The Vineyard boys tennis team ended its state championship run Monday, losing 0-5 to Weston in the semi-finals at Lexington High School.

“Our guys played hard . . . They outplayed us,” assistant coach Ryan Swayer said of the defending state champs.
 
Weston has won the state championship the last two years running and on the court they showed why they are the team to beat. But the Vineyarders held their own, particularly in the first set of their matches before eventually being worn down as the match continued: Chris Ferry (first singles) 4-6, 1-6; Max Potter (second singles) 3-6, 3-6; Eric Reubens (third singles) 6-7, 2-6; Owen Favreau and Spencer Pogue (first doubles) 1-6, 2-6; David Krauthhamer and Luke Nivala (second doubles) 2-6, 1-6.
 
In the end it was a season that saw the boys team return to prominence. The boys won the state championship in 2011 and 2012 but had not qualified for the tournament since then. This year they won the south sectional region and finished the season with a record of 20-1.
 
All but one player returns next year.
 
In the south sectional final, the team defeated defeated Dover-Sherborn 3-2. It was a close match with the singles players providing the firepower. Max Potter won at second singles 6-0, 6-4, and Eric Reubens won at third singles 6-3, 6-0. But Dover-Sherborn swept first and second doubles leveling the match at 2-2.

It all came down to the Vineyard’s Chris Ferry at first singles. In a match that saw multiple lead changes he eventually pulled out the win 7-5, 7-6 (8-6 tiebraker).

“Dover-Sherborn had a very strong, even team and our guys fought with incredible determination,” said coach Tony Omer after the match.

“On we go,” he added, looking forward to the state championships.

Due to the busy season not all parents were able to head off-Island to watch the match. John Potter, father of Max, received game time results on the Oak Bluffs Harbor as he prepared to take out a fishing charter aboard the Skipper.

After the match he got a text from Max saying it was the happiest he had ever been.

Mr. Potter shouted out the results to passersby on the harbor and to neighboring boats. Then he tooted the Skipper’s horn in celebration before heading out to sea, rods at the ready, sun drifting low on the horizon and a huge fatherly smile stretching from ear to ear.

Meanwhile, girls tennis will defend their title in the state championship match in Shrewsbury. The match was originally set for Tuesday but was rescheduled to Wednesday  due to inclement weather.