The Aberdeen tennis teams had to wait until the regular season was almost finished, but made the most of their home openers Saturday during the Elliott Extravaganza.

Aberdeen Central won both of its duals, doubling up Pierre 6-3, and defeating Aberdeen Roncalli 8-1. The Cavaliers edged Watertown 5-4 in the other dual.

Central struggled closing out matches against Pierre, losing three in tiebreakers. However, the Golden Eagles rallied to win three matches against Roncalli.

“We were ahead in all the Pierre matches and we let them slip away,” said Central coach John Vogel. “So I was glad to see we could do the reverse as well.”

Vogel said closing out matches can be difficult.

“Finishing is tough,” Vogel said. “The last game is the hardest game to win. Every tennis player knows that.”

The Golden Eagles came up big down the stretch in several matches against Roncalli. Sophomore Raylee Zimmer was involved in two of them. She and partner Jovee Waldo rallied from a five-game deficit to close out a win at flight three doubles.

“We were kind of not focused in and we weren’t being confident with our strokes,” Zimmer said, “but once we finally got a couple points we were just like, we cannot lose this.”

Zimmer also trailed in her flight six singles match against Lydia Nora before taking control.

“I think I was just getting it down of just hitting it where she was not and getting my feet moving more,” Zimmer said, “because I was not moving very well.”

Central also got a big win from Estelle Riggs, who won the final five games against Sydney Bohle to finish off a win at flight two singles.

Roncalli coach Ryan Bohle said the Cavaliers need to find a way to close out those sets.

“Central is a good team. I think the conversation is, look when you’re playing a good team like this and you’re up 5-0 like the three doubles was, or Sydney’s up 5-2, we probably better end the deal,” Bohle said. “Because if you don’t, you’ll find out the three doubles gets seven games real quick, you’ll figure out that Estelle will get five games real quick. It’s a good lesson for a couple eighth-graders and a sophomore. If you’re going to win matches at this level, you better put some things away.”

Roncalli put a match away its lone victory as Abi Andersen lost just one game in her flight five singles triumph.

“She’s just so consistent. She doesn’t necessarily beat herself,” Bohle said. “She’s just super consistent and I think that’s what kind of carried her today.”

Andersen said getting off to a fast start is a key for her.

“I think having a really good start is a big thing, because if you’re down, even like 1-0, you kind of get in your head a little bit, which is really frustrating to come back from,” Andersen said. “So I think having a good start is a big deal.”

Andersen said she likes the sole responsibility of singles.

“I think for me, personally, I love doubles because you get to work with someone else, but singles for me is something different, where it’s just about you,” Andersen said. “So I usually feel pretty good during singles. If I lose I can only blame myself.”

The duals included a senior day recognition for the Golden Eagles.

Senior Mady Holman claimed victories at fight three singles and flight two doubles against Roncalli.

“The nerves were definitely there and especially we barely had any practice this week because of the rain, so I know that played into it,” Holman said, “but I think it was just more getting out of my own head and just playing the game that I play.”

The atmosphere was unique because Holman has given lessons to many of the players who were involved in the cross-town dual.

“It makes me feel old, which is weird because I’m only 17, but it’s really great seeing them play, it makes me feel happy,” Holman said. “Obviously, I want to win, but also the good points we have, I know when I’m gone there’s always going to be good tennis going on.”

Like Central, Roncalli also has just one senior in its varsity lineup, that being Josie Mitzel.

“It’s been a work in progress,” Mitzel said. “I was injured last year, so coming off of not playing all year last year, and then coming in and playing number one this year was kind of hard and difficult to adjust to.”

Mitzel lost her singles match to Central freshman Sarah Knie.

“Playing against her was really fun,” Mitzel said. “I did lose, but I can see that she is an excellent tennis player, and she is going to do so well next season and in her high school years.”

The Cavaliers were able to rally from a 2-4 deficit against Watertown with wins in their final three singles matches to secure the dual victory, the last coming in a tiebreaker from Molleigh Hofer at flight four singles.

Bohle was pleased with his team’s performance on the day, even in the setback to Central.

“I felt like we showed a lot of fight,” Bohle said. “We didn’t seal the deals, but I thought we showed a lot of heart and a lot of fight and I’m proud of that.”

Vogel was pleased with the way his team played against Roncalli, the only time the two teams face each other all season.

“They’re an up and coming young team,” Vogel said. “It’s fun to have this. Tennis is back in Aberdeen, I think. We’ve got two good teams and that was a fun one.”

Both teams host Sioux Falls Christian on Saturday.

Aberdeen Central 8, Aberdeen Roncalli 1

Singles

Sarah Knie, AC, def. Josie Mitzel, 6-0, 6-0.

Estelle Riggs, AC, def. Sydney Bohle, 6-1, 7-5.

Mady Holman, AC, def. Olivia Andersen, 6-0, 6-4.

Penelope Vogel, AC, def. Molleigh Hofer, 6-3, 6-3.

Abigail Andersen AR, def. Jovee Waldo, 6-1, 6-0.

Raylee Zimmer, AC, def. Lydia Nora, 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles

Knie-Riggs, AC, def. Mitzel-Bohle, 6-2, 6-2.

Holman-Vogel, AC, def. O. Andersen-Hofer, 6-3, 6-1.

Waldo-Zimmer, AC, def. A. Andersen-Nora, 6-1, 7-5.

Aberdeen Central 6, Pierre 3

Singles

Sarah Knie, AC, def. Elise Bowers, 6-1, 6-4.

Eliza Mayer, P, def. Estelle Riggs, 4-6, 6-1, (10-5).

Adrian Hand, P, def. Mady Holman, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, (10-5).

Avery Schwartz, P, def. Penelope Vogel, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), (10-8).

Jovee Waldo, AC, def. Ainsley Dilges, 6-4, 6-0.

Raylee Zimmer, AC, def. Emma Barnett, 6-4, 6-2.

Doubles

Knie-Riggs, AC, def. Bowers-Mayer, 6-3, 6-4.

Holman-Vogel, AC, def. Hand-Gemma Stangeland, 6-1, 6-7 (0-7), (10-2).

Waldo-Zimmer, AC, def. Schwartz-Dilges, 6-4, 6-4.

Aberdeen Roncalli 5, Watertown 4

Singles

Elly Dingsor, W, def. Josie Mitzel, 10-0.

Sydney Bohle, AR, def. Jennika Kettwig, 10-7.

Grace Pesek, W, def. Olivia Andersen, 10-3.

Molleigh Hofer, AR, def. Victoria Bobzien, 9-9 (7-3).

Ella Pesek, W, def. Abigail Andersen, 10-8.

Lydia Nora, AR, def. Abby Anderson, 10-1.

Doubles

Dingsor-Kettwig, W, def. Mitzel-Bohle, 10-4.

O. Andersen-Hofer, AR, def. G. Pesek-Bobzieb, 10-6.

A. Andersen-Nora, AR, def. E. Pesek-Lillian Fox, 10-4.