MONROE - Stepping into the role of No. 1 singles player, Monroe senior Eva Priewe entered the season with high expectations.
Priewe continued her hot start to the season by defeating Sauk Prairie freshman Katie Mack 6-2, 6-0 Tuesday at Recreation Park. With the win, Priewe improves to 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
"It's definitely a challenge," said Priewe who played No. 2 singles last year. "I'm looking to step up my game more. I really want to make it to state this year."
Monroe won two singles matches, but lost a nail-biter to the Eagles 4-3. Priewe's rise to the top of the Cheesemakers' singles chart is not a surprise.
"Eva's style can be so frustrating to No. 1 singles players who want to be aggressive because Eva is so consistent and moves the ball around the court well," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said.
With the team loss, Monroe drops to 1-7 in dual matches. Saugstad wasn't surprised by the tight dual match against the Eagles.
"A typical match for us against Sauk Prairie goes 4-3 one way or the other," he said. "Even though we lost, there was a lot of positives for us from the match."
Priewe said when she gets an opportunity she looks to deliver a good putaway at the net.
"When they give Eva an easy shot she can fire off an aggressive forehand," Saugstad said. "She just simply kept more balls in play than her opponent."
Monroe sophomore Skye Allen at No. 4 singles beat Sauk Prairie senior Gillian Hacker in a three-set match, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
"Skye's opponent had a nice serve that Skye struggled returning early in the match," Saugstad said. "Skye figured out her return in the second set, was moving well and was hitting a lot of deep shots at her opponent's feet. Hopefully, tonight's experience of winning a close third set will help Skye in the future when she gets into some close matches."
Sauk Prairie senior Emma Liverseed at No. 2 singles defeated Monroe senior Katie Demianiuk 6-0, 6-1. At No. 3 singles, Sauk Prairie junior Jillian Heintz beat Monroe sophomore Ashley Placek 6-4, 6-2.
The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of sophomores Maggie Setterstrom and Hallie Signer outlasted Sauk Prairie juniors Cathryn Schwegel and Naomi Gallman in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
"Hallie was hitting very good returns and lobs to keep the opponents away from the net and Maggie was putting a lot of balls away. Maggie and Hallie just seemed to be playing with more confidence."
Sauk Prairie freshmen Katie Yanke and Bridget Fabian at No. 2 doubles knocked off Monroe seniors Hannah Zweifel and Shannon Rabotoski 6-0, 6-2. At No. 3 doubles, Sauk Prairie freshmen Camryn Ballweg and Taylor Breiniger edged the Cheesemakers' Maija Liimatainen and Morgan Quinn 6-3, 7-5. Liimatainen and Quinn trailed 4-1 in the second set before fighting back.
"Morgan and Maija were close to forcing a third set," Saugstad said.
Priewe expects the Cheesemakers to get better with time.
"I feel like we have some really strong underclassmen players," Priewe said. "I feel like when we win it definitely boosts our confidence and when we hit shots we believe in ourselves more. I feel like we will be a pretty strong team when we get to conference."
Monroe will play a dual match at Waunakee on Friday. Waunakee has already beaten two of the state's top eight ranked teams in Division 1 including Middleton, which was ranked No. 4.
"We want to go out and play one point at a time," Saugstad said. "For our younger girls, it will be good to see that level of tennis."
Priewe continued her hot start to the season by defeating Sauk Prairie freshman Katie Mack 6-2, 6-0 Tuesday at Recreation Park. With the win, Priewe improves to 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
"It's definitely a challenge," said Priewe who played No. 2 singles last year. "I'm looking to step up my game more. I really want to make it to state this year."
Monroe won two singles matches, but lost a nail-biter to the Eagles 4-3. Priewe's rise to the top of the Cheesemakers' singles chart is not a surprise.
"Eva's style can be so frustrating to No. 1 singles players who want to be aggressive because Eva is so consistent and moves the ball around the court well," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said.
With the team loss, Monroe drops to 1-7 in dual matches. Saugstad wasn't surprised by the tight dual match against the Eagles.
"A typical match for us against Sauk Prairie goes 4-3 one way or the other," he said. "Even though we lost, there was a lot of positives for us from the match."
Priewe said when she gets an opportunity she looks to deliver a good putaway at the net.
"When they give Eva an easy shot she can fire off an aggressive forehand," Saugstad said. "She just simply kept more balls in play than her opponent."
Monroe sophomore Skye Allen at No. 4 singles beat Sauk Prairie senior Gillian Hacker in a three-set match, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
"Skye's opponent had a nice serve that Skye struggled returning early in the match," Saugstad said. "Skye figured out her return in the second set, was moving well and was hitting a lot of deep shots at her opponent's feet. Hopefully, tonight's experience of winning a close third set will help Skye in the future when she gets into some close matches."
Sauk Prairie senior Emma Liverseed at No. 2 singles defeated Monroe senior Katie Demianiuk 6-0, 6-1. At No. 3 singles, Sauk Prairie junior Jillian Heintz beat Monroe sophomore Ashley Placek 6-4, 6-2.
The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of sophomores Maggie Setterstrom and Hallie Signer outlasted Sauk Prairie juniors Cathryn Schwegel and Naomi Gallman in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
"Hallie was hitting very good returns and lobs to keep the opponents away from the net and Maggie was putting a lot of balls away. Maggie and Hallie just seemed to be playing with more confidence."
Sauk Prairie freshmen Katie Yanke and Bridget Fabian at No. 2 doubles knocked off Monroe seniors Hannah Zweifel and Shannon Rabotoski 6-0, 6-2. At No. 3 doubles, Sauk Prairie freshmen Camryn Ballweg and Taylor Breiniger edged the Cheesemakers' Maija Liimatainen and Morgan Quinn 6-3, 7-5. Liimatainen and Quinn trailed 4-1 in the second set before fighting back.
"Morgan and Maija were close to forcing a third set," Saugstad said.
Priewe expects the Cheesemakers to get better with time.
"I feel like we have some really strong underclassmen players," Priewe said. "I feel like when we win it definitely boosts our confidence and when we hit shots we believe in ourselves more. I feel like we will be a pretty strong team when we get to conference."
Monroe will play a dual match at Waunakee on Friday. Waunakee has already beaten two of the state's top eight ranked teams in Division 1 including Middleton, which was ranked No. 4.
"We want to go out and play one point at a time," Saugstad said. "For our younger girls, it will be good to see that level of tennis."
