Superb tennis continues to be played in Forecaster Country and it’s very likely that several players and teams will make noise well into June.

With the team regular season nearing its end, individuals began qualifying for the singles tournament last weekend.

In Region 5 boys’ qualifiers, Falmouth’s Taylor Dimick and Nick Polko and Yarmouth’s Will Robinson moved on. Dimick, the No. 16 seed, was an 8-2 victor over South Portland’s Greg Reinhold, then eliminated NYA’s Dean Walters (who had downed Massabesic’s Shawn Carland, 8-4), 6-0, 6-0. Polko, seeded seventh, defeated Deering’s Jesse Barkin, 8-0, and Kennebunk’s Ian Burke, 6-1, 6-2. Robinson, the No. 8 seed, was an 8-0 winner over Gorham’s Tyler Strout, then eliminated Deering’s Jesse Butler, 6-3, 6-0.

Yarmouth’s David Olshan downed Thornton Academy’s Yide Yan, 8-0, then lost, 1-6, 0-6, to top seed Brandon Thompson of Waynflete. Greely’s Stephen Hayes eliminated Yarmouth’s Eli Pitegoff, 9-7, then fell, 6-4, 4-6, 1-6, to No. 10 Will Lenk of Cheverus.

Falmouth’s Tommy Bazarian lost, 8-3, to Lenk. Greely’s Ryan McKenna was ousted, 0-8, by Windham’s Ryan Johnson. NYA’s Chris Whiting lost, 4-8, by Bonny Eagle’s Zachary Carey. Freeport’s Ben Forster was eliminated in the preliminary round, 1-8, by Portland’s Ian Kuniholm.

On the girls’ side, eight local girls advanced.

Analise Kump got a bye into the second round, then eliminated Kennebunk’s Halley Peterson, 6-1, 6-3. Teammate Annie Criscione was an 8-0 winner over Deering’s Georgia Hutchins, then ousted Cape Elizabeth’s Kristin Kerney, 6-0, 6-0.

Falmouth’s third entrant, Libby Voccola also advanced, downing Kennebunk’s Katie Kelley, 8-0, and Deering’s Jean McCabe, 6-0, 6-0.

NYA’s Thu-Trang Ho defeated Lake Region’s Kathryn Merrill in walkover, then downed Biddeford’s Megan Boisclair, 6-0, 6-0.  Teammate Anna Jaeger beat Cheverus’ Natasha Spellman in a walkover and Portland’s Corey Carmichael, 6-3, 6-2.

NYA’s Sarah Jordan also moved on by virtue of wins over Freeport’s Erin Hall, 8-1, and Thornton Academy’s Lexie Carter, 6-1, 6-1.

Yarmouth’s Hannah Potter beat South Portland’s Alison Dolbow, 8-0, and Westbrook’s Mallory Driscoll, 6-2, 6-1.

Freeport’s Marissa Lewis beat Biddeford’s Kathleen Labbe in a walkover, then won, 6-3, 6-1, over Scarborough’s Shannon Eddy.

Yarmouth’s Maddie Pizey beat Greely’s Marina Goding, 8-5, then lost, 0-6, 0-6 to Gorham’s Hannah Shorty. Greely’s Chelsea Pine defeated Fryeburg’s Katherine Russell, 9-8 (5), but then lost, 0-6, 0-6, to Cape Elizabeth’s Jenni Hewes. Yarmouth’s Smythe Eddy lost, 1-8, to Kaitlyn Thompson of Waynflete. Greely’s Isobel Fresne lost, 3-8, to Kerney. Freeport’s Maggie Stavros was ousted, 3-8, by Boisclair.

The singles tournament continues Friday, May 28, with the Round of 32. The Round of 16 and the quarterfinals are the following day and the semifinals and championship matches will be Monday, May 31. Each of those rounds will be held at Bates College in Lewiston.

Turning to team competition, Falmouth’s two-time defending Class B state champion girls’ squad extended its three-year match win streak to 37 Friday with a 5-0 home victory over previously unbeaten NYA.

The Yachtsmen improved to 9-0 Monday with a 5-0 win at Lake Region and have a stanglehold on the top spot in the Western B Heal Points standings.

The Panthers, three-time reigning Class C champs, fell to 7-1 with the loss to Falmouth, but still lead the Western C Heals.

Yarmouth entered the week 5-3 and fourth in Western B, riding a three-match win streak.

Greely won twice last week to even its mark at 4-4 (good for 10th in the region), but the Rangers close with a brutal stretch of Cape Elizabeth twice and NYA and Waynflete once apiece. Freeport began the week 1-6 (12th in Western B).

On the boys’ side, defending Class B champion Yarmouth fell to 3-5 Monday after a 4-1 loss to Cape Elizabeth.

The Clippers were 12th in the Heals as of Tuesday morning and have some work to do to make the postseason as only the top eight teams qualify.

Falmouth will have no problem making the cut. The Yachtsmen improved to 8-1 Monday with a 5-0 home win over Lake Region and are third behind Gardiner and Lincoln Academy in the standings. Falmouth hosted undefeated Class C powerhouse Waynflete Wednesday as it looked to avenge its only loss.

Greely is 4-6 after a 5-0 home loss to Waynflete Monday and is 13th in the Heals.

Freeport took a 2-6 mark (and the No. 14 spot in the Heals) into Monday’s match at Fryeburg.

In Western C, NYA is still seeking its first victory after losing at home to York Monday to fall to 0-9. The Panthers were 12th in the latest 13-team standings.

The team tennis postseason begins June 1 with the preliminary round. The quarterfinals are June 3 and the semis June 5. Each of those rounds will feature the higher seed hosting. The regional finals are Wednesday, June 9, in Lewiston. The state championship matches are Saturday, June 12, at Colby College in Waterville.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net