PIERRE – Aberdeen Roncalli battled the conditions and opponents on the way to dropping a pair of tennis duals on Saturday during a tourney in Pierre. The Cavaliers fell to Rapid City Christian 9-0, and then suffered a 6-3 setback to Madison.

Those results came on the heels of a split on Friday.

“We had a great start to the weekend only dropping one match against Spearfish,” said Roncalli coach Jason Haskell’s of Friday’s duals. “We kind of fell asleep and Rapid City Stevens is not the team to sleep on.”

River Haskell led the Cavaliers by winning five games in each of her singles and doubles matches against Stevens.

Roncalli ran into one of the top Class A squads in Rapid City Christian.

“Perennially they are a solid club as well,” Coach Haskell said. “Always well balanced from top to bottom.”

The Cavaliers nearly pulled out a win at flight six where eighth-grader Gianna Cihak fell 10-8.

“She battled and battled her opponent taking eight games before eventually losing,” Haskell said. “Gianna and her partner also fought to take six games at flight three doubles.”

Haskell said the heat began to take a toll in the dual against Madison.

“Not to take anything away from Madison, they played well,” Haskell said. “It was our second set of matches for the day and Madison came in fresh.”

Roncalli picked up singles wins from Raley Haskell and Cihak against the Bulldogs.

“Raley had a good strategy and put her opponent on the ropes and kept her there, earning a 10-4 victory,” Coach Haskell.

The final match came down to Cihak, who capped a long two days of action with a victory.

“It took focus and grit and determination,” Coach Haskell said. “I could tell she was exhausted and she pushed through. I was extremely proud of her effort to get the final win of the weekend beating her opponent 10-8.”

Roncalli plays in a tournament Friday and Saturday in Madison.

Rapid City Christian 9, Aberdeen Roncalli 0

Singles

Riley Geyer, RCC, def. Katherine Kretchman, 10-2.

Katie Palmer, RCC, def. River Haskell, 10-0.

Evie Biers, RCC, def. Raley Haskell, 10-0.

Addie Palmer, RCC, def. Keira Rivett, 10-3.

Marissa Heidecker, RCC, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-0.

Nasaya Frie, RCC, def. Gianna Cihak, 10-8.

Doubles

Geyer-K. Palmer, RCC, def. Kretchman-Raley Haskell, 10-2.

Biers-A. Palmer, RCC, def. River Haskell-Rivett, 10-2.

Heidecker-Frie, RCC, def. Mitzel-Cihak, 10-6.

Madison 6, Aberdeen Roncalli 3

Singles

Delilah Maxwell, M, def. Katherine Kretchman, 10-4.

Sienna Maxwell, M, def. River Haskell, 10-8.

Raley Haskell, AR, def. Audrey Allen, 10-4.

Miranda Gonyo, M, def. Keira Rivett, 10-7.

Lydia Breddin, M, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-3.

Gianna Cihak, AR, def. Shelby Poncelet, 10-8.

Doubles

D. Maxwell-S. Maxwell, M, def. Kretchman-Raley Haskell, 10-6.

River Haskell-Rivett, AR, def. Allen-Gonyo, 10-4.

Breddin-Poncelet, M, def. Mitzel-Cihak, 10-8.