Players at the annual Hub City Open Tennis Tournament not only had to deal with their opponents, they also had to endure the elements during action at the Northern State courts, with a pair of rain delays and also temperatures into the 90s. In addition to a pair of super-tiebreakers, seven other sets were decided by 7-5 scores.

Josh Hadler of Aberdeen was playing in three divisions (singles, doubles and mixed doubles), because he didn’t want to be forced to leave one out.

“I feel like I would feel I missed out if I didn’t play in one particular event,” Hadler said.

Hadler, at age 27, is playing against some high school opponents in the tournament.

“Each year they get better,” Hadler said. “It’s kind of cool to see that growth.”

Hadler, who can often be found working with the city’s up-and-coming players, was trying to keep an eye on some of his former kids while at the same time dealing with his own match.

“It’s kind of distracting, I guess,” Hadler said, “like watching the other courts that are kids that I give lessons to, that I care about how their match is going.”

Not only is Hadler an accomplished tennis player, he has also gotten into Pickleball, traveling to tournaments in Mason City, Iowa, Omaha, and Sioux Falls this summer.

“Pickleball is a lot more forgiving sport, as far as technique. It’s a lot easier to pick up and not as technically sound as tennis,” Hadler said. “Because if I try to hit the ball as hard as I can in tennis, I’ll miss eventually, but in Pickleball, you can hit certain shots as hard as you want without the concern for missing.”

When asked which sport is his favorite, Hadler responded, “probably Pickleball more than tennis, just because it’s easier. For people that are past their tennis careers, Pickleball is better to play, but for younger kids, I would have them play tennis over Pickleball any day.”

The more things change, the more they stay the same for Alice Vogel. The former standout player for Aberdeen Central is back in town for the summer after attending her freshman year at Minnesota State, Moorhead.

Vogel played a pair of her former teammates in singles on Saturday, Julia Knie and Avery Tennant.

“I love getting to come back and play both Julia and Avery. It’s just so fun,” Vogel said. “I’ve seen both of them since they were playing in middle school and now playing them, Julia is entering her senior year, Avery is a junior and to see how much they’ve improved and getting to play with them and at such a high level, it’s just really fun.”

Despite losing to both opponents, Vogel made them work for it, and the current Golden Eagles were up to the challenge.

“Last year they had such a great season. It was so fun to see,” Vogel said. “You know it’s always kind of scary when you lose (seniors), we had so many good seniors, not even myself, but just so many, to see all of them leave, and be like OK, do we have people ready to step up, and we did and we still do.”

Vogel pushed Tennant corner to corner and time after time the ball kept coming back.

“It is so fun to be able to just hit like that, and honestly even though I knew it was coming right back, like sometimes I’d hope, I’m like oh don’t … and then it came right back,” Vogel said, “and then I was like got to keep going and it was really fun.”

The rally just before match point included more than two dozen strokes as Tennant had a response for every shot Vogel hit.

“That was probably my most fun point of the match,” Vogel said.

Vogel, whose dad John is the Central girls’ tennis coach and was her mixed doubles partner on Saturday, said playing in the tournament seemed just like it used to.

“It almost kind of brings me back. I kind of feel like I’m just back during the summer, hitting with my dad or hitting with my friend, Emily (Ringgenberg), my doubles partner, or even the team,” Vogel said. “It makes me feel like it’s during season, like I’m just preparing for next season, trying to get better.”

There was one other thing that made Vogel feel like she was right back in high school.

“I’m having a lot of fun,” Vogel said. “It’s been kind of a crazy day with the two rain delays. That made me feel like I was right back in season again, having to stop and start.”

The tournament resumes this morning at 8 a.m.

MEN’S DIVISION

Open Singles

Gannon May def. Ezra Feickert, 6-1, 6-1; Josh Hadler def. May, 6-1, 6-0; Dawson Pederson def. Mason Ligon, 4-6, ret.; Cason Hellwig def. Paul Vocu, 6-4, 6-3; AJ Prehn def. Aric Tennant, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

Open Doubles

Ron Meier-Colton Hellwig def. Grady Anderson-Ryan Ng, 6-0, 6-1; John Vogel-Aaron Kiesz def. Gannon May-Ezra Feickert, 6-1, 6-1; Cason Hellwig-Landon Zikmund def. Dawson Pederson-Carson Goethals, 6-2, 6-1; Josh Hadler-Paul Vocu def. Aric Tennant-Brock Anderson, 6-0, 7-5; Meier-Hellwig def. Vogel-Kiesz, 6-1, 6-2 Hellwig-Zikmund def. Hadler-Vocu, 1-6, 6-4, (10-5).

4.0 Singles

Grady Anderson def. Travis Zotti, 6-4, 2-6, (10-8).

WOMEN’S DIVISION

Open Singles

(Round Robin) Julia Knie def. Alice Vogel, 6-3, 6-1; Avery Tennant def. Vogel, 7-5, 6-3.

Open Doubles

Mady Holman-Chloe Ladner def. Estelle Riggs-Sarah Knie, 6-4, 6-3; Avery Tennant-Julia Knie def. Holman-Ladner, 6-1, 6-0; Alice Vogel-Emily Ringgenberg def. Raley Haskell-River Haskell, 6-2, 6-3.

4.0 Singles

Ashley Ortega def. Estelle Riggs, 6-4, 6-4; Sarah Knie def. Penelope Vogel, 6-2, 7-5.

MIXED

Open Doubles

AJ Prehn-Julia Knie def. Paul Vocu-Raley Haskell, 6-4, 6-3; Ron Meier-Emily Ringgenberg def. John Vogel-Alice Vogel, 6-4, 6-2; Colton Hellwig-Mirra Frohling def. Jason Haskell-Hallie Haskell, 7-5, 6-0; Josh Hadler-Estelle Riggs def. Ezra Feickert-Avery Tennant, 6-4, 6-1; Prehn-Knie def. Meier-Ringgenberg, 6-4, 6-0.

8.0 Doubles

Gannon Pederson-Mady Holman def. Travis Zotti-Ashley Ortega, 6-4, 7-5; Aric Tennant-Sarah Knie def. Christian Wells-Anneliese Wells, 6-1, 7-5.