PIERRE – Aberdeen Central experienced the opposite ends of the spectrum to start its tennis season on Friday. The Golden Eagles fell to Rapid City Stevens 9-0, before blanking Spearfish 9-0.

“We opened with dubs against Stevens and it didn’t take long to see that the defending champs are looking good,” said Central coach John Vogel.

However, despite not winning a match, the Golden Eagles won at least five games in four of them.

“Even with the 9-0 defeat, we were pleased with the effort our girls gave,” Vogel said. “I was concerned about a slow start with us having an early morning bus ride and Stevens spending the night (having played Pierre Thursday night), but most of them hung in there and battled. Avery (Tennant), Sarah (Knie), and Mady (Holman), especially.”

Central was able to get a break between the duals on a warm day.

“I was also worried about how we’d handle the heat,” Vogel said, “but luckily Pierre has an air conditioned room right by the courts that saved the day.”

Things were much different against Spearfish as the Golden Eagles won every match.

“Spearfish is a young team. They looked good at 1 and 2, but again Avery and Sarah handled the challenge,” Vogel said. “I know a 10-1 match doesn’t look close on paper, but Avery was pushed. Sarah ended up with a 10-4 win, but it was 4-3 before she pulled away.”

The Golden Eagles will face Rapid City Central and Rapid City Christian today.

“Overall, it was a good start,” Vogel said of the team’s first two duals.

Rapid City Stevens 9, Aberdeen Central 0

SINGLES

Arabella Scott, RCS, def. Avery Tennant, 10-6.

Sylvie Mortimer, RCS, def. Sarah Knie, 10-7.

Ella Potvin, RCS, def. Chloe Ladner, 10-1.

Madison Marsh, RCS, def. Estelle Riggs, 10-0.

Bella Nelson, RCS, def. Mady Holman, 10-5.

Kaia Carlson, RCS, def. Anneliese Wells, 10-1.

DOUBLES

Mortimer-Marsh, RCS, def. Tennant-Ladner, 10-3.

Scott-Potvin, RCS, def. Knie-Riggs, 10-6.

Bella Nelson-Elena Braun, RCS, def. Holman-Wells, 10-2.

Aberdeen Central 9, Spearfish 0

SINGLES

Avery Tennant, AC, def. Eliza Bailey, 10-1.

Sarah Knie, AC, def. Allie Mondloch, 10-4.

Chloe Ladner, AC, def. Lydia Schutz, 10-2

Estelle Riggs, AC, def. Callisa Alderson, 10-2.

Mady Holman, AC, def. Michaela Harvey, 7-0 retired.

Annaliese Wells, AC, def. Natalie Schutz, 10-0.

DOUBLES

Tennant-Ladner, AC, def. Bailey-Mondloch, 10-1.

Knie-Riggs, AC, def. Schutz-Alderson, 10-3.

Holman-Wells, AC, def. Harvey-Schutz, 10-0.