For the fifth straight year the Vineyard girls tennis team has won the state championship. They secured the win 3-2 against Winchester High School in dramatic fashion.

The division two finals match took place at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury.

Number one singles player Kelly Klaren set the tone by defeating Caroline Fredey 6-0, 6-0 in just 32 minutes. Victoria Scott at second singles followed with a quick win of her own against Olivia DeMichaelis 6-2, 6-0.

Kelly Klaren opened the match at first singles winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-0. — Ray Ewing

But in a rematch of last year’s final, Winchester was not going down without a fight. Winchester’s Taylor Kenrich and Lauren Chilton at first doubles defeated Molly Pogue and Chesca Potter, and Winchester’s Grace Thompson and Maddie Tahnk at second doubles defeated Alexandra Rego and Tessa Hammond to tie the overall match at 2-2.

All eyes turned to third singles where the Vineyard's Hannah Rabasca was playing Nicole Costales to decide the championship.

Rabasca won a quick first set 6-2, but some crafty lob play by Costales stopped the momentum. Rabasca dropped the second set 3-6. The third set loomed and both players dug in from the start. The first game alone included nine deuces, until Rabasca finally prevailed. After that Rabasca was off to the races, winning the next two games to lead 3-0. But Costales rallied, winning the next two games to put the set at 3-2. The two battled back and forth, trading games until at one point it was 4-4. Then Rabasca took the next two games to win the set, match and championship.

Huge crowd greeted the ferry to celebrate the team, including Kat Roberts (center) who played for the previous four state championship teams. — Mark Alan Lovewell

And just like that history repeated itself, for the fifth time in a row. The girls team first won the division three state championship back in 2015. After staying on top for three consecutive years, the team moved up a level to division two for more competition. It didn’t faze them at all. Last year they went undefeated winning it all for coaches Nina Bramhall and Liz Roberts, who retired at the end of the season.

Chris Scott, father of Victoria, took over coaching duties this year, taking the team to a 21-0 record and another state championship trophy.

"Building on the success over five years is really about this group of girls and how strong their character is," Mr. Scott said. "I appreciate them as people and as athletes. They always do the right thing and it makes it a privilege to coach them."

He added that he didn't do it alone, not by a long shot. "Island coaches Joe Holland and Paul Pertile have been so helpful in running high energy practices. And the Vineyard Family Tennis with Mike Halisky. It's been huge."

Caroline Kaplan contributed reporting.