WARNER ROBINS — Tift County’s tennis teams survived the first round of the Region 1-6A tournament Monday, being played at the Houston County Tennis Facility.
It was a narrow win for the Lady Devils over Veterans, 3-2, which featured Tift wins at all three singles spots.
Riley Griffin needed a comeback to win at No. 1. After falling in the first set, 4-6, Griffin won the second, 6-0, then earned the match with a 6-4 victory in the third set.
Anna Lupo won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 singles and Abby Lupo was victorious at No. 3, 6-3, 6-4.
Tift battled hard in both doubles matches. Kate Carpenter and Perrin Turner dropped a first set tiebreaker, 7-9, then the second set, 3-6. Kenyaria Morrow and Madison Garner won their second set, 6-2, saw the first and third go to Veterans.
The Blue Devils won over Thomas County Central, 3-0, with two matches not completed after they were assured of the team victory.
Both Joshua Hellman and Elijah Hellman won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. Ross Peters and Seth Denham did the same in their match at No. 2 doubles, 6-0, 6-0.
Neither Maitrey Patel nor the combination of Matthew Layfield and Tyson Lasseter finished their matches, else it likely would have been a 5-0 Tift win.
After winning their first set, 6-0, Lasseter and Layfield were up 5-0 in the second one. Patel had a 6-0 opening set and, three games into the second set, he led 3-0.
Play resumes at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to head coach Ivey Vickers.