It was only fitting that it come down to this.

The final match of the day featured multiple match points, plenty of momentum changes, and at the end, like they had all day, the Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles secured a hard-fought victory.

Central won three super-tiebreakers among other close sets in a 7-2 non-conference tennis dual win over Sioux Falls Christian at the Holgate Tennis Courts.

The last win came at the hands of Reese Comstock and Chloe Ladner at second flight doubles to conclude an exciting day of action.

“They played really good tennis down the stretch,” said Central coach John Vogel.

The Central duo trailed 7-4 before receiving a pep talk from its coach that helped to turn the tide.

Vogel told his players they were right in the match.

“Girls it was four (pivotal) points there, it could be 7-4 the other way really easy,” Vogel said his told his doubles tandem.

Comstock and Ladner responded and eventually had three set points to make it 9-8. They lost all three and soon were facing three match points. Ladner ripped a passing shot up the line to save the first and placed an overhead perfectly cross court to save the second.

“I think you just have to pretend it’s not that much at stake, so you’re not so nervous,” Ladner said of producing under pressure, “but it was pretty nerve-wrecking, but we pulled it through.”

Central jumped in front 5-2 in the super, before SFC rallied and the score was tied at 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9 before the Golden Eagles finally secured the win.

“You just got to keep going at all times,” Ladner said. “You can’t give up at any point.”

Ladner also rallied from 7-4 down to win a super at fourth flight singles. Central also received a super-breaker win from seventh-grader Sarah Knie at fifth flight singles.

Junior Avery Tennant won her match at 10-6 at flight two in what turned out to be extremely warm conditions for nearly October.

“It was really hot out there and the sweat kind of got in my eyes,” Tennant said, “and then my hair was drenched and that was falling into my eyes, and it was just rough.”

The Golden Eagles now set their sights on the Eastern South Dakota Conference Tournament Monday and Tuesday in Watertown. Tennant has a specific goal in mind.

“My only goal is to podium. I don’t really care if it’s first, second or third,” Tennant said. “I just want to get up there and get a medal, I don’t really care what colors it is.”

Central is the defending ESD team champion and Vogel is pleased with the way his team is performing heading into the tourney.

“I’m really liking how we’re playing going into ESD,” Vogel said.

Aberdeen Central 7, Sioux Falls Christian 2

Singles

Anna Westenberg, SFC, def. Annaliese Wells, 10-0.

Avery Tennant, AC, Macknzie Boyle, 10-6.

Reese Comstock, AC, def. Kasey Lemstra, 10-1.

Chloe Ladner, AC, def. Eisley Roark, 10-9 (7-5).

Sarah Knie, AC, def. Sophia Heynen, 10-9 (7-5).

Ashley Ortega, AC, def. Piper DeBoer, 10-7.

Doubles

Westerberg-Boyle, SFC, def. Knie-Ortega, 10-0.

Comstock-Ladner, AC, def. Lemstra-Roark, 10-9 (11-9).

Mady Holman-Estelle Riggs, AC, def. Heynen-DeBoer, 10-3.