in which Nelson and Benson are his top doubles team again.
“That would be interesting,” he said. “I’m selfishly excited about watching them play more.”
For their part, Nelson and Benson would welcome staying together.
“We would love that,” Benson said. “At least I would.”
She looked at her partner, and Nelson smiled an affirmative. There was that communication again. Simple, and for the win.
