Things could not have been scripted much better for a pair of Aberdeen Roncalli girls’ teams so far this season.

The Roncalli volleyball squad has won its first five matches without a defeat, while the Cavaliers have won eight consecutive tennis duals, dating back to Aug. 15.

What makes things even more impressive is that each squad has just one senior on the roster.

The volleyball team does not possess a lot of numbers, but it does feature a lot of depth.

“We might not have a lot of girls out, but we have a lot of girls that just have the skill level, the motivation, the energy and the commitment to this program,” said Roncalli volleyball coach Leesa Ware, “and I think that’s what’s gotten us our success so far.”

Meanwhile on the tennis court, first-year head coach Ryan Bohle has the Cavaliers playing a high level with wins over multiple Class AA squads.

“There’s a lot of talent with these girls,” Bohle said. “I wouldn’t say it’s anything I’m doing other than I think we’ve got girls in the right spots, which I think that is half of the battle right there. You have to have people in the right spots and they’re going to win matches.

In the case of the Roncalli volleyball squad, the Cavaliers had a signature win to start the season, toppling third-rated and perennial Class B power Northwestern.

“I think just that huge win against Northwestern really set kind of the tone for the season,” Ware said.

For the tennis team, it was a weekend trip that produced a pair of victories over AA squads that helped to build the team’s confidence.

“I think we knew that there was talent,” Bohle said. “We knew that we could win matches, we knew that we could win as a team, but I don’t know that we said, hey I think we’re going to go to Brookings and beat Brookings and Yankton.”

Bohle has worked with his young players to help assure them that they do possess the abilities to hold their own against older opponents.

“There was a conversation I had with one of them at the beginning of the year, and I know that at the time, she kind of looked at me, and honestly she probably thought I was nuts,” Bohle said. “It took about 3 or 4 matches and I think she was like, I think you’re exactly right.”

While the volleyball team is off to a fast start, the players understand that the season is just getting started.

“The girls continue to remain motivated. They know what the success is that we could have of the program,” Ware said. “We just have to continue to stay motivated with our heads above water and honestly take it one match at a time. That’s what we have to do.”

Both coaches said there is still plenty of room for improvement despite the success they have witnessed so far, and they will work to shore up any weaknesses that they can.

“Every single practice, every single match, we’re looking to improve on some areas,” Ware said. “It doesn’t matter if that’s on defense, offense, our blocking systems, being just a little bit early, not doing hitting errors, things like that.”

Conversations on things to improve take place on the tennis court daily, according to Bohle.

“We talk about, hey we need to improve this, we need to improve that, we need to improve lots of things,” Bohle said. “On the other hand, we have to also have to say, look this is one senior. In our lineup there’s three sophomores, and two eighth-graders. There’s a lot of room to grow. We’ve got in some cases two years, in some cases four years, to grow.”

Both Ware and Bohle know there are major challenges still ahead on their upcoming schedules. There is an immediate one for the volleyball team which travels to Groton for a match this evening.

“We’re really looking forward to Groton (tonight),” Ware said. “Just the competition between and the rivalry between Groton and Roncalli is just very strong.”

Both coaches have noticed that their athletes are performing with the confidence that comes from going out and producing results.

“I think these girls know every time we step on the court, we can go out and win,” Bohle said.

Ware said she has seen a change in demeanor in her players from a year, ago, even in practice.

“It’s the intensity level, it’s hustling after the balls. A ball will be shanked out of bounds and not one person goes after it, the entire team is running. They’re sprinting and they’re rolling on the ground,” Ware said. “You can see the commitment and just the effort. You can definitely see it this year. They want to become better every single day. They’re probably some of the most coachable girls I’ve ever coached, and that’s saying a lot, too.”

While the future certainly looks bright for both teams, Bohle is not going to take anything for granted. He would like to enjoy what is happening in the present.

“We’ve got to enjoy every day of this, because who knows what next year’s going to look like, the year after,” Bohle said. “Yes, we’re all super young, but we have to enjoy the wins when we get them.”