Aberdeen Roncalli received a big boost from a pair of seventh graders to capture its first dual tennis win of the season on Tuesday. The Cavaliers clipped Milbank 5-4 at the Northern State Courts.
“It feels pretty good,” said Roncalli coach Jonah Dignan of the team’s first victory, “especially close matches, it feels good for those go our way today.”
The Cavaliers received wins from first-year varsity members Sydney Bohle at flight two singles, and Abby Andersen at flight six singles. Both seventh graders won in straight sets.
“I honestly can’t thank them enough for that,” Dignan said. “Sydney has had a rough season at number two. For her to be a seventh-grader and to go into that against some of the best players in the state. She was able to get it done today. That feels good for the team and for her.”
Andersen has held her own so far for the Cavaliers.
“We didn’t really know where she would be coming into this season,” Dignan said, “and she’s a really solid six for us.”
Bohle shook off the disappointment of losing in a super-tiebreaker in doubles to record her singles victory.
“After my doubles I was kind of defeated,” Bohle said. “I didn’t think I was able to come back, but then my dad (Ryan) and my coach helped me through it. I just had a lot of confidence in myself.”
Bohle needed multiple match points before putting her foe away at the end of a tight second set. She said she goes through a routine in stages like that.
“Every time I’m receiving, to calm myself down, or when I’m serving, I always say, ‘concentrate, relax and focus.’ And then I have a new mindset of what I’m going to do,” Bohle said.
Despite facing opponents who are much older than she is, Bohle does not back down.
“I’m not overly intimidated, because the one thing that I like to do when I’m playing tennis is start with doubles,” Bohle said, “so then if I’m playing my opponent that I played in doubles, I kind of know the mindset of what’s she’s going to do.”
What happens if Bohle has to play singles first?
“I just have to let it rip,” Bohle said. “I just have to go with it.”
Like Bohle, Andersen is experiencing her first opportunity at varsity tennis. She said things are much different than a year ago.
“JV was a lot more less pressure. It was pretty chill,” Andersen said. “This year is more serious and I like it more serious. We get to go to a lot more meets, so it’s good.”
Andersen tries to play defense against aggressive opponents and it’s a style that is serving her well.
She said deuce points produce a fair amount of pressure, knowing it’s a two-game swing, but she tries to keep things in perspective.
“I always just tell myself that there’s going to be another point after that. … There’s always a chance I can catch up,” Andersen said. “That helps.”
Andersen teamed with Lydia Nora for a tight win at third flight doubles, and Molleigh Hofer had a role in two victories as well.
Hofer won her match at fifth flight singles, and teamed with Gianna Cihak for a super-tiebreaker win at flight two doubles.
“Molleigh played pretty solid across the board in both doubles and singles,” Dignan said.
Milbank received singles wins from Jenna Korstjens at first flight, Payton Lamp at third flight, and Charlotte Swenson at fourth flight. Korstjens and Lamp battled back to win a super breaker at top flight doubles.
“We were right there with Roncalli. It’s always a battle between us,” said Milbank coach Abby Trapp. “I thought we played really well. We were down actually in all the doubles, and we came back and we had two tiebreakers, one of them went our way and one of them didn’t.”
Trapp is already looking forward to a rematch with the Cavaliers later this month in Milbank.
“We’re excited to play them again in September,” she said, “so hopefully this time it goes our way.”
SINGLES
Jenna Korstjens, M, def. Keira Rivett, 6-2, 6-2.
Sydney Bohle, AR, def. Ashlynn Lamp, 6-2, 6-4.
Payton Lamp, M, def. Gianna Cihak, 2-6, 6-4, (10-8).
Charlotte Swanson, M, def. Lydia Nora, 6-1, 6-1.
Molleigh Hofer, AR, def. Bri Hicks, 6-2, 6-4.
Abby Andersen, AR, def. Caitlyn Frerichs, 6-4, 6-0.
DOUBLES
Korstjens-P. Lamp, M, def. Rivett-Bohle, 1-6, 6-2, (10-4).
Cihak-Hofer, AR, def. A. Lamp-Swanson, 4-6, 6-0, (10-7).
Andersen-Nora, AR, def. Hicks-Rebecca Lavallee, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
