PIERRE – Aberdeen Roncalli came up just shy of grabbing its first dual tennis victory of the season during a pair of close duals at the West River Invitational in Pierre on Saturday.
The Cavaliers fell by 5-4 margins to both Rapid City Christian and Madison.
“It was nice to see how we stacked up against some other A schools,” said Roncalli coach Jason Haskell. “Two very close matches. Both could’ve gone either way.”
Haskell pointed out the performances of two players on the day, Anna Mitzel at fifth flight singles and Keira Rivett at sixth flight singles.
Mitzel fell in a tie-breaker against Rapid Christian and won her match against Madison, while Rivett won both of her singles matches. The two teamed up for a pair of victories at flight three doubles.
“Anna had two really good matches at number five. She was against the ropes in her singles against Rapid City Christian and fought back to force a tiebreak,” Haskell said. “Keira played well at number six.”
Haskell said all of the players are making progress.
“All spots are showing promise,” he said.
The Cavaliers were close to winning both duals. They lost two matches in tiebreakers and another one 10-8.
Roncalli is idle until heading to a tournament in Madison on Friday.
“That gives us a good week to build on some opportunities these last two days have shown us,” Haskell said.
Rapid City Christian 5, Aberdeen Roncalli 4
Singles
Rapid City Christian won by forfeit
Ciera Crawford, RCC, def. Katherine Kretchman, 10-5.
Allison Hill, RCC, def. River Haskell, 10-4.
Raley Haskell, AR, def. Katie Palmer, 10-6.
Sasha Ryherd, RCC, def. Anna Mitzel, 10-9 (7-4).
Keira Rivett, AR, def. Marissa Heidecker, 10-5.
Doubles
Rapid City Christian won by forfeit
Kretchman-Ri. Haskell, AR, def. Hill-Palmer, 10-8.
Ra. Haskell-Mitzel, AR, def. Heidecker-Abigail Oaks, 10-3.
Madison 5, Aberdeen Roncalli 4
Singles
Evelyn Graham, M, won by forfeit.
Savanah Shipley, M, def. Katherine Kretchman, 10-9 (7-1).
River Haskell, AR, def. Delliah Maxwell, 10-4.
Sienna Maxwell, M, def. Raley Haskell, 10-3.
Anna Mitzel, AR, def. Miranda Gonyo, 10-7.
Keira Rivett, AR, def. Audrey Allen, 10-6.
Doubles
Madison won by forfeit
Shipley-D. Maxwell, M, def. Kretchman-Ri. Haskell, 10-8.
Ra. Haskell-Mitzel, AR, def. S. Maxwell-Gonyo, 10-1.
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