BROOKINGS – The Aberdeen Central tennis team split a pair of matches Saturday, wrapping up a stretch of five matches in slightly more than 24 hours.

After playing three times on Friday, the Golden Eagles were back on the court early Saturday morning. Central defeated Huron 8-1 and lost to Watertown 8-1.

“If you just go by results, it was nice,” said Central coach John Vogel. “It was a good weekend.”

However, the day was overshadowed by an injury to the team’s top player Emily Ringgenberg. The senior suffered a wrist injury during her first doubles match of the day and did not compete in any of her matches after that.

The gave Julia Knie an opportunity and she filled in admirably, winning a match against Huron’s true number one player.

Vogel said the team adopted a saying a few years ago when somebody fills in: “‘Play like the sub,’ because there’s absolutely no pressure on you,” he said, “and they usually play out of their mind.”

Central had a lot of close matches on the way to the win over Huron, securing a pair of tiebreakers, winning another match 10-8, and two others 10-7.

“Huron is a vast improved team,” Vogel said. “They’re going to be up and coming.”

While the Eagles fell to Watertown, Vogel pointed out they definitely had some chances, losing one match in a tie-breaker where they had a match point during the regular set, and two other matches 10-8.

Avery Tennant won all five of her singles matches on the weekend at flight six.

Vogel said that the freshman has shown marked improvement from a year ago.

“Even though she had a very good year last year as a middle schooler, she has improved greatly,” Vogel said, “not only with her ability, but also her knowledge.”

Central, which has not had a home match so far this season, will continue to play on the road competing in the Huron Quadrangular on Saturday.

After a busy weekend of tennis, Vogel said he is welcoming a little time off this coming week.

“We’ve got lots to work on,” he said, “and also need some rest.”

Aberdeen Central 8, Huron 1

Singles

Julia Knie, AC, def. Anne Claire Rubish, 10-4.

Alice Vogel, AC, def. Lizzy Heinen, 10-8.

Bianca Medina, H, def. Carly Comstock, 10-7.

Riley O’Keefe, AC, def. Beth Engelhart, 10-1.

Laney Gonsor, AC, def. Say Ma, 10-9 (8-6).

Avery Tennant, AC, def. Ann Hoek, 10-4.

Doubles

Emily Ringgenberg-Vogel, AC, def. Rubish-Heinen, 10-4.

C. Comstock-Charlee Galvin, AC, def. Medina-Engelhart, 10-7.

Gonsor-Reece Comstock, AC, def. Ma-Hoek, 10-9 (7-5).

Watertown 8, Aberdeen Central 1

Singles

Jaida Young, W, def. Julia Knife, 10-4.

Ellie Zink, W, def. Alice Vogel, 10-4.

Leyla Meester, W, def. Carly Comstock, 10-8.

Josie Heyn, W, def. Riley O’Keefe, 10-6.

Faith Berg, W, def. Laney Gonsor, 10-9 (8-6).

Avery Tennant, AC, def. Sophia Nicholas, 10-2.

Doubles

Zink-Heyn, W, def. Knie-Vogel, 10-2.

Young-Meester, W, def. Livia Douglas-C. Comstock, 10-4.

Berg-Nichols, W, def. Gonsor-R. Comstock, 10-8.