Aberdeen Central accomplished something it hadn’t done in more than a decade during a pair of tennis duals at Holgate on Friday. While the Golden Eagles swept Rapid City Central 9-0, and fell to Rapid City Stevens 7-2, it was the two singles wins against the Raiders that were noteworthy.

Central gained wins at the first two flights of singles against Stevens for the first time in 10 years.

Julia Knie defeated an opponent she previously lost to a top flight singles, and Avery Tennant topped her opponent at second flight singles. That came after both lost a doubles match to start the dual against Stevens.

“Starting with dubs, our 1 and 2 just didn’t look like themselves. Kudos to Stevens ones,” said Central coach John Vogel. “That match went to a tiebreaker in Pierre when we played them before, they just rolled us today. But I think that really motivated Julia and Avery to return the favor and that was great.”

Knie had a hard time explaining her win against an opponent that dominated her in a match earlier this season.

“She beat me like 2-10. It was bad,” Knie said. “There was like no deuce points.”

This team, Knie was in control, unleashing her forehand to fuel the straight-set victory.

“I haven’t felt good about my forehand all season, but today I was just rippin’ and they were going in,” Knie said, “and I was like this is a good Friday.”

When asked if it was her birthday or something, Knie responded, “It’s better than my birthday. I haven’t beaten a Stevens girl since I was like in seventh grade.”

Knie is hoping that the big victory will give her confidence heading into the biggest matches of the season with the Eastern South Dakota Conference and the Class AA State Tournament on the near horizon.

“I hope so, because those are the big ones,” Knie said. “I hope I can bring the same kind of confidence into ESD and State.”

The senior knows her high school career is winding down and has mixed emotions about it.

“I do think about it. It’s happy and sad,” Knie said. “Tennis is the most stressful thing I’ve ever done in my life, but it’s so much fun. It’s so much fun. The team is amazing; the sport itself is fun.”

Knie has developed into one of the top players in the state, according to Vogel.

“Her arch this season has been so fun to watch, so I hope people want to come and out watch some tennis,” Vogel said. “We play Pierre and Roncalli (Saturday), because you don’t get too many more chances to watch Julia at home, and she is turning into a very fine player, one of the best in the state.”

Aberdeen Central 9, Rapid City Central 0

Singles

Julie Knie, AC, def. Angela Limon, 6-0, 6-1.

Avery Tennant, AC, def. Kili Cole, 6-0, 6-0.

Reese Comstock, AC, def. Lilly Deming, 6-0, 6-3.

Chloe Ladner, AC, Raegan Patton, 6-0, 6-0.

Sarah Knie, AC, def. Alys Bertuzzi, 6-0, 6-0.

Ashley Ortega, AC, def. Mia Rivers, 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles

J. Knie-Tennant, AC, def. Limon-Cole, 6-0, 6-0.

Comstock-Ladner, AC, def. Deming-Patton, 6-1, 6-0.

Mady Holman-Estelle Riggs, AC, def. Bertuzzi-Rivers, 6-0, 6-0.

Rapid City Stevens 7, Aberdeen Central 2

Singles

Julia Knie, AC, def. Arabella Scott, 6-3, 6-2.

Avery Tennant, AC, def. Sylvie Mortimer, 6-3, 6-4.

Ella Potvin, RCS, def. Reese Comstock, 6-0, 6-1.

MadisonMarsh, RCS, def. Chloe Ladner, 6-1, 6-0.

Bella Nelson, RCS, def. Sarah Knie, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5.

Brooke Cadwallader, RCS, def. Ashley Ortega, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles

Mortimer-Potvin, RCS, def. J. Knie-Tennant, 6-2, 6-1.

Scott-Elena Braun, RCS, def. Comstock-Ladner, 6-3, 6-1.

Marsh-Nelson, RCS, def. Mady Holman-Estelle Riggs, 6-3, 7-5.