Tennis balls were not the only things the MVRHS girls team served Saturday in their win against Dover-Sherborn.
“We knew it was gonna be a hard match and had been preparing for it all year,” said captain and first singles player Laina Dubin. “We kind of got a little revenge.”
The girls team defeated Dover-Sherborn 3-2 in a rematch of last year’s state final, when the Vineyard fell 0-5.
So far undefeated this season, with a record of 5-0, the team is looking for a successful state run.
“We’ve all been hoping we’ll go pretty far into the playoffs,” said Dubin. “[The match] definitely boosted all of our confidence and made a title seem much more achievable now.”
On Monday, the team shut out Barnstable High School, dropping only one game in an otherwise perfect afternoon on the courts.
Dubin attributed the team’s early success to their hard work and improvements in the off season — dozens of hours each week spent at Vineyard Family Tennis, along with lots of early season preparation.
Head coach Bill Rigali agreed, adding that the team’s prowess is not only months in the making, it’s years. The team of mostly juniors, including Dubin, Leah Thomson, Tessa Schultz and Zoe Treitman, all played as freshmen when the team “didn’t win a heck of a lot,” he said.
“They came back last year, they made great strides, and in all honesty surprised a few teams in the playoffs to make that run to the state finals,” said Coach Rigali.
New on the team this year are freshmen Josey Johns at third singles and Gabriella Schilling, who alternates on the second doubles team. Sophomore Charlotte Marshard anchors second singles again this year.
The mix of players from different classes is part of what Coach Rigali said makes the team so solid.
“Over the course of my career, the teams that seem to blend in better and to do well are teams that draw a number of players from every class,” he said. “We’re getting great contributions from that solid junior class, but we also have two freshmen, and Charlotte [Marshard] as a sophomore, who was wonderful last year.”
The team is currently working on patterns of play to finish points off quickly — improving approach shots, strengthening volleys and striking with overheads, said Coach Rigali. Doubles teams are working on chemistry and closing gaps on the court.
The girls play Nauset Regional High School Wednesday afternoon, and Falmouth on Thursday at home. Spirits and confidence are high, on the courts and off.
“You can see the joy in the whole community, the tennis community, to see the kids moving forward in the right direction with their tennis,” said Coach Rigali. “I’m very happy for the girls, for the team.”
This article appears in April 17, 2026.