Portsmouth girls tennis rolling along as regular season winding down

Five of Portsmouth's top six players are seniors, with No. 2 Aia Tracz, a sophomore, the lone non-senior. Elyse White is No. 3, Anna Syphers is No. 4, Aoife Ryan is No. 5 and Ailish Honda is No. 6.

Typically, Porter and White play No. 1 doubles, Tracz and Syphers play No. 2, and Ryan and Honda play No. 3.

"This season has been really good," White said. "We have a lot of depth on the team. Even from the first practice to now, we've had so much improvement and everyone plays really well together. Everyone has the ability to win, and we're all so focused."

In Portsmouth's latest win on Monday at Bow, Porter won 8-4 at No. 1, Tracz won 8-1 at No. 2, Syphers won 8-2 at No. 4, Ryan won 8-5 at No. 5, and Honda won 8-3 at No. 6.

In doubles, Porter and White won 8-1 at No. 1, Tracz and Syphers won 8-1 at No. 2, and Ryan and Honda won 8-2 at No. 3.

Portsmouth will play three of its final four games of the season on the road. Portsmouth's lone remaining home match is scheduled for May 18 against Con-Val. The Clippers will visit Timberlane (May 13), Manchester West (May 19) and Winnacunnet (May 21).

Sweeps in first eight of nine wins, depth leading the charge

Portsmouth senior Anna Syphers, who plays No. 4 singles, returns a shot during a practice session last week.

Porter said Portsmouth's depth extends outside the top six.

"Everyone is showing up everyday and putting in so much work, and that is really what's making us a strong team this year," Porter said. "We're deep and everyone is willing to work."

"We have nice depth, which you really need to succeed in high school tennis," Poutre said. "The most important factor with winning in high school tennis is the depth."

It may seem like it's been easy for Portsmouth on the surface level just looking at the eight 9-0 wins, but Poutre emphasized the hard work that's been put in during those games, specifically.

Portsmouth's Harper Huskey returns a shot during a practice session last Thursday.

"It might seem like we've beaten teams easily, well not really," Poutre said. "My girls are going out there and they're working, getting all types of balls being hit at them and they really have to problem-solve each and every match."

"It definitely takes a lot of perseverance, consistency and every player being mentally tough in one way or another (to succeed)," Porter said.

White said this season has been a one-game-at-a-time approach.

"Hopefully, (we can) make it to the championship," White said. "I just feel like everyone is trying so hard already. We're mentally ready for every match."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth girls tennis rolling along as regular season winding down