PORTSMOUTH — In just its second season of competitive play, the Portsmouth High School boys’ volleyball team made it all the way to the Division III semifinals.

The No. 5-seeded Patriots saw their fine season come to an end, however, with a 3-1 loss to top-seeded Tolman on the road on Tuesday, June 4.

Tolman won the first two sets by scores of 26-24 and 25-19 before the Patriots came back to take the third, 25-20. The Tigers won the fourth and deciding set, 25-22. Tolman advanced to the championship game to be played Saturday at Rhode Island College.

Portsmouth shut out No. 4-seeded Scituate in the quarterfinal round by scores of 25-19, 25-20, and 26-24.

The Patriots played their first season last year after a group of PHS boys, not content with playing on a club team, requested that boys’ volleyball be a competitive sport at the school under the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL). The school has had a successful girls’ volleyball program for years.

Following a presentation in October 2022 by Bob Murray, interim athletic director, the School Committee gave the go-ahead, with the boys agreeing to raise start-up costs themselves to get the program off the ground.

The Patriots finished the regular season this year with a league record of 13-5 and 15-6 overall.