Souhegan's Maddie Daniel hits a return during the Sabers' Division II quarterfinal win over St. Thomas of Dover on Friday at Camp Young Judea in Amherst. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

AMHERST – There’s a difference between regular season team tennis and tournament tennis, and the Souhegan High School Sabers learned that today in a 7-2 Division II quarterfinal win over St. Thomas.

The top seeded, 13-1 Sabers had beaten the Saints 8-1 earlier in the season, but Friday’s matches at the spacious courts of Camp Young Judea were just about all close, which showed his players that difference.

“I think it did,” Souhegan coach Bo Dean said. “There’s a couple that got pretty nervous today, but I think overall they played hard, they realized it’s the state tournament, but they stayed on top of their game and stayed confident.

“Confidence has been a big plus for us.”

And now the Sabers jump from the frying pan into the fire, as the No. 5, 13-3 Alvirne Broncos await. Souhegan edged Alvirne 5-4 in Hudson. just last Sunday, and the two will meet again on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Camp Young Judea.

And the Broncos, who beat No. 4 Goffstown 7-2 on the road on Friday, have learned in their brief time in Division II the difference between regular season and tourney tennis as well as they beat Kennett in the first round by an identical score.

“They are a tough team,” Dean said.

The Sabers showed they are, too. They took four of six singles, with Maddie Daniel (No. 1, 8-1) and Tylee Jancar (No. 4, 8-2) cruising to start. St. Thomas got wins from Laia Esteban (8-3) and Caroline Martino (8-6) at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively.

But the Sabers put themselves in the driver’s seat first with Caroline Drum pulling away from the Saints Alex Knox at No. 2, 8-5, and then Misha Tower holding off Diana Pivirotto at No. 3, 8-6, after Pivirotto had closed to within 6-5. That made it 4-2 after singles.

Then Dean huddled his players together to let them know one more doubles win would do it. They ended up sweeping doubles, but first off the court was the No. 2 team of Tylee Jancar and Drum, 8-3. The Sabers were in the semis.

Did Dean expect this at the start of the year? Ironically it was the regular season match vs. the Saints that gave him an idea.

“After we played St. Thomas the first time,” Dean said. “They have some really good players, and we were able to win, and win some close matches. I knew then, maybe we’ve got something here. After that match, I thought, ‘We’ve got a chance to do something this year.'”

Daniel/Tower won 8-4 at No. 1 doubles and Keelin Lewellyn/Tess Jancar triumphed at No. 3, 8-2.

Here are the details from the area’s other two matches:

NO. 5 ALVIRNE 7, NO. 4 GOFFSTOWN 2

The Broncos again took four of six singles and then swept doubles. Singles winners included No. 3 Gabby Cummins (8-0), No. 4 Kenzie Legg (8-0), No. 5 Lindsay Gasdia (8-0) and No. 6 Emma Copp (8-4).

The doubles teams of No. Natalie McSweeney/Avery Baker (8-5), Cummins/Legg (8-2) and Gasdia/Marissa Murphy (8-5) all came out on top to provide the win. The Broncos have not lost a doubles match in the tourney, which is something to keep an eye on for Tuesday’s semis.

NO. 3 OYSTER RIVER 6, NO. 11 HOLLIS BROOKLINE 3

For a team that lost most of its lineup from last year’s runnerup season, the Cavaliers (8-8) did quite well, just three individual match wins from the semis.

They dropped four of six singles and the Bobcats took two of three doubles.

Singles winners for HB were Keira Swart (9-7) and Anuhy Chilakapati (8-6).

The pair teamed up for an 8-4 doubles win as well.

Oyster River will face No. 2 Portsmouth in the other semifinal Tuesday in Portsmouth.

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