SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central lost a close dual before dominating another in tennis action at MatchPointe Tennis Center in Sioux Falls on Monday.

The Golden Eagles lost to Mitchell 5-4 and then blanked Sioux Falls Washington 9-0.

It was the second 5-4 setback to Mitchell in the past couple of weeks, although not all the flights had the same outcome.

“We had four matches kind of changed from the last 5-4,” said Central coach Trent Kurtz.

One of those took place at top flight singles where AJ Prehn turned his fortunes around.

“AJ Prehn lost a tight one last time,” Kurtz said. “Had three match points, lost a tiebreak, and he played great today. … He played really well and got a good win over that kid.”

Another won that Central flipped in its favor was flight six where Mika Dannen is now playing at that spot.

“We’re trying him at six singles and he’s off to a really good start,” Kurtz said. “Big win for him today over a good Mitchell kid.”

The dual was tied 3-3 after singles and came down to the last three doubles matches.

The duo of Prehn and Gustavo Carrara won their match at top flight doubles to put the Golden Eagles up 4-3 in the team score.

“One doubles played great. They won in a tiebreak (against Mitchell) at Huron, saved a match point and came back and won,” Kurtz said. “Today they kind of controlled the whole way. They were aggressive. They played really well.”

That left the dual outcome to the final two doubles matches.

“All the matches were off the court. We needed one of the last two doubles,” Kurtz said. “They were both at 7-8 at the same time. Mitchell just played really well down the stretch.”

Those two victories secured another tight dual win for the Kernels.

“There were so many matches that could have gone either way,” Kurtz said.

Despite another close setback, Kurtz said the Golden Eagles are right there with their Eastern South Dakota Conference foe.

“Kind of good to know, they’ve been one of the ESD powers. We’re kind of neck and neck with them,” Kurtz said. “Kind of gives us a of good feel of where we’re at in the ESD coming up in a couple of weeks.”

Central then took advantage of Washington’s top two players being out of the lineup in blanking the Warriors.

“Obviously, their two kids not being there helped us out a lot, but our kids played really well,” Kurtz said. “I think they really like playing indoors.”

Washington only won more than three games in just one match during the dual.

The Golden Eagles cap off a busy two days of tennis today when they head outdoors to face Sioux Falls Jefferson at 9:30 this morning and Sioux Falls Roosevelt at Noon.

“We’d like to kind of keep the momentum going,” Kurtz said. “We’re playing well right now.”

Mitchell 5, Aberdeen Central 4

SINGLES

AJ Prehn, AC, def. Matthew Mauszycki, 10-5.

Luke Jerke, M, def. Mason Ligon, 10-4.

Asher Dannenbring, M, def. Dawson Pederson, 10-4.

Gustavo Carrara, AC, def. Cooper Star, 10-8.

Dawson Adams, M, def. Aric Tennant, 10-5.

Mika Dannen, AC, def. Sutton Thompson, 10-5.

DOUBLES

Prehn-Carrara, AC, def. Mauszycki-Jerke, 10-3.

Star-Thompson, M, def. Pederson-Ligon, 10-7.

Adams-Dannebring, M, def. Tennant-Dannen, 10-8.

Aberdeen Central 9, Sioux Falls Washington 0

SINGLES

Gannon Pederson, AC, def. Andi Lewis, 10-1.

Mason Ligon, AC, def. Eli Boyd, 10-6.

Dawson Pederson, AC, def. Thomas Bauer, 10-0.

Gustavo Carrara, AC, def. Derek Yauslin, 10-0.

Aric Tennant, AC, def. Mason Ivery, 10-0.

Mika Dannen, AC, def. Corey Schneider, 10-1.

DOUBLES

Prehn- Carrara, AC, def. Boyd- Bauer, 10-3.

Pederson-Ligon, AC, def. Yauslin-Lewis, 10-1.

Tennant-Dannen, AC, def. Ivery-Schneider, 10-1.