SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central bounced back from a 6-3 loss to Sioux Falls Jefferson to salvage a split after sweeping Sioux Falls Roosevelt 9-0 in boys’ tennis action Tuesday afternoon.

“It wasn’t a bad day,” said Central coach Trent Kurtz. “We had some chances to win some matches, which we needed after (Monday).”

Central began the day in doubles action against Sioux Falls Jefferson, picking up a win in the first flight where AJ Prehn and Mason Ligon earned a 6-3, 7-5 victory. The momentum, however, turned south after that.

“I thought we left a few out there,” Kurtz said. “We still struggle with turning things around when we lose momentum. … We ended up losing two of those three (doubles) matches, and that carried over to singles. We were in a little funk, and it’s hard for us to get out of that lately.”

Central’s two singles victories were from Ligon at second flight and Dawson Pederson at third flight. 

Pederson’s win came via a comeback after dropping a 6-2 first set. He then won the second set 6-2 and ran away with the tiebreaker set 10-1.

“He was able to turn it around and played really well in the second set,” Kurtz said of his eighth-grader. “Just dominated the second half of the match. Good to see that from a young player.”

Ligon similarly had a stellar day, winning all four of his matches, including two close ones against Jefferson and a pair of convincing victories over Roosevelt.

“Mason had an awesome day,” Kurtz said. “He went 4-0 and had two really good doubles matches. He and AJ are starting to play really well together.”

Kurtz said Ligon also played “a really smart match” in his singles win over Jefferson.

The Golden Eagles are set to head to Rapid City for three straight days of tennis, including the two-day Rapid City Invitational Friday and Saturday. Teams will participate in an singles tournament on Friday and a doubles event on Saturday.

“It’s a really fun event,” Kurtz said.

Sioux Falls Jefferson 6, Aberdeen Central 3

Singles

Charlie Grismer, SFJ, def. AJ Prehn, 6-3, 6-4.

Mason Ligon, AC, def. Blake Walter, 6-4, 7-5.

Dawson Pederson, AC, def. Charlie Erickson, 2-6, 6-2, 10-1.

Carter Kemmis, SFJ, def. Aric Tennant, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2).

Kyan Kemmis, SFJ, def. Mika Dannen, 6-0, 6-2.

Asher Vandwater, SFJ, def. Gannon Pederson, 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles

Prehn-Ligon, AC, def. Grismer-Walter, 6-3, 7-5.

Erickson-C. Kemmis, SFJ, def. Dannen-G. Pederson, 1-6, 6-2, 10-8.

K. Kemmis-Vandwater, SFJ, def. D. Peterson-Tennant, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8.

Aberdeen Central 9, Sioux Falls Jefferson 0

Singles

AJ Prehn, AC, def. Boen Mckee, 10-7.

Mason Ligon, AC, def. Kaleb Updegraff, 10-2.

Dawson Pederson, AC, def. Caleb Gonnerman, 10-3.

Aric Tennant, AC, def. Andrew Brockmuller, 10-3.

Mika Dannen, AC, def. Aaden Tieszen, 10-1.

Gannon Pederson, AC, def. Owen Hoier, 10-0.

Doubles

Prehn-Ligon, AC, def. McKee-Updegraff, 10-3.

Dannen-G. Pederson, AC, def. Gonnerman-Brockmueller, 10-1.

D. Pederson-Tennant, AC, def. Tieszen-Hoier, 10-1.