Aberdeen Roncalli got off a rough start, but finished strong Friday against a pair of Rapid City tennis teams at the Northern State Courts.

The Cavaliers were blanked by powerhouse Rapid City Stevens 9-0 before rebounding to blank Rapid City Central 9-0.

“Nice to see some fan support,” said Roncalli coach Jason Haskell. “It’s always great to have these home matches, look forward to another home match (Saturday), maybe we can get some more people out here cheering us on.”

One of the highlights on the day was the play of Katherine Kretchman. While the senior lost her singles match to Arabella Scott at top flight singles, she made major progress from the first time they played.

“I actually got six games off of her, which I was surprised with myself, actually,” Kretchman said. “I played her a few weeks ago and I got zero games. It was a fun match.”

Kretchman used a variety of shots in her victory over her Rapid City Central foe. Kretchman said a lot goes into deciding which shot to use, including her opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, but more importantly how the point is setting up.

“It depends on the shot. Ideally, it is set up by the shot before it,” Kretchman said, “so if I hit a deep shot, I know that a short ball will be more effective, if I’m trying to approach the net, I want to hit it more down the line, or if I’m pulled out wide, I like to crank an angle when I can.”

Kretchman prefers a hard-hitting foe opponent as opposed to someone who uses a lot of slice and drop shots.

“I personally like to play a lot with pace,” Kretchman said. “It makes me more nervous playing somebody who hits the ball a little slower, because I think it gives me more time to think about it and I tend to wait too long or take too big of a backswing or something, and I also think it’s fun to play with pace.”

Kretchman’s performance was one of many solid showings by the Cavaliers, something that can get lost in the final team scores, according to Haskell.

“It’s always hard when you go to the scorecard and all you’re looking at is final team scores. … Sometimes, unless you’re here watching it, you don’t see the quality of tennis that was played,” Haskell said. “Katherine played really well today. We had a bunch of girls that played really well.”

Kretchman said her goal for the remainder of her high school tennis career is to go out, have fun, and just do the best she can.

“When I’m having fun, I’m playing my best tennis anyways,” Kretchman said.

Roncalli takes on Watertown this morning at NSU before facing cross-town foe Aberdeen Central around 4 this afternoon at Holgate.

“It’s always great to play your hometown rival,” Haskell said. “They’ve got a good program over there at Central.”

Rapid City Stevens 9, Aberdeen Roncalli 0

Singles

Arabella Scott, RCS, def. Katherine Kretchman, 10-6.

Sylvie Mortimer, RCS, def. River Haskell, 10-1.

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

Madison Marsh, RCS, def. Keira Rivett, 10-0.

Bella Nelson, RCS, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-1.

Brooke Cadwallader, RCS, def. Gianna Cihak, 10-2.

Doubles

Mortimer-Potvin, RCS, def. Kretchman-Raley Haskell, 10-2.

Scott-Elena Braun, RCS, def. River Haskell-Rivett, 10-1.

Marsh-Nelson, RCS, def. Mitzel-Cihak, 10-1.

Aberdeen Roncalli 9, Rapid City Central 0

Singles

Katherine Kretchman, AR, def. Angela Limon, 10-0.

River Haskell, AR, def. Kili Cole, 10-7.

Raley Haskell, AR, def. Lilly Deming, 10-1.

Keira Rivett, AR, def. Raegan Patton, 10-0.

Josie Mitzel, AR, def. Alys Bertuzzi, 10-2.

Gianna Cihak, AR, def. Mia Rivers, 10-2.

Doubles

Kretchman-Raley Haskell, AR, def. Limon-Cole, 10-1.

River Haskell-Rivett, AR, def. Deming-Patton, 10-3.

Mitzel-Cihak, AR, def. Bertuzzi-Rivers, 10-4.