Dunwoody’s No. 2 doubles team of Gracie Puckett and Ansley Gavlak battled back from a first set loss to win their match 2-1 at Dunwoody on Monday to send the Lady Wildcats into the Class 7A state tennis playoffs Elite 8.

Puckett and Gavlak rebounded from a 4-6 loss in their opening set to even the match at 1-1 with a 6-1 victory in the second set to take the momentum against Camden’s Ashlie Aldridge and Bryce Kriner.

The pair fell behind 1-2 in the third set after the Camden pair broke Gavlak’s serve but answered back to break back to even the match at 2-2. Puckett won her service game and then the pair broke Camden’s serve again to take a 4-2 lead.

Camden and Dunwoody’s teams repeated the breaks of serves again and Puckett went to the service line with a chance to put the match away and send Dunwoody into the third round. Puckett served for the win closing out the match for a 6-3 third set victory.

The Lady Wildcats jumped up 2-0 with wins at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. The doubles team of Ginny Duffy and Mei Stafford made it look easy defeating Camden’s Ryleigh Blount and Hannah Coffman 6-0, 6-0 to claim the opening point of the game.

Dunwoody’s Sophia Chiverton made it 2-0 sweeping her No. 1 singles match in like fashion over Kennison Blackerby at 6-0, 6-0.

The No. 2 singles match between Dunwoody’s Sara Rock and Camden’s Hayle Tucker was in the third set when the match was called. Rock had won the opening set 6-1 with Tucker bouncing back to win set two 6-4. The match was at 3-3 when the players were taken off the court.

No. 3 singles player Ella Thomas who had sealed the first-round win last week was up 6-3, 4-1 when the match ended.

Dunwoody (15-4) hosts Lambert, a 3-1 winner over Brookwood, in the Elite 8 at 4:00 pm on Thursday (April 28).

In Class 6A girls’ action, the Lakeside Lady Vikings (10-7) fell 3-0 to Pope in their second-round match to end their season.

Two teams will be in action on Wednesday as the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs (14-6-1) take on Midtown at 3:00 pm at Piedmont Park and the Dunwoody Wildcats (12-3) hosts North Paulding at 2:00 pm at Dunwoody.

The Lakeside Vikings host Cambridge in the third round for the second consecutive year. The two clash at 4:00 pm on Thursday at DeKalb Tennis Center.

DCSD TENNIS STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Monday, April 25
CLASS 6A GIRLS SECOND ROUND
Pope 3, Lakeside (10-7) 0

CLASS 7A GIRLS SECOND ROUND
Dunwoody (15-4) 3, Camden County 0

Wednesday, April 27
CLASS 7A BOYS SECOND ROUND
North Paulding at Dunwoody (12-3), 2:00 pm

CLASS 5A GIRLS THIRD ROUND
Chamblee (14-6-1) vs. Midtown, Piedmont Park, 3:00 pm

Thursday, April 28
CLASS 6A BOYS THIRD ROUND
DEKALB TENNIS CENTER
Cambridge at Lakeside (15-2), 4:00 pm

CLASS 7A GIRLS THIRD ROUND
Lambert at Dunwoody (15-4), 4:00 pm