Coach Alex Arsenault has five players in mind for the three singles positions on the 2017 Boothbay Region High School girls tennis team. Four of those players are returning veterans and one is a newcomer.

Arsenault also has two other veterans returning and three newcomers who will also vie for a starting doubles position.

Seniors Madison Gaudette, Emma Rideout, Lovely Uberita and newcomer Madison Stahle, along with junior Eve Dolloff, will battle for the singles slots. "They've all been competitive with each other this spring," said Arsenault. Gaudette, Rideout and Stahle are this year’s team captains.

Juniors Kayla Lewis and Annie Bryer are returning to the team and newcomers include junior Emma Pearce, junior Samantha Clarkson and freshman Delly Clarkson.

"We've had a good preseason, the girls have shown good dedication and we won our scrimmage at Medomak Valley last week," said Arsenault.

The Seahawks’ regular season starts Friday, April 28 with a 4 p.m. home match against the Dirigo Cougars. Arsenault said he expects Winthrop and Hall-Dale to be among the top competitors in the conference this season. Boothbay, which only lost two players to graduation, finished 6-6 in 2016 and landed in seventh place in the South C standings. Second-seeded Winthrop defeated the Seahawks, 5-0, in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs last season.