Aberdeen Roncalli got back in the swing of things by facing the swings of two Class AA powers on Monday at the Northern State Courts.

The Cavaliers, who went two weeks without a match, were blanked 9-0 by O’Gorman and Brandon Valley.

“We haven’t played in a couple of weeks or a week and a half here. I think getting out was the best thing for us today,” said Roncalli coach Jonah Dignan. “We saw really high competition with O’Gorman and really high with Brandon Valley. … They’re both really good AA schools. It’s good for us to see the ball from someone who’s not our teammate before we go out (Tuesday against Mitchell and Brookings).”

While the Cavaliers were unable to win any matches, they did pull off something that nobody else has so far this season.

“I think the best thing that came out of this today was O’Gorman’s one doubles hadn’t dropped a single game this whole season before they played our one doubles, so we’ll take that for what it’s worth,” Dignan said. “They were kind of shocked. I think everybody was kind of shocked.”

Roncalli’s top flight doubles team is comprised of Ezra Feickert and Linus Johnson.

Feickert moved up just one spot in singles from last year, but said the move has been noticeable.

“All the one seeds have a lot more power,” Feickert said, “know where they’re throwing all their shots.”

Feickert also has more of a leadership role this season being the lone senior on the squad.

“Sometimes you have to step up and show someone how to hit a shot or do something,” Feickert said, “and that is definitely a change from last year.”

Roncalli’s home-opening matches were played in less than ideal tennis conditions, with cold temps, grey skies and a steady breeze.

“A big warm up is definitely a huge thing,” Feickert said. “You want to be warm, be ready. Stay loose is also a big part of it. Don’t freeze up, literally and figuratively.”

Feickert is not the only Cavalier player who moved up in position this season. Eighth-grader Liam Voehl climbed all the way from six singles to second flight this year.

Voehl does not mind facing the tougher competition.

“I love playing against hard guys and I love to swing big. My dad always taught me to just swing for the moon,” Voehl said. “This year is all about learning, so I’m just going to try to do my best and not care about the losses.”

Voehl said there is a major difference between the competition near the top of the order and the bottom of the lineup.

“They’re all really consistent,” Voehl said of the second-flight players, “and they hit really well.”

Voehl tried not to think about the elements during his matches, noting that players from both teams had to deal with the conditions.

“Just got to let it not effect you, because they’re going through the same thing,” Voehl said. “So if you show it, that just gives them a boost of energy.”

Lincoln Hundstad won the most games in match for the Cavaliers, dropping a 10-5 decision at fifth flight singles against Brandon Valley.

“Lincoln Hundstad played really well here against Brandon Valley,” Dignan said.

Dignan said it was just good for the Cavaliers to get a look at different players after a couple of weeks of practice.

“It’s good for them to see people who aren’t their teammates hit the ball,” Dignan said, “and they can adapt and learn from that.”

The Cavaliers have seen their share of Class AA opponents to start the campaign and Dignan likes how the schedule sets up.

“I’m really glad that we’re playing them early in the year, rather than later,” he said. “I think as we build towards the A tournament, playing more A schools is going to be beneficial, and we’ll have at least adapted to AA’s better and seeing the ball move faster than it will against the A schools.”

Brandon Valley 9, Aberdeen Roncalli 0

SINGLES

Eli Woidyla, BV, def. Ezra Feickert, 10-1.

Will Jensen, BV, def. Liam Voehl, 10-2.

Ryley McKeown, BV, def. Linus Johnson, 10-2.

Titan Gross, BV, def. Caleb Stoks, 10-2.

Sanders Anshutz, BV, def. Lincoln Hundstad, 10-5.

Travis Rowberry, BV, def. Isaac Cybulski, 10-1.

DOUBLES

Woidyla-Jensen, BV, def. Feickert-Johnson, 10-1.

Gross-Rowberry, BV, def. Voehl-Stoks, 10-0.

Anshutz-Vincelli, BV, def. Hundstad-Cybulski, 10-4.

O’Gorman 9, Aberdeen Roncalli 0

SINGLES

Will Koziara, OG, def. Ezra Feickert, 10-0.

Johnny McDowell, OG, def. Liam Voehl, 10-0.

August Jackson, OG, def. Linus Johnson, 10-0.

Ben Pekas, OG, def. Caleb Stoks, 10-1.

Fain Canfield, OG, def. Lincoln Hundstad, 10-0.

Reid Oakland, OG, def. Isaac Cybulski, 10-0.

DOUBLES

Koziara-McDowell, OG, def. Feickert-Johnson, 10-1.

Jackson-Canfield, OG, def. Voehl-Stoks, 10-0.

Pekas-Noah Dobbs, OG, def. Hundstad-Cybulski, 10-0.