Aberdeen Roncalli stepped up to the service line and unleashed an arsenal of serves on Waubay-Summit Thursday night at Roncalli Gym.

By the time the match was over, the Cavaliers had racked up 16 aces to help power a 25-13, 25-9, 25-7 opening round win in Region 1A volleyball action.

“The serve is really the controlling portion of the game. It really controls everything,” said Roncalli coach Mandy Smid. “It controls what they’re sending back over to us and those free balls, and then whether we’re able to execute, and clean that up and send it back over, I thought the girls did a nice job doing that tonight.”

Roncalli had a hard time shaking the Mustangs early before the serves began taking their toll.

Maddie Huber played a key role in that effort with a team-leading six aces.

“We’ve been working a lot at serve and serve receive at practice, so I feel that’s also a factor,” Huber said. “Mandy just preaches to us that our serves are the most important thing, that we have to get our serve over and if we don’t get our serve over, then something at practice is not going to go well.”

Huber used a variety of serves on the evening, some lofted high into the air with others just barely clearing the top of the net.

“Maddie really likes a position so I’m telling here where to go and she’s usually pretty good at getting it where we want it to go,” Smid said. “Any time we can keep those serves lower, that’s a highlight for us, a little bit more aggressive. But across the board, really aggressive serves tonight for us and in bounds, overall.”

Huber was also a factor in other areas as well, finishing with eight kills, 18 set assists and eight digs.

Interestingly enough, Huber took a few tips from injured teammate Ava Hanson as to where to hit the ball.

“I just kind of listen to my teammates. Ava Hanson on the bench sees the floor very well, so I just try to listen to her voice, try to find where to hit,” Huber said. “It just depends on where the set is, too. If it’s to the pin, then I’m not going to be able to go line, but if it’s in the middle, then I’ll have a little more room to work.”

The young Mustangs were never able to get on track, too often forced to play defense and not able to apply much pressure on Roncalli.

“We have a young team,” said Waubay-Summit coach Karlie Karst, “and they’ve had six different coaches in six years so it’s hard to stay focused and keep a routine.”

Kylee Marx had five kills and Katie Karst four to lead the Mustangs.

“We have a lot of potential,” coach Karst said. “I’m excited to see what these next few years bring.”

Jaidyn Feickert added four aces and seven kills to the Roncalli total, and Ella Hanson finished with nine kills and 16 digs.

The Cavaliers, 15-9, face Groton at 6 p.m. Thursday at Roncalli Gym, followed by Redfield vs. Milbank Area. The winners will advance to next Tuesday’s SoDak 16.

Smid likes how her squad has come together with players finding their roles for the most important matches of the season.

“It’s so nice to have a sophomore player like Maddie and like some of our others girls that have stepped up here as we’re getting towards the end of the season and put themselves into those leader categories and what they’re contributing to the team,” Smid said. “I think everyone is feeling really good about what their role is right now and just putting those pieces together.”

Serving: Waubay-Summit 28-30 (Aubrey Strang 8-8, Katie Minder 6-6, Kylee Marx 5-5, Liza Purdy 5-5); Aberdeen Roncalli 66-72 16 aces (Maddie Huber 24-25 6 aces, Jaidyn Feickert 8-9 4 aces).

Hitting: Waubay-Summit 29-45 13 kills (Kylee Marx 8-11 5 kills, Katie Karst 8-12 4 kills); Aberdeen Roncalli 80-88 33 kills (Ella Hanson 18-21 9 kills, Maddie Huber 17-18 8 kills, Feickert 13-14 7 kills).

Setting: Aberdeen Roncalli 70-70 24 assists (Huber 45-45 18 assists, Faith Danielson 25-25 6 assists).

Digs: Waubay-Summit 26 (Liza Purdy 9, Karst 6); Aberdeen Roncalli 58 (Hanson 16, Huber 8).

Blocks: Aberdeen Roncalli 1 (Rylee Voeller 1).

Records: Waubay-Summit 4-20; Aberdeen Roncalli 15-9.