Nashua South's Santi Somorrostro goes to the backhand during Monday's Division I semifinal match vs. Bedford at Bedford. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

BEDFORD – It’s still a ‘Dog eat Panther world in Division I high school boys tennis.

The Nashua South Panthers ran into that same wall Monday that has been in their path to a title over the years – the Bedford Bulldogs. The No. 2 Dogs took a 7-2 victory in the Division I semis and will try to run it into their ninth straight state title when they face No. 1 Hanover on Wednesday.

The Panthers? Their consoloation prize is the fact they won 13 straight matches after an 0-2 start that included a loss by the same score to the ‘Dogs.

Someday they hope things can change, because the feeling is they’re close.

“We’ve played them in the quarterfinals, we’ve played them in the semifinals and played them during the year,” South coach Dave Santerre said. “We’re going to need an off-season program, and get these kids together on a regular basis. These kids (pointing to the Bedford players) play tennis all the time.”

Just like the regular season match, this was competitive but the Bulldogs took four of six singles matches and then swept doubles. Doubles, Santerre has preached since the season opening loss to Bedford, is where his team, which had three sophomores atop the ladder, needs to improve. It can be the difference.

“Against the better teams it certainly is,” Santerre said.

The Panthers lost singles matches 2 through 6 and were reeling, but No.1 Sami Somorrostro beat Bedford’s Lucas Mack 8-6 and South’s No. 2, Abhinav Avvaru edged Logan Mack 9-7, both intense matches.

That made it 4-2 and kept South alive. But then ironically the top doubles team of Somorrostro/Avvaru couldn’t sustain it, falling to Lucas Mack/Nathaniel Gordon, 8-3, to give the Bulldogs the match clinching fifth win.

“They got off to an early lead, and by the time we woke up and really started to play, we were down 7-1,” Avvaru said. “It was too late.”

“These guys are very, very strong,” Bedford coach Mike Mayer said of South. “They provided us some matches.

Six days a week, two hours a day. And the kids want to be here.”

One difference in this match was Bedford’s No. 3, Gordon and No. 6, Connor Ware, rebounded from losses in the first South meeting. Gordon bested Atul Phadke 8-5 and Ware beat Shreenath Mohan 8-1.

Adding to South’s frustration was the fact No. 4 Akhil Kammila fell to Abhinav Govindaraju 8-2, and No. 5 Kauchik Tadipathi was bested by Richard Black, 8-3.

“That was strange,” Santerre said, saying he was counting on a couple of those matches. “They brought their ‘A’ game, and my kids can learn from it. That’s the best we can go with.”

After Somorrostro and Avvaru’s loss – they have only played about a half dozen matches as a team thanks to injuries, etc. – the other doubles teams fell. Tadipathi/Mohan lost to Govindaraju /Ryan Juneja 8-4, while South almost pulled out No. 2 as the tandem of Phadke/Kammila had a 6-3 lead but fell 9-8 via an 8-6 tiebreaker vs. Logan Mack/Black.

Avvaru agreed with his coach that the future is bright but more work is needed.

“Just us working hard in the offseason,” he said, “and putting in the time, especially doubles. We really should be in a position where our doubles should be able to back us up. We can’t be relying on singles.

“Next year we’ll still have our top three and a couple of rising freshmen. I’m excited for next year. We can still give them a run and play our best next year.”

Nashua South’s Akhil Kammila hits a return during Monday’s Division I semifinals match vs. Bedford in Bedford. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

But, what Santerre called “a very good season” came to a disappointing end, because the rule of New Hampshire Division I boys tennis has yet to change.

SOUHEGAN, ALVIRNE MEET TODAY

The only two local tennis teams left are now Division II girls teams Souhegan and Alvirne, and after today only one will remain. The No. 1, 14-1 Sabers take on the No. 5 13-3 Broncos in the semifinals today at 4 p.m. at Camp Young Judea in Amherst.

The two teams met over a week ago, with Souhegan winning 5-4 in Hudson. This is Alvirne’s first season in Division II.