The Vineyard girls tennis team will advance to the state championship for a fifth straight year after defeating Dover-Sherborn Wednesday in the south sectional division two finals.

 

The team picked up two wins at singles with Victoria Scott winning at second singles 6-2, 6-2 and Hannah Rabasca at third singles defeating her opponent 6-0, 6-1.

 

First singles player Kelly Klaren lost 4-6, 4-6 putting the match at 2-1 in the Vineyard’s favor.

 

Head Coach Chris Scott said he knew it would come down to the doubles.

 

“We knew Kelly was facing one of the best, if not the best, singles player in the state,” he said after the match. “I was confident in our number two and three [singles] so I knew it was down to our doubles.”

 

After the second doubles team of Alexandra Rego and Tessa Hammond lost 1-6, 3-6, the match was tied at 2-2, with the outcome resting on the first doubles match. The Vineyard’s Molly Pogue and Chesca Potter won the first set 7-5 but dropped the second set 4-6.

 

“After splitting sets the entire crowd came over to watch,” Mr. Scott said.

 

Pogue and Potter went on to win the third set 7-5 to clinch the title and send the team to the state championship for the fifth year in a row.

 

“I couldn’t be more proud of Pogue and Potter’s mental toughness,” Mr. Scott said.

 

With a record of 20-0 for the year, the team plays Winchester on June 18 at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury for the state title.

 

Meanwhile, boys tennis will play for the south sectional title off-Island on Friday at 4 p.m. The team faces Dover-Sherborn at Old Rochester. The game was due to be played on Thursday, but was rescheduled due to rain.