JANESVILLE - Monroe's boys tennis team opened its 2009 season by sweeping all three teams they faced Saturday at the Janesville Invite.
"We never lost a match," coach Jim Bartolf said. "That's a good way to start the season."
After 10 days of practice, Monroe went into the invitational - which included Janesville Craig, Beloit Memorial and Oregon - with high hopes.
No. 1 singles player, Lauri Juonela, an exchange student from Finland, showed just how good he is by mowing down his three opponents 6-0 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, and 6-1, 6-2.
Carson Root, Monroe's No. 2 singles player, lost only four games in an impressive three-win day, and Eric Knudtson rolled through his opponents in the No. 4 singles.
"The closest match we had was at No. 3 singles, where Matt Le had to win a match tie-break against Oregon in the third set," Bartolf said. Le, who lost Monroe's only set of the day, a 2-6 decision in that match, won the break 10-8.
"Doubles was our question mark going into the day, but they all came to play," Bartolf said.
All three doubles teams looked impressive. Artem Beer and Jim Kundert were tested in all three matches at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2, Patrick Gellings and Garrett Tschanz had little trouble in getting three wins, and the No. 3 duo team of Dan Becker and Mark Hoesly lost just two of 20 games.
"We never lost a match," coach Jim Bartolf said. "That's a good way to start the season."
After 10 days of practice, Monroe went into the invitational - which included Janesville Craig, Beloit Memorial and Oregon - with high hopes.
No. 1 singles player, Lauri Juonela, an exchange student from Finland, showed just how good he is by mowing down his three opponents 6-0 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, and 6-1, 6-2.
Carson Root, Monroe's No. 2 singles player, lost only four games in an impressive three-win day, and Eric Knudtson rolled through his opponents in the No. 4 singles.
"The closest match we had was at No. 3 singles, where Matt Le had to win a match tie-break against Oregon in the third set," Bartolf said. Le, who lost Monroe's only set of the day, a 2-6 decision in that match, won the break 10-8.
"Doubles was our question mark going into the day, but they all came to play," Bartolf said.
All three doubles teams looked impressive. Artem Beer and Jim Kundert were tested in all three matches at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2, Patrick Gellings and Garrett Tschanz had little trouble in getting three wins, and the No. 3 duo team of Dan Becker and Mark Hoesly lost just two of 20 games.
