GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - After a start to the season that gave the Gridley varsity tennis team a ton of experience, the Bulldogs posted their first win of the season on March 8, with a 9-0 win over Las Plumas in Oroville.

Though the score would indicate otherwise, it wasn’t easy for the top two seeded Bulldogs.

Sophomore Ryan Woolery took on Las Plumas No. 1 seed Lee Howard in the first match. Howard possessed a significant height advantage over Woolery, but the Bulldogs’ No. 1 seed was able to make the big man move and prevailed 7-5, 6-3. Woolery earned “Player of the Match” with his performance.

No. 2 seed junior Jeremy Longmire won the first set of his match against Mario Lujan 6-2. However, Lujan mounted a comeback, winning set two 6-4. Longmire then found his service game and won the tiebreak 10-4.

Las Plumas (0-3, 0-2 Butte View League) is in a rebuilding year. New starters Gohan Xiong, Troy Atkins and Nathan Cruz were formidable challengers, but fell to juniors Cole Leishman and Spencer Davis and freshman Cesar Ortiz. The three Gridley players gave up a combined three games.

Davis pitched a shutout in his match. Sophomore Eric Ramirez won his match via forfeit.

In doubles, the results were more of the same with the top four seeds each winning 8-1, respectively. Las Plumas did not field a third doubles team.

Two days later, Gridley hosted Paradise Adventist. The Bulldogs relied on the efforts of Jeremy Longmire (6-0, 6-1), Davis (6-1, 7-6 [7-0]) and Ramirez to win the meet 6-3. Longmire and Davis combined to beat senior Jeremy Zhang and freshman Dillian Rios 8-4 to clinch the win. Paradise Adventist came into the match with only five players. Davis earned “Player of the Match” with his performance.

“Spencer has really worked on his game,” Moffitt said. “He has not been content to rest on his laurels. He has really been working to improve his serve. His efforts are paying off.”

Woolery ran into a buzzsaw in sophomore Cedric Smith, as did Leishman who lost to senior Wyatt Dewitt. Moffitt said wins and losses are not important to his team at this time.

“Both players gave solid efforts in defeat,” Moffitt said after the 6-3 win against Paradise Adventist. “It is what they learned that is important at this time. Can they move their opponent around the court? Can they take advantage of their opportunities? Both Ryan and Cole really learned the value in those skills today.”

The Bulldogs (2-2, 1-0) play against Orland and Cornland next week.