After starting the season 8-0 under new coach Josh Schaan, the two-time defending state champion Vineyard varsity boys tennis team finally met their match last Wednesday in Oak Bluffs. Eastern Athletic Conference rival Bishop Feehan edged the Vineyarders, 3-2, to even up the season series. The Purple defeated the Shamrocks by the same count on April 11 in Attleboro.
The Shamrocks took a 3-0 lead to clinch the contest before the Vineyarders fought back to win the final two matches in third set tie-breakers.
Feehan’s Jack Lahiff defeated Patrick McCarthy at first singles, 6-1, 6-2. John Shanley beat the Vineyard’s Anders Nelson at third singles, 6-3, 6-1. In second doubles, the Vineyard tandem of Charlie Parkhurst and Finn Simpkins fell to Collin Kane and Jeremiah Sullivan, 6-2, 6-2.
The two most competitive matches belonged to the Vineyarders. Connor Downing outlasted Brendon Scanlon at second singles, 6-4, 6-7, 10-3 (tie-breaker). In first doubles, Zak Danz and Dunovan Belisle edged Hayden Miller and Will Shanley by the same score.
