TIFTON — The Tift County Blue Devils will defend home nets Thursday as the Class 6A state tennis tournament opens.

The Devils will host North Paulding Thursday at 5 p.m., said head coach Ivey Vickers.

According to GHSA records, the Wolfpack have won 11 matches as a team this season. However, they are the No. 4 team out of Region 5.

Tift is 17-2 and won the Region 1 championship. Neither loss was within the region. This was the second straight year they swept conference opponents.

Should the Blue Devils win, they would host either Westlake or Mill Creek in the second round. That round would have to be played by April 29.