The best season in Martha’s Vineyard boys’ tennis history reached a heroic, but disappointing end, with a 3-2 loss to top ranked Cape Cod Academy in the MIAA division 3 south sectional regional final, Friday at West Village Elementary School in Marstons Mills.
With the teams tied 2-2, CCA’s Jon Zelman and the Vineyard’s Reid Yennie, played out a dramatic three set first singles match. Yennie took the first set for the second ranked Vineyarders 7-6, after winning a tie-breaker 7-4. Zelman fought back and prevailed 6-2, 6-2, to send the Seahawks to the state semi-finals for the third successive year.
For MV, the third time facing the Seahawks this season wasn’t the charm. CCA took all three contests and inflicted all three losses into the Vineyard’s otherwise perfect 19-3 season.
Kent Leonard and Justice Yennie, paced the Vineyarders to a quick 2-0 lead after winning the second and third singles matches. The younger Yennie matched Alyssa Adler’s third singles record on the girls’ team, by winning all of his matches this season.
In doubles play, the second team of Justin Smith and Ryan Sawyer won the first set, but lost to Drew McCabe and John Hegarty 6-2, 4-6, 3-6.
Vineyarders Jackson McBride and Patrick McCarthy lost in first doubles to the Tyler’s Dewaltoff and Kugler, 6-3, 6-2.