Aberdeen Roncalli wrapped up its regular tennis season by facing one of the premier Class A programs in the state. Sioux Falls Christian walked away with a 9-0 victory at the Northern State Courts on Saturday.
“I feel like today we went out against the best team in the state for Class A and competed,” said Roncalli coach Jonah Dignan. “We didn’t succeed to the level that we want to succeed at, but we certainly did not roll over. We want to be the best and to do that you have to compete with the best.”
While the Cavaliers were unable to win any of the matches, Dignan noted his top players were in those matches.
“I was impressed with our top three players today,” Dignan said. “They went out and played with the favorites to win state at those flights. We didn’t win the matches, but we hung in the games with them.”
Dignan pointed out the play of the top flight doubles team of Keira Rivett and Sydney Bohle.
“At one doubles I think we had five or six deuce points,” Dignan said. “We need to start taking more of them, but that comes with time and being in those moments more.”
The dual marked the final home matches for Rivett, the lone Roncalli senior.
“I tried not to think about it, because I’ve been doing tennis for so long. It’s sad to leave it, but I’ve had a good season,” Rivett said. “I’ve done better than I thought I would playing at number one, and I’ve had a lot more fun with my teammates than I thought I would.”
Rivett said being with younger teammates, primarily seventh graders, took some getting used to, but she ended up enjoying the experience.
“First practice going into the season I had a little bit of meltdown, because I was like how I am supposed to play with all these seventh graders,” Rivett said, “but I realize that I’m not that much better than them. It’s really not difficult.”
The season has been a work in progress for most of the Cavaliers, many of whom weren’t on the varsity last year. That includes freshman Lydia Nora at flight four singles.
“I feel like I’ve really improved a lot,” Nora said.
She said her biggest improvement is in positioning her shots, keeping the ball away from her opponent.
“Knowing if she’s on one side of the court, to hit it away from her,” Nora said.
Roncalli will now have a week to gear up for the State A Tournament in Sioux Falls. Nora is looking forward to competing in her first state tourney.
“I feel like I want to try to play really good tennis,” Nora said. “I’m probably not going to win the whole thing obviously, but just try to play good tennis.”
Sioux Falls Christian 9, Aberdeen Roncalli 0
SINGLES
Anna Westerberg, SFC, def. Keira Rivett, 6-0, 6-2.
Mackenzie Boyle, SFC, def. Sydney Bohle, 6-0, 6-0.
Eisley Roark, SFC, def. Gianna Cihak, 6-2, 6-1.
Dani Vanderdussen, SFC, def. Lydia Nora, 6-0, 6-0.
Sophia Heynen, SFC, def. Molleigh Hofer, 6-2, 6-1.
Piper DeBoer, SFC, def. Abby Andersen, 6-3, 6-1,
DOUBLES
Westenberg-Boyle, SFC, def. Rivett-Bohle, 6-1, 6-0.
Roark-Vanderdussen, SFC, def. Cihak-Hofer, 6-0, 6-3.
Heynen-DeBoer, SFC, def. Andersen-Nora, 6-3, 6-2.
