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Cavaliers hold their own in tennis setbacks

Aberdeen Roncalli’s River Haskell returns a volley during a singles match Monday against St. Thomas More at the Northern State University tennis courts. Haskell won a pair of matches Tuesday in Brookings. Photo by John Davis taken 9/11/2023

BROOKINGS – Aberdeen Roncalli dropped a pair of tennis duals on Tuesday, but the Cavaliers battled throughout those setbacks.

Roncalli dropped a 5-4 decision against Brookings and then lost to O’Gorman 9-0.

“A tight one with Brookings, but I was most impressed with our effort against O’Gorman,” said Roncalli coach Jason Haskell. “The score absolutely does not reflect the quality of tennis that was played.”

Coach Haskell pointed out of the play over River Haskell at second flight singles and first flight doubles. She won a pair of matches against Brookings, before losing a pair of hard-fought matches against OG.

“I was especially proud of River both in singles and doubles against both schools,” Coach Haskell said. “She has really started to learn how to consistently play her game and made the OG girl earn every point.”

Raley Haskell was also involved in a pair of tight encounters against O’Gorman dropping a 10-8 decision at both third flight singles and second flight doubles with Keira Rivett.

“Raley had a stellar match in singles running down a ton of balls,” Coach Haskell said. “She had Keira were a deuce point away from forcing a tiebreak in their doubles match against OG as well.”

The coach also pointed out the effort of Rivett in her fifth flight singles match.

“After a slow start, she really battled back to make it a much closer match,” he said.

Roncalli swept all three doubles against Brookings, but could not quite get over the hump to win the dual.

Despite the setbacks, Coach Haskell looked at the bigger picture.

“Wins and losses don’t matter as much as how you play the game,” he said. “I was proud of how our girls battled against one of the perennial powerhouses in Class AA tennis.”

The Cavaliers host Rapid City Central and Rapid City Stevens on Friday, before competing in the Elliott Extravaganza on Saturday.

Brookings 5, Aberdeen Roncalli 4

Singles

Sophie Tanner, B, def. Katherine Kretchman, 10-3.

Riler Haskell, AR, def. Elle Schulte Coplan, 10-3.

Anika Hooda, B, def. Raley Haskell, 10-2.

Yuki Zhu, B, def. Anna Mitzel, 10-3.

Nancy Yang, B, def. Keira Rivett, 10-9 (7-3).

Josie Bertrand, B, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-1.

Doubles

Kretchman-Riley Haskell, AR, def. Tanner-Schulte Coplan 10-7.

Raley Haskell-Rivett, AR, def. Hooda-Zhu, 10-9 (7-3).

A. Mitzel-J. Mitzel, AR, def. Yang-Bertrand, 10-7.

O’Gorman 9, Aberdeen Roncalli 0

Singles

Lucy Koziara, OG, def. Katherine Kretchman, 10-2.

Ellie Huber, OG, def. River Haskell, 10-7.

Katelyn Connelly, OG, def. Raley Haskell, 10-8.

Sarah Jamous, OG, def. Anna Mitzel, 10-2.

Hadley Garry, OG, def. Keira Rivett, 10-8.

Wilnel Farhat, OG, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-0.

Doubles

Koziara-Huber, OG, def. Kretchman-River Haskell, 10-1.

Connelly-Garry, OG, def. Raley Haskell-Rivett, 10-8.

Jamous-Farhat, OG, def. A. Mitzel-J. Mitzel, 10-0.

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