SIOUX FALLS – As expected wins were a bit harder to come by for Aberdeen Central at the Eastern South Dakota Conference Tennis Tournament on Tuesday, but the Golden Eagles still held on to third place and claimed all-conference honors in three flights.

Central coach John Vogel noted that his players were underdogs in most of the matches, but still pulled out multiple victories and scored 171 points to finish in third place behind champion Harrisburg, and runner-up Mitchell.

“In dual records, Harrisburg and Mitchell both beat us and we beat everyone else,” Vogel said, “so in a way, if you go by duals we’re the third best and now we’re also the third best, so I guess we’re the third best team in the ESD this year.”

The Golden Eagles collected all-conference honors (top three) at flight one singles with Sarah Knie, flight two singles with Estelle Riggs, and second flight doubles with Mady Holman and Penelope Vogel.

Coach Vogel pointed out the play of Riggs, who split a pair of singles matches on the way to third place.

“Estelle Riggs played really, really well today,” Vogel said.

Riggs lost to a girl from Harrisburg in the semifinals.

“The first time they played I think it was like 10-1,” Vogel said. “This time it was 10-7, and Estelle was right there the whole time.”

Riggs then took down her opponent 8-6 in the third place match.

“To take third, she had to defeat the two seed from Pierre who beat her during the Elliott,” Vogel said.

Riggs and Knie won a pair of matches to finish fifth at top flight doubles, after losing a heartbreaker on Monday.

“They played very well in both of their doubles matches,” Vogel said.

The coach pointed out a tough turn of events for his daughter, Penelope in her semifinals at flight four singles, where she was leading 7-5, there was a break in the action to talk about a point, and then lost the final five games.

Vogel said all of his players are peaking at the right time of the season as the Golden Eagles head into next week’s State AA Tournament in Rapid City.

“Almost everyone is playing their best,” Vogel said. “Going into state, we’re pleased.”

Team Points: Harrisburg 359, Mitchell 308, Aberdeen Central 171, Brandon Valley 110, Watertown 110, Yankton 100, Pierre 72.5, Huron 57.5, Brookings 0.

SINGLES

First Flight

SARAH KNIE: lost to Katie Morgan, Mitchell, 10-7; def. Elly Dingsor, Watertown, 8-2. THIRD PLACE.

Second Flight

ESTELLE RIGGS: lost to Hope Gabel, Harrisburg, 10-7; def. Eliza Mayer, Pierre, 8-6. THIRD PLACE.

Third Flight

MADY HOLMAN: lost to Jessi Muth, Harrisburg, 10-3; lost to Ava Prunty, Watertown, 8-5. FOURTH PLACE.

Fourth Flight

PENELOPE VOGEL: lost to Abbie Frye, Harrisburg, 10-7; lost to Taylor Sorben, Huron, 8-6. FOURTH PLACE.

Fifth Flight

JOVEE WALDO: lost to Leighton Guetter, Brandon Valley, 10-5; lost to Ella Pesek, Watertown, 8-4. FOURTH PLACE.

Sixth Flight

RAYLEE ZIMMER: lost to Ramsey Anderson, Yankton, 8-5. FOURTH PLACE.

DOUBLES

First Flight

SARAH KNIE-ESTELLE RIGGS: def. Harper Beatch-Olivia Ericsson, Brandon Valley, 8-1; def. Say Glay-Chalie Sah, Huron, 8-4. FIFTH PLACE.

Second Flight

MADY HOLMAN-PENELOPE VOGEL: lost to Jessi Muth-Abbie Frye, Harrisburg, 10-6; def. Idella Meyer-Taylor Sorben, Huron, 8-3. THIRD PLACE.

Third Flight

JOVEE WALDO-RAYLEE ZIMMER: lost to Charlee Cimpl-Taryn Bultje, Mitchell, 10-5; Hanna Hruby-Avery Johannsen, Harrisburg, 8-4. FOURTH PLACE.