MONROE - Monroe seniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire had to dig deep on a scorching hot day to pull off a three set win to stay unbeaten at No. 1 doubles.
Grossen and McGuire won four straight games in the third set to defeat Stoughton freshmen Payton Kahl and Sarah Benoy 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on a muggy day at Recreation Park. Monroe defeated Stoughton 5-2 Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Recreation Park.
"We should not have put ourselves in that position," Grossen said. "We just always struggle right away getting the lead."
The Vikings' freshmen duo won three straight games to pull off a win in the second set.
"I think we just really got down on ourselves," McGuire said. "We didn't have confidence in our shots. We were playing not to lose."
Grossen and McGuire, which improved to 12-0, rallied from a 3-2 deficit by getting some strong serving by McGuire to pull out the win. Even though the senior duo is unbeaten, McGuire said they don't feel any extra pressure.
"You just want to go out and play your best," she said. "If we play them again, I feel we should win whether they are freshmen or not. We will be fine if we hit our shots in."
Grossen doesn't feel extra pressure to keep the undefeated season in tact.
"Every match is a new one whether we won all of our other matches or not," she said.
It's the second time Grossen and McGuire have defeated the Vikings' freshmen duo. Monroe coach Brad Saugstad did see improvement by the Vikings.
"I don't want to see this Stoughton (No. 1 doubles team) in the next couple of years because they are tough and already made improvements," Saugstad said. "It came out the way we expected. You always wish for two sets and a little less stress in the end."
The Cheesemakers won three of the four singles matches. Monroe senior Allie Coplien defeated Stoughton's Marissa Despins 6-1, 6-1. At No. 2 singles, Monroe junior Chelsea Miller knocked off Stoughton's Molly Staats in three sets 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. Monroe sophomore Eva Priewe defeated Stoughton's Ting Thompson 6-2, 6-0. Stoughton's Kendra Halverson at No. 4 singles beat Monroe sophomore Katie Demianiuk 7-6 (5), 6-4.
With the win as a team, the Cheesemakers improved their dual meet record to 2-1, 1-1 Badger South.
"It was a little weird coming into it because this was our first conference match at home and it's Sept. 10," Saugstad said after the Cheesemakers played three doubles tournaments early in the season. "The tournaments build their endurance up and get them ready for playing dual matches."
Coplien wasn't bothered by the heat or the fact that she had played a lot of doubles matches early in the season. She showed no rust in getting back to singles.
"I have been playing singles a lot in practice," Coplien said. "I wasn't worried about hitting it into the alleys. There was a little breeze so it wasn't as hot."
Coplien understands the importance of getting another Badger South Conference win.
"It's very important to get the win in conference because it gives you a better place in conference," she said when it comes time for the seeding meeting for the conference tournament. It was very important to get a win and boost my confidence."
Saugstad said after the first set, Miller really turned it on and kept more balls in play.
"In the first set, she wasn't really getting her first serves and returns in," he said. She made some adjustments and really came on strong."
The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of senior Alisa Fager and junior Amber Jenson defeated Stoughton's Natalie Clerkin and Kaitlyn Hedman 6-2, 6-3. At No. 2 doubles, Stoughton's Alyssa Ramos and Amara McCune defeated juniors Paige Prien and Erin Gellings 6-3, 6-2.
Grossen and McGuire won four straight games in the third set to defeat Stoughton freshmen Payton Kahl and Sarah Benoy 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on a muggy day at Recreation Park. Monroe defeated Stoughton 5-2 Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Recreation Park.
"We should not have put ourselves in that position," Grossen said. "We just always struggle right away getting the lead."
The Vikings' freshmen duo won three straight games to pull off a win in the second set.
"I think we just really got down on ourselves," McGuire said. "We didn't have confidence in our shots. We were playing not to lose."
Grossen and McGuire, which improved to 12-0, rallied from a 3-2 deficit by getting some strong serving by McGuire to pull out the win. Even though the senior duo is unbeaten, McGuire said they don't feel any extra pressure.
"You just want to go out and play your best," she said. "If we play them again, I feel we should win whether they are freshmen or not. We will be fine if we hit our shots in."
Grossen doesn't feel extra pressure to keep the undefeated season in tact.
"Every match is a new one whether we won all of our other matches or not," she said.
It's the second time Grossen and McGuire have defeated the Vikings' freshmen duo. Monroe coach Brad Saugstad did see improvement by the Vikings.
"I don't want to see this Stoughton (No. 1 doubles team) in the next couple of years because they are tough and already made improvements," Saugstad said. "It came out the way we expected. You always wish for two sets and a little less stress in the end."
The Cheesemakers won three of the four singles matches. Monroe senior Allie Coplien defeated Stoughton's Marissa Despins 6-1, 6-1. At No. 2 singles, Monroe junior Chelsea Miller knocked off Stoughton's Molly Staats in three sets 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. Monroe sophomore Eva Priewe defeated Stoughton's Ting Thompson 6-2, 6-0. Stoughton's Kendra Halverson at No. 4 singles beat Monroe sophomore Katie Demianiuk 7-6 (5), 6-4.
With the win as a team, the Cheesemakers improved their dual meet record to 2-1, 1-1 Badger South.
"It was a little weird coming into it because this was our first conference match at home and it's Sept. 10," Saugstad said after the Cheesemakers played three doubles tournaments early in the season. "The tournaments build their endurance up and get them ready for playing dual matches."
Coplien wasn't bothered by the heat or the fact that she had played a lot of doubles matches early in the season. She showed no rust in getting back to singles.
"I have been playing singles a lot in practice," Coplien said. "I wasn't worried about hitting it into the alleys. There was a little breeze so it wasn't as hot."
Coplien understands the importance of getting another Badger South Conference win.
"It's very important to get the win in conference because it gives you a better place in conference," she said when it comes time for the seeding meeting for the conference tournament. It was very important to get a win and boost my confidence."
Saugstad said after the first set, Miller really turned it on and kept more balls in play.
"In the first set, she wasn't really getting her first serves and returns in," he said. She made some adjustments and really came on strong."
The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of senior Alisa Fager and junior Amber Jenson defeated Stoughton's Natalie Clerkin and Kaitlyn Hedman 6-2, 6-3. At No. 2 doubles, Stoughton's Alyssa Ramos and Amara McCune defeated juniors Paige Prien and Erin Gellings 6-3, 6-2.
