Calvin Chee prepares to serve in a match against Lowndes from earlier this season. He and the Tift County tennis teams play in the region tournament this morning.

TIFTON — Tift County’s Blue Devils and Lady Devils tennis teams will have to be early risers Wednesday morning.

The squads are set to play in the region tennis tournament in Camden County, with the opening round at 11:30 a.m.

The good news is that Tift County is assured of qualifying for the state Class AAAAAAA tournament. Only four teams are in Region 1, but unlike in other sports, the Georgia High School Association does not use power ratings. All four teams will go.

Tift’s teams are the fourth seed; Camden is the top seed.

“We’re going to play the best,” said head coach Ivey Vickers. She would not have it any other way: “I’d rather play the best.”

The Lady Devils are a young squad and at times have had three freshmen playing singles matches. This will serve them well in the future. Vickers has already noted much improvement in the Lady Devils this season.

Led by Calvin Chee at No. 1 singles — who she described as “phenomenal” — the Blue Devils have played everyone close. Vickers believes they have the potential to be even better.

Doubles teams have been productive for both boys and girls, especially the No. 1 teams of Katie Kemeness and Anna Bowen and Lee Hancock and Mason Lewis.

“It’s time for us to pick it up,” Vickers said.

Consolation matches will take place around 1 p.m. and if either the Lady Devils or Blue Devils pull and upset and make the finals, those matches would be at about 2:30 p.m.

State will take place soon after region. There are no set dates for the tournament, but do have to be completed by April 20.