PIERRE – The Aberdeen Central girls’ tennis team split a pair of season-opening matches Friday afternoon, falling 8-1 to Rapid City Stevens, but rebounding for a 9-0 win over Spearfish as part of the West River Invite in Pierre.

Emily Ringgenberg claimed Central’s lone win in the opening dual with Stevens, defeating Ali Scott 10-7 at first flight singles.

That win, said Central coach John Vogel, was particularly satisfying since Ringgenberg and Scott squared off in the third place match of last year’s state tournament. Scott won that matchup 10-0.

The remainder of the slate, however, fell to the Raiders.

“We got off to a great start,” Vogel said. “We had early leads in every match except flight three. It was fun to see the girls playing so well, but we just weren’t able to keep playing at that level for the entire match.”

Vogel said the heat played a role in Central’s performance, though he did not use it as an excuse.

“Kudos to Stevens for maintaining their energy in the conditions,” he said. “I think that was the difference today.”

Central bounced back well in its second dual of the day, sweeping the slate against Spearfish.

“While the scores might not have been close, I thought the matches were quite competitive,” Vogel said. “It was impressive that our girls stayed focused after the exhausting match with Stevens. We were Spearfish’s first match, so they were fresh. We definitely were not, but the girls buckled down and took care of business like you would expect from an experienced squad.”

Central remains in Pierre for Day 2 of the West River Invite, facing Rapid City Central and Rapid City Christian today.

Rapid City Stevens 8, Aberdeen Central 1

Singles

Emily Ringgenberg, AC, def. Ali Scott 10-7.

Peyton Ogle, RCS, def. Alice Vogel 10-5.

Anna Mueller, RCS, def. Carly Comstock 10-1.

Kaiya Parkin, RCS, def. Livia Douglas 10-4.

Bella Scott, RCS, def. Laney Gonsor 10-7.

Evelyn Haar, RCS, def. Avery Tennant 10-6.

Doubles

Scott-Ogle, RCS, def. Ringgenberg-Vogel 10-5.

Parkin-Scott, RCS, def. Comstock-Douglas 10-4.

Mueller-Lindsey Pfingston, RCS, def. Gonsor-Reese Comstock 10-6.

Aberdeen Central 9, Spearfish 0

Singles

Emily Ringgenberg, AC, def. Kate Mondlach 10-3.

Alice Vogel, AC, def. Ava Iszler 10-2.

Carly Comstock, AC, def. Ella Iszler 10-3.

Livia Douglas, AC, def. Lindsey Huck 10-2.

Laney Gonsor, AC, def. Allie Mondlock 10-2.

Avery Tennant, AC, def. Ava Berberick 10-1.

Doubles

Ringgenberg-Vogel, AC, def. K. Mondlock-Huck 10-5.

Comstock-Douglas, AC, def. A. Iszler-E. Iszler 10-3.

Gonsor-Tennant, AC, def. A. Mondlock-Berberick 10-1.