PIERRE – Aberdeen Roncalli got off to a slow start, but improved as the day went on in a pair of tennis setbacks on Friday. The Cavaliers dropped a 5-4 decision to Spearfish and were blanked by two-time defending State AA champion Rapid City Stevens.

“It was a solid day of tennis,” said Roncalli assistant coach Kelli Rae Haskell. “Our one and three doubles started the morning out a little slow, after an early morning of travel, but self-corrected as the day went on.”

Roncalli came up just short in a pair of tiebreakers against Spearfish, and also lost another close match.

The Cavaliers received singles wins from River Haskell at flight two, Raley Haskell at flight three, and Keira Rivett at flight five. The doubles tandem of Raley Haskell and Rivett also won its match at flight two.

Coach Haskell noted that River Haskell made adjustments along the way en route to her singles victory.

“Keira and Raley played bravely throughout the day – both in their singles and their doubles,” Coach Haskell said.

The Cavaliers found the going much tougher against powerhouse Stevens, although Katherine Kretchman and River Haskell lost a close match at top flight doubles.

“Stevens is a quality program whose team is five times the size of ours,” Coach Haskell said. “We made them earn points against us, and the Stevens coach even complimented our players on the fundamentals of their strokes and the quality of their play.”

Haskell said the scores of the matches were a bit deceptive.

“I don’t feel the scores fully reflect the quality of tennis we saw today,” she said. “The kids had a blast today, and I was excited to see some great growth in the ability to strategically put points together.”

The Cavaliers face Rapid City Christian and Madison in Pierre today.

Spearfish 5, Aberdeen Roncalli 4

Singles

Katie Mondloch, S, def. Katherine Kretchman, 10-4.

River Haskell, AR, def. Ava Iszler, 10-6.

Raley Haskell, AR, def. Ella Iszler, 10-3.

Allie Mondloch, S, def. Anna Mitzel, 10-9 (7-5).

Keira Rivett, AR, def. Lydia Schutz, 10-1.

Emma Gotlobb, S, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-2.

Doubles

K. Mondloch-A. Iszler, S, def. Kretchman-River Haskell, 10-7.

Raley Haskell-Rivett, AR, def. E. Iszler-A. Mondloch, 10-6.

Schutz-Gotlobb, S, def. A. Mitzel-J. Mitzel, 10-9 (7-5).

Rapid City Stevens 9, Aberdeen Roncalli 0

Singles

Peyton Ogle, RCS, def Katherine Kretchman, 10-0.

Sylvie Mortimer, RCS, def. River Haskell, 10-3.

Bella Scott, RCS, def Raley Haskell, 10-3.

Ella Potvin, RCS, def. Anna Mitzel, 10-1.

Maddy Marsh, RCS, def. Keira Rivett, 10-4.

Claudia Werner, RCS, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-0.

Doubles

Ogle-Scott, RCS, def. Kretchman-River Haskell, 10-7.

Mortimer, RCS, def. Raley Haskell-Potvin, 10-1.

Marsh-Bella Nelson, RCS, def. A. Mitzel-J. Mitzel, 10-0.