Seacoast Standout: Portsmouth’s Avery Porter adjusting to No. 1 role on girls tennis team

PORTSMOUTH – Junior Avery Porter has stepped into the No. 1 one singles spot for the Portsmouth High School girls tennis team, and her stellar play to start the season continued on Friday night.

Porter won her singles match, 8-2, and partnered with teammate Elyse White to win 8-2 at No. 1 doubles as the Clippers blanked Hollis-Brookline, 9-0 in a Division II match and improved to 5-1 on the season.

“Avery has stepped into the No. 1 spot ready to take on what the best players in Division II bring to the court,” Portsmouth head coach Wendy Poutre said. “(On Friday), Avery combined patience with wise shot selections, and was able to execute so well.”

Poutre said Porter and White form a good tandem.

“(Porter) set up Elyse with deep cross-court shots and also pounced on the net herself, putting shots away,” Poutre said. “Her all-court game was on full display.”

Porter said she had her work cut out for her in singles match against Anuhya Chilakapati, a very, good and experienced player.

“I had to focus on my own game, hitting through the ball and placing my shots strategically,” Porter said. “We had some incredible points and I am happy with the results.”

Porter was also pleased with her win with White in doubles.

“I am really proud of how Elyse and I were able to play aggressively, setting each other up for the next play and putting the ball away to end the point,” Porter said. “I’m really proud of how the whole team played and I see us improving every match.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast Standout: Portsmouth junior Porter shining at No. 1 singles