Mexico girls tennis has problems you would want to have.

After having many new to the game last year, the Lady Bulldogs will have 14 returning players this year with many fighting for remaining varsity spots. Nine of them made their life debut in tennis last season.

Head coach Kim Costley said the team is still young, so while there might be “growing pains,” the team is deeper than the 11-4 club from last year, whose season ended after a 5-4 loss to Palmyra in the Class 1 District 8 championship match.

“This group will be fighting for those remaining varsity spots and filling the roster,” Costley said. “It should be very competitive as several of these girls are young. Even if they are not varsity yet, many will see varsity time before graduating.”

Three of Mexico’s experienced players will be key as the Lady Bulldogs try to improve on their second-place North Central Missouri Conference finish. Junior Katie Gooch and senior Estrella Lopez earned all-conference honors with individual second-place finishes at the conference tournament a year ago, and senior Jocelyn Garcia garnered an all-NCMC nod after finishing first. All three players also were all-district players and are each entering their third year on varsity.

All three have improved with their level of consistency and competitive mentality,” Costley said, “We are excited to keep working on game strategy.”

Gooch has been the team’s No. 2 singles and hopes to move up to No. 1 this year while Lopez and Garcia have been doubles partners.

“They have been successful in those positions and moved up every year but are ready to grow and take their game to the next level,” Costley said.

Mexico starts its season with four straight home matches, beginning with a 4 p.m. Aug. 29 with Boonville and a 4 p.m. Aug. 30 dual with conference foe Marshall.

“Playing varsity singles is a lot different mentally and physically, but I have no doubt that we will be able to compete with most teams on our schedule,” Costley said.