MITCHELL – Aberdeen Central split a pair of Eastern South Dakota Conference girls’ tennis matches Saturday afternoon at Hitchcock Park, falling 5-4 to Mitchell before rebounding for an 8-1 win over Brandon Valley.

Central’s opening match was fraught with hard-fought matches. Reese Comstock and Chloe Ladner both needed super-tiebreakers to claim singles wins at flights three and four, respectively. Comstock won her breaker 12-10, while Ladner’s breaker was a 10-8 final.

“I was extremely pleased with the girls’ effort,” said Central coach John Vogel of his team’s play, particularly with the singles matches.

While the Kernels were able to bounce back and claim two of the three doubles matches to take the overall match win, Vogel was happy with the Golden Eagles’ ability to compete.

“Seeing how Mitchell is projected as the team to beat in ESD this year, we were happy with the result,” he said.

Meanwhile, the close calls did not all go in Central’s favor against Brandon Valley. After sweeping all three doubles matches, the Golden Eagles took the first five flights of singles. Ashley Ortega rallied from a first-set loss at flight six for a 7-5 win in the second set before dropping the super breaker 13-11.

“Overall, it was a good day,” Vogel said.

Central will head to Madison on Tuesday to face Vermillion and Madison before making its home debut Sept. 16 against St. Thomas More.

Mitchell 5, Aberdeen Central 4

Singles

Julia Knie, AC, def. Megan Mastel, 6-4, 6-1.

Carsyn Weich, MIT, def. Avery Tennant, 6-4, 6-1.

Reese Comstock, AC, def. Katie Morgan, 6-4, 2-6, 12-10.

Chloe Ladner, AC, def. Elly Clement, 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.

Matteah Grocel, MIT, def. Sarah Knie, 6-2, 6-0.

Mia Larson, MIT, def. Ashley Ortega, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles

J. Knie-Tennant, AC, def. Mastel-Weich, 6-3, 6-4.

Clement-Grocel, MIT, def. Comstock-Ladner, 6-0, 6-1.

Morgan-Larson, MIT, def. Mady Holman-Estelle Riggs, 6-3, 6-2.

Aberdeen Central 8, Brandon Valley 1

Singles

Julia Knie, AC, def. Keera Kriech, 6-1, 6-0.

Avery Tennant, AC, def. Sophia Menden, 6-2, 6-1.

Reese Comstock, AC, def. Claudia Scholten, 6-4, 6-3.

Chloe Ladner, AC, def. Reagan Morrell, 6-3, 2-6, 10-2.

Sarah Knie, AC, def. Harper Beateh, 6-0, 6-2.

Olivia Ericsson, BV, def. Ashley Ortega, 6-2, 5-7, 13-11.

Doubles

J. Knie-Tennant, AC, def. Kriech-Scholten, 6-0, 6-2.

Comstock-Ladner, AC, def. Menden-Morrell, 6-3, 6-1.

Mady Holman-Estelle Riggs, AC, def. Beateh-Ericsson, 6-4, 6-1.