HUDSON - The Portsmouth High School girls tennis team started and ended its season the same way - with a valiant, strong and proud effort against Souhegan.

Unfortunately for the second-seeded Clippers, similar to the season opener, it was No. 1 Souhegan that walked away with a 5-4 win over Portsmouth, as the Sabers captured the Division II state championship on Thursday afternoon at Alvirne High School.

Portsmouth head coach Wendy Poutre said the state championship was a "fantastic high school tennis match."

"We were working toward hopefully getting the chance to take (Souhegan) out," Poutre said. "We worked very hard all season to beat other teams that were very good like Timberlane, Hollis-Brookline and other teams. We got here, and did about as well as we can do ... everyone battled.

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