VALDOSTA — Valwood has enjoyed its share of success this fall, and it continued last week when the Lady Valiants’ tennis team finished second in the state.

The Lady Valiants started off by winning GISA Region 3-AA. Between the guys and girls teams, 10 out of 14 players were invited to the state tournament in Augusta.

Valwood won its first-round match against the Region 2-AA champion, Fredrica Academy, but eventually lost to Heritage 4-1 in the state championship.

“I’m very pleased with the team,” said head coach Chuck Glassmire on Saturday. “Any time you finish second in the state, you’ve got to be awfully proud of them, being from such a small school and enjoying that kind of success.”

Eighth grader Madison Bernacki was the lone singles winner against Heritage. Bernacki has seen much improvement this season and coach Glassmire says she is going to be “one heck of a player.”

In the individual state championships, the dynamic duo of Billie Anderson and Abbigail McCrary won the doubles state championship.

The region 3-AA doubles champs won their state match after losing the first set. Anderson and McCrary lost 5-7 in the first set before winning 6-1, 6-1 in the second and third sets.

“The two girls played very well in the whole tournament,” said Glassmire. “They got better throughout the season and became much more of a complete doubles team. That is what spelled the difference at state.”

With the majority of the guys and girls tennis team returning, the road looks to be bright for Valwood tennis.

Also, that makes three region championships for Valwood in the past two weeks. The tennis team, coupled with the track and golf teams, have all won the region. It has been a bright spring for Valwood, and with a record number of players competing in spring football practice, going on now, the success looks to continue in the fall.