RAPID CITY – Aberdeen Roncalli picked up a pair of victories to start off its tennis season at the West River Invitational on Thursday. The Cavaliers edged Rapid City Stevens 5-4, before sweeping Rapid City Central 9-0.

The win over Stevens is the first time Roncalli has beaten the Raiders in more than a decade.

“Great start to our season,” said Roncalli coach Jason Haskell. “Early-season jitters weren’t there. They seemed calm, settled, and in good form.”

The Cavaliers feature a veteran team with players who have varsity experience at every flight.

Roncalli split six singles matches against Stevens, and won two of the three doubles to secure the team victory.

Palmer Johnson, Gannon May, and Ezra Feickert each won singles matches for the Cavaliers. Johnson and May teamed up for a win at first flight doubles, while Cason Hellwig and Landon Zikmund defeated their opponent at second flight doubles.

Roncalli then swept Central, with Johnson and May earning a tie-breaker victory at top flight doubles.

“Weather was a concern, but never was an issue,” Haskell said. “They never let it bother them at all.”

The Cavaliers will move indoors because of the weather today, where they will face Spearfish and St. Thomas More.

They will take some momentum with them after Thursday’s performances.

“Great team effort today,” Haskell said.

Aberdeen Roncalli 5, Rapid City Stevens 4

Singles

Dayler Segrist, RCS, def. Cason Hellwig, 10-5.

Palmer Johnson, AR, def. Max Phares, 10-5.

Gannon May, AR, def. Vinny Robbennolt, 10-4.

Braden Nelson, RCS, def. Landon Zikmund, 10-9 (7-4).

Leo Schmid, RCS, def. Jayden Reecy, 10-6.

Ezra Feickert, AR, def. Nathaniel Flynn, 10-8.

Doubles

Johnson-May, AR, def. Segrist-Phares, 10-9 (7-5)

Hellwig-Zikmund, AR, def. Robbennolt-Nelson, 10-6.

Schmid-Flynn, RCS, def. Reecy-Feickert, 10-6.

Aberdeen Roncalli 9, Rapid City Central 0

Singles

Cason Hellwig, AR, def. Anson Griffin, 10-5.

Palmer Johnson, AR, def. Triston Ducheneaux, 10-3.

Gannon May, AR, def. Hugh Knickrehm, 10-0.

Landon Zikmund, AR, def. Kieran Fuhrmann, 10-0.

Jayden Reecy, AR, def. Peyton Taylor, 10-8.

Ezra Feickert, AR, def. Grayson Weston, 10-1.

Doubles

Johnson-May, AR, def. Griffin-Knickrehm, 10-9 (7-3).

Hellwig-Zikmund, AR, def. Ducheneaux-Taylor, 10-1.

Reecy-Feickert, AR, def. Fuhrmann-Weston, 10-4.