WHITE RIVER JUNCTION— The Lebanon High School Raiders girls tennis team, which came into the week having not played any matches since the first week of April because of weather and having a different week of April break than most other schools, squeaked out a victory over the Kearsarge Cougars in an NHIAA D-III match on Wednesday at Maxfield Sports Complex.

Raiders coach Rob Johnstone said he was pleased with his team’s performance, which included verdicts in singles from Lebanon’s No. 1, senior Laura Hines (8-6), as well as junior Mari Utell (8-1), senior Amalia Mladek (8-4) and freshman Samyra Graber (8-1).

It was a comeback doubles win by the No. 3 team of junior Payton Breedlove and senior Nina Ellingson (8-3) that clinched the Lebanon victory.

“I’m really happy with how they played, because we knew coming in there were going to be those swing matches,” said Johnstone.

In Lebanon’s previous matchup with the Cougars, which Lebanon won 7-2, the Raiders had some close wins.

On Wednesday, Lebanon flew out to a quick 4-0 match lead in singles, but Kearsarge cut the deficit with two close singles wins and a doubles triumph.

The surge from the Cougars forced the Raiders into a situation where either the No. 1 or No. 3 doubles teams had to get a match win to secure victory.

Johnstone was complimentary of the composure demonstrated by Breedlove and Ellingson.

“This week is the first time they’ve played together as a pair, and they got down immediately 1-0 and 3-1 and they came back to win 8-3, so very happy with that. … Mentally to be able to deal with that pressure and actually come through,” he said.

The top doubles pairing of Hines and Utell fell just short.

Weather has played havoc with the team’s schedule. Lebanon also played matches on Monday and Tuesday, winning over Littleton and Inter-Lakes, respectively. They had another match on Thursday and two scheduled for Friday.

Even with limited practice time because of the weather and a slate that includes six matches in five days, Hines didn’t make any excuses for the doubles result.

“I think I definitely could have played better,” the senior said.

Hines, the Raiders’ top seed, is one half of the Hines tennis dynamos for Lebanon. Her twin brother, Kyle, is the No. 1 player on the boys’ teams.

“I think it’s pretty cool. It’s definitely brought us closer, and we can share a hobby together,” said Laura Hines.

Their father, Rick, is an avid tennis player and helped them hone their skills.

“We have a pretty close relationship, and he’s a really great teacher,” Laura Hines said. “When he’s teaching me, he doesn’t even feel like my dad; he feels like an actual coach.”

Kyle Hines began tennis lessons in the seventh grade, but Laura started playing just last year.

“He’s been training us like ‘Rocky’-style,” said Kyle Hines.

Laura Hines began the season as the team’s No. 6 singles player last spring and has risen to the top spot.

“I think the cool thing is they picked tennis when they were ready to pick tennis,” Johnstone said of the talented siblings.

Lebanon’s victory pushed the team’s record to 7-0. The Raiders were scheduled to travel to Moultonborough on Thursday and face Prospect Mountain and Sanborn on Friday back at Maxfield.

Michael Coughlin Jr. can be reached at mcoughlin@vnews.com.