The effort was there, but the wins were hard to come by for the Aberdeen Roncalli tennis team on Tuesday. The Cavaliers opened their season with a 9-0 setback to Mitchell, and a 7-2 loss to Huron.

“A lot of deuce points,” said Roncalli coach Jason Haskell. “Another one of those meetings where the score wasn’t indicative of the play.”

While the Cavaliers failed to win a match against Mitchell, the Class AA runner-up a year ago, they held their own against the powerhouse opponent.

“We had really good points, had great matches,” Haskell said. “I felt like we were in those matches.”

As the day wore own, Haskell said his players began to wear down a bit.

“The clouds broke, the sun came out, it got hot,” he said, “and I could tell my girls were feeling it.”

He said the conditioning will improve as the season progresses.

“Sometimes that’s the best way to get match ready is to play matches,” Haskell said. “It might take us a week or two to condition into it with match play, but we’ll get there.”

Roncalli won a pair of matches against Huron, including an impressive victory by River Haskell at flight two singles. The senior jumped out to a 5-0 lead and was in control throughout on the way to a 10-3 win.

“It was my first win of the season,” she said, “so it felt good.”

Haskell said the quick start helped her confidence level and allowed her to play more aggressive.

“It definitely boosted my confidence,” Haskell said, “so it helped with the rest of the match.”

Her father and coach could tell the difference between her final match and her previous three on the day.

“I felt like she was hitting out a little better than she was in her earlier matches,” he said. “Got a little tentative in those first matches and in this one she went out and dictated play a little bit. Not a ton of pure winners, but just had her opponent on her feet and was able to do what she wanted with the ball.”

Roncalli’s other victory on the day came at flight one doubles where Katherine Kretchman and Raley Haskell are teaming up this season for the first time.

“That’s a new doubles configuration for us,” Coach Haskell said. “They haven’t ever played together.”

While Huron had a substitute in that match, Haskell said it was still good for his players to get in another match as they adjust to each other.

“That’s part of the reason even with them subbing out the one, you know what, let’s play this,” Haskell said. “Let’s get some matches under our belt, get used to hitting with each other. It looks like it could be a good combination for us going forward.”

Roncalli has four more duals to cap off the first week of action, playing in a tournament in Pierre on Friday and Saturday.

River Haskell has grown accustomed to the busy pace of tennis seasons through the years.

“I think I’m used to it now,” she said. “I know the tennis season is pretty quick.”

And while the season opener included stiff competition, she said that will only help the Cavaliers prepare for what lies ahead.

“A little tricky for the first matches,” she said, “but it’s good to start out like that, I think. It gets you prepared for what’s going to come, I guess.”

Mitchell 9, Aberdeen Roncalli 0

Singles

Megan Mastel, M, def. Katherine Kretchman, 10-6.

Carsyn Welch, M, def. River Haskell, 10-4.

Katie Morgan, M, def. Raley Haskell, 10-6.

Elly Clement, M, def. Keira Rivett, 10-1.

Matteah Graves, M, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-0.

Mia Larson, M, def. Gianna Cihak, 10-2.

Doubles

Mastel-Welch, M, def. Kretchman-Raley Haskell, 10-7.

Clement-Graves, M, def. River Haskell-Rivett, 10-5.

Morgan-Larson, M, def. Mitzel-Cihak, 10-0.

Huron 7, Aberdeen Roncalli 2

Singles

Heather Escobar, H, def. Molleigh Hofer, 10-7.

River Haskell, AR, def. Say Glay, 10-2.

Ann Hoek, H, def. Raley Haskell, 10-8.

Paw Kler Moo, H, def. Keira Rivett, 10-0.

Madeline Kleinsasser, H, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-1.

Idella Meyer, H, def. Gianna Cihak, 10-5.

Doubles

Kretchman-Raley Haskell, AR, def. Escobar-Hoek, 10-3.

Glaw-Moo, H, def. River Haskell-Rivett, 10-6.

Kleinsasser-Meyer, H, def. Mitzel-Cihak, 10-3.