Randy Hernandez was in the number one slot as the Bulldogs opened their season at Capital City on Monday. Adding to the pressure was his opponent, Jonathan Danville.

The two waged a back and forth battle that extended to 18 games in the pro set 10 format before the matter could be settled, 10-8 in Hernandez’s favor.

“Mexico had not had a number one spot victory in quite some time,” said head coach Tony Senor. “Randy was able to stay focused to get the job done.”

Danville is a skilled tennis player and he would show up again to haunt the Bulldogs. But as a team, Mexico had things under control, downing the Cavaliers 7-2 in what was the first match in Capital City’s history.

Haden Frazier and Ryan Pemberton made easy work of their sets, each winning 10-3. Bryson Stuehmer outlasted the Cavaliers’ Trevor Vogt in another tight one, claiming a 10-8 victory. Andrew Stephens fought off David Ashcroft to notch the final win for Mexico in the singles column.

Carter McIntosh suffered the lone defeat. He found it difficult to solve Capital City’s number two player, Visshva Anto, and fell 10-1.

McIntosh – along with playing partner Hernandez – ran into Anto and Danville again in doubles. The talented Cavaliers’ duo proved too much, as the Bulldogs pair captured just one game.

But that’s all the damage Senor’s crew allowed. Frazier and Pemberton knocked off Mile Andrew and Xander Schmid by a comfortable 10-4 margin, while Stuehmer and Stephens followed up with a 10-5 effort over Trevor Vogt and David Ashcroft.

“This was a great start to the season and our seniors stepped up to show some leadership and how we play tennis in Mexico,” Senor said.

In JV, Noah Harlan swept his set 6-0 and Matt Huemann came close to making it a singles shutout, winning 6-1. The JV doubles set also went Mexico’s way, as Brendan McKeown and Declan Gleeson walked away with a 6-2 victory.

Senor applauded Capital City for fielding a team for the first time in the school’s history. “It was an honor to share this day with them,” he said.