MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County High girls tennis team guaranteed itself a first-round state tournament match at home by knocking off Lowndes 3-2 on Tuesday at the Jim Buck Goff Recreation Complex.

“This is just what we needed,” Lady Packers coach Linda Berl said of the match that was decided by the all-sophomore No. 2 doubles team of Alexa Isaacs and Kate Reeves. “Lowndes is good.”

With just a match against Valdosta remaining on April 17, the Lady Packers are 9-2 in region matches and 12-5 overall.

The Warner Robins girls took a 9-0 record into their match with 5-5 Tift County on Tuesday.

The Demonettes also have 1-7 Valdosta and 0-7 Houston County remaining on their schedule.

“We’re in state and we get a home match,” Berl said. “What more could you ask?”

The Lady Packers defeated Lowndes 4-1 in Valdosta last month, but Tuesday’s match was much more tightly contested.

Lowndes won at No. 1 singles, where Lacy Hansen defeated Cara McCalley 6-2, 6-0, and at No. 2 singles where Lacy’s sister Mary Beth won over Carli Hester 6-3, 6-1.

But Laura Murphy got the Lady Packers one point with her 6-2, 6-1 victory over Christen Casey at No. 3.

Colquitt County’s No. 1 doubles team of Savanna Lamon and Jessica Harvin continued unbeaten in region matches and raised its overall record to 13-1 with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Savannah Roberts and Lyndsi Taylor.

Isaacs and Reeves got the clincher with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Stephanie Green and Carolyn Blount.

In extra matches, Constance Terrell and Kayla Kelley won singles matches. The doubles team of Christin Smith and Dresden Melton also won.

The first round of the state play must be completed by April 27 and Berl is pleased not to have to leave Moultrie for the first match.

“Being at home … that’s a big advantage,” she said.

The Colquitt County boys were within six points of upsetting Lowndes, but finally fell 1-4.

The loss appears to have cost the Packers a chance at making the postseason, coach Grant Hammack said.

“I think if we could make it, we could win a couple matches,” Hammack said. “But it doesn’t appear that we are going to get that chance.”

The Packers fall to 10-7 overall and 5-6 in the region with a match against Valdosta remaining. The Wildcats are 6-2 and defeated the Packers 5-0 last month.

The Vikings and Wildcats are battling it out for the No. 2 and No. 3 positions in region. Lowndes needed to win twice in three sets on Tuesday to get its second victory of the season over the Packers.

“We gave them all they wanted,” Hammack said. “We gave them something to think about.

“I’m extremely proud of the effort. Almost everyone of them played the best they could.”

Austin York played well at No. 1 singles before falling to Thomas Baltrus 0-6, 7-6(7-2), 5-7.

At No. 2 singles, Blake Jenkins lost to Matt Odom 4-6, 1-6.

Brian Berl was a late addition to the lineup after Shaun Soderstrom was unable to go at No. 3 singles because of a sore wrist.

Berl battled and fought off three match points before finally falling to Seth Roundtree 1-6, 6-3, 6-7(7-9).

“He played a heck of a match,” Hammack said of Berl. “He left everything on the court.”

Zach Owen and Chris Harvin played perhaps their best tennis of the season to defeat Dane Boruff and Eli Roundtree 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles and avenge a loss earlier this season.

“Chris and Zach are peaking,” Hammack said. “They are developing into one of the finest doubles teams in the region.

“They are really putting together some good tennis. And they beat good doubles team today.”

Colquitt also lost at No. 2 doubles where Barclay Mitchell and Zach Clifton lost to Andrew Odom and Andrew Smith 1-6, 2-6.

In extra matches, Christian Edwards and Stephen Tyus won 8-5 and Lee Veasey and Parker White fell 5-8.