PIERRE -- Aberdeen Roncalli's boys' tennis team captured its first dual victory of the season with an 6-3 decision over St. Thomas More on Thursday.
Roncalli dropped the first dual, 8-1, to Pierre. Roncalli coach Jessie Daw said after the opening loss to the Governors, Roncalli played much better.
"We had some tough matches and a lot of really close ones," said Daw. "As the day went on, we were playing better. The thing for us is to increase the level of the quality of points we play."
With the match against St. Thomas More tied at 3-3, Roncalli claimed wins in the final three matches still in progress to seal the dual win, including close victories for Alex Bellefeuille and Keaton Deiter, and another win by Jacob Gellhaus.
"It was a good day for us stepping forward in our progress," Daw said.
Roncalli's lone win against Pierre was by Deiter, who needed a tie-breaker to get past his opponent.
"He had a good day and won three of his four matches," Daw said.
The majority of matches against Pierre were hard-fought as well, Daw said.
"Pierre is solid and some of their players are really scrappy and move really well. They run things down and make you miss."
Daw also pointed out that Adam Goetz had a good match against his Pierre opponent. Goetz battled Nathan Ellenbecker and lost 10-8, after losing by a large margin to him last week in Rapid City.
Overall, Daw was happy with what she saw on the court.
"Today was our best full day of tennis so far," Daw said. "Our guys are working hard and making improvements."
Roncalli, along with Central, will play their only home matches of the season today at the NSU Courts. The day starts with Roncalli taking on St. Thomas More at 11 a.m., followed by Central vs. STM at 1:30 p.m. and Central taking on Roncalli at 4 p.m.
|Pierre 8, Aberdeen Roncalli 1|
|Singles|
Nathan Ellenbecker, P, over Adam Goetz, 10-8.
Connor Shoop, P, over Kyle Martin, 10-6.
Brandon Vockrodt, P, over Jacob Gellhaus, 10-7.
Mitchell Hanson, P, over Alex Bellefeuille, 10-2.
Keaton Deiter, AR, over Payton Jones, 11-10, (8-6).
Patrick Bollinger, P, over Parker Monson, 10-0.
|Doubles|
Ellenbecker-Hanson, P, over Goetz-Gellhaus, 10-8.
Connor Shoop-Vockrodt, P, over Martin-Jones, 10-1.
Bollinger-Colton Shoop, P, over Bellefeuille-Monson, 10-5.
|Roncalli Exhibition|
Singles Winners: Isaiah Vilhauer, Austin Kokales, Tyler Wanttie, Riley Johnsen.
Doubles Winners: Johnsen-Kokales.
|Aberdeen Roncalli 6, St. Thomas More 3|
|Singles|
David Duffy, STM, over Adam Goetz, 10-3.
Brendan Amiotte, STM, over Kyle Martin, 10-1.
Jacob Gellhaus, AR, over Chandler Kasey, 10-6.
Alex Bellefeuille, AR, over Brady Glissendorf, 11-9.
Keaton Deiter, AR, over Chase Thuiners, 10-8.
Parker Monson, AR, over Nick Last, 10-1.
|Doubles|
Duffy-Amiotte, STM, over Goetz-Gellhaus, 10-4.
Martin-Monson, AR, over Kasey-Thuiners, 10-4.
Bellefeuille-Deiter, AR, over Glissendorf-Last, 10-5.
|Roncalli Exhibition|
Singles Winners: Landon Hoellein, Riley Johnsen.
Doubles Winners: Isaiah Vilhauer-Brett Johnsen, Sam Maunu-Eric Lacher.