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FORT MYERS — While junior Lauren Embree was whittling her way through the field of the prestigious Easter Bowl in Rancho Mirage, Calif., last week, her Lely teammates were being blitzed by Naples in the Class 2A-District 12 final.

Unseeded Embree lost 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, in Saturday’s Easter Bowl final against top seed Melanie Oudin of Georgia, but the defending state singles and doubles champ returned to the East Coast in time to play in Tuesday’s regional matchup against District 11 champ Bishop Verot.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, Embree’s teammates were unable to break through as Lely dropped four of the five singles matches. Both coaches agreed to scrap doubles as the Vikings had already clinched the victory.

Because she missed the district tourney, Embree could only play in the state tourney as a team member, something that Lely coach Kevin Smith obviously disagrees with.

“There’s no way you should deny the returning state champion,” Smith said. “It’s unfortunate that she has to retire from this season. I think it’s kind of an unfair rule that she wins all her singles matches but is disqualified from the rest of the state tournament. So it’s disappointing in those terms.

“But I get her back for one more season.”

Embree smiled and shrugged.

“I just do it to have fun with my friends and to support Lely,” Embree said of high school team tennis. “It’s a lot different than USTA tournaments.”

But Embree’s results were about the same.

On a blustery and unseasonably cool afternoon on the clay courts of the Ace Tennis Center, Embree blew by wide-eyed Bishop Verot senior Melanie Albert 6-0, 6-0 in the No. 1 match.

Utilizing a precision two-handed backhand and a lethal, looping forehand, Embree dominated.

“She did have every shot,” Albert said. “She is definitely the best player I ever played.”

On Court 2, Vikings freshman Mariel Rickert blanked senior Kara Sajdek 6-0, 6-0; Sara Lui defeated sophomore Jenny Stout 6-3, 6-1; Danielle Puls beat senior Anna Radliff 6-1, 6-1 and Kayli Komray shot down sophomore Katrese Daniel 6-0, 6-2.

“I’m very proud of our girls,” Smith said. “We play in one of the toughest counties that there is, and these girls continued to battle and work hard the whole year. They didn’t leave anything behind. They played with all their might, so I have nothing to regret.”

Bishop Verot moved on to face Naples on Friday in second-round regional action.