By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Despite wet courts early in the day, the Dexter Bearcats were able to play their season-opening match against Poplar Bluff on Thursday afternoon.

The Mules and Bearcats split the close match, with Poplar Bluff taking a 4-5 win on the Varsity level and DHS winning 7-6 in JV.

Kyle Willis, a junior, had one of the best Varsity singles matches, winning a 7-2 tie break to claim a 9-8 victory over Poplar Bluff's Dylan Page.

"Kyle came from being down 4-6 to win in a tie break," head coach Leanne Dooley said of her number three Varsity player.

Sam Ward, the Varsity number two, was able to pick up 8-2 wins in both his singles and doubles matches. After downing Cody Hillis and Devin Allison with doubles partner Tyler Miller, Ward again defeated Allison on his own.

In JV action, senior Dalton Putnam started off his tennis career with a 7-5 victory over Collin Gullett in singles. Brooks Propst picked up a dominating 6-1 victory over Poplar Bluff's Ethan Griffith.

The Bearcats will be back in action on Saturday, when they travel to Farmington for an all-day tournament.