MONROE - The true test for the Monroe boys tennis team came Thursday night in how they played against Madison Edgewood.
Monroe (7-2, 3-1 Badger South) entered Thursday's dual match with the Crusaders unbeaten in the Badger South, but as the underdog. Edgewood (7-0, 5-0) remained unbeaten in dual matches rolling to a 6-1 win over the Cheesemakers Thursday.
"As a team I told them we just have to believe we can hang with them in games and believe we can win," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "Not all the scores would indicate it, but we played with them in a lot of games. I think our team realized we can play with Edgewood."
Freshman Taylor Soddy (9-2) at No. 2 singles won the only match for the Cheesemakers as he defeated Edgewood sophomore Zach Munns 7-5, 6-0.
"Taylor executed his strategy the best I have seen him," Saugstad said. "He slices the ball and puts some pace on it. Taylor had his guy running all over the court."
Junior Carson Root (7-4) at No. 1 singles lost to Edgewood senior Matt Wilson 7-5, 6-4. Edgewood sophomore Patrick Carney at No. 3 singles defeated Monroe senior Eric Knudtson 6-3, 6-3. With the loss, Knudtson drops to 8-4. At No. 4 singles, Monroe freshman Jess Hager was knocked off by Alex Wolff 6-1, 6-0.
"It just came down to the big points," Saugstad said. "When it got close in games, Edgewood got the big points. We can work on that so we can get those big points when it matters most."
The Crusaders swept all three doubles matches. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of senior Patrick Gellings and junior Garrett Tschanz (9-3) lost to Edgewood junior Austin Papenthian and senior Danny Meicher in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
At No. 2 doubles, Monroe senior Jakob Baertschi and sophomore Cristian Noriega lost to Edgewood's Tyler Piddington and Ben Winding 6-0, 6-3. The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of sophomores Luke Molinaro and Luke Andraski dropped two sets, 6-1, 6-0.
Power serves played a role for the Crusaders, Saugstad said.
"The big difference came down to Edgewood's serves," he said. "We just couldn't return enough in play. We will work on that in practice."
Monroe (7-2, 3-1 Badger South) entered Thursday's dual match with the Crusaders unbeaten in the Badger South, but as the underdog. Edgewood (7-0, 5-0) remained unbeaten in dual matches rolling to a 6-1 win over the Cheesemakers Thursday.
"As a team I told them we just have to believe we can hang with them in games and believe we can win," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "Not all the scores would indicate it, but we played with them in a lot of games. I think our team realized we can play with Edgewood."
Freshman Taylor Soddy (9-2) at No. 2 singles won the only match for the Cheesemakers as he defeated Edgewood sophomore Zach Munns 7-5, 6-0.
"Taylor executed his strategy the best I have seen him," Saugstad said. "He slices the ball and puts some pace on it. Taylor had his guy running all over the court."
Junior Carson Root (7-4) at No. 1 singles lost to Edgewood senior Matt Wilson 7-5, 6-4. Edgewood sophomore Patrick Carney at No. 3 singles defeated Monroe senior Eric Knudtson 6-3, 6-3. With the loss, Knudtson drops to 8-4. At No. 4 singles, Monroe freshman Jess Hager was knocked off by Alex Wolff 6-1, 6-0.
"It just came down to the big points," Saugstad said. "When it got close in games, Edgewood got the big points. We can work on that so we can get those big points when it matters most."
The Crusaders swept all three doubles matches. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of senior Patrick Gellings and junior Garrett Tschanz (9-3) lost to Edgewood junior Austin Papenthian and senior Danny Meicher in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
At No. 2 doubles, Monroe senior Jakob Baertschi and sophomore Cristian Noriega lost to Edgewood's Tyler Piddington and Ben Winding 6-0, 6-3. The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of sophomores Luke Molinaro and Luke Andraski dropped two sets, 6-1, 6-0.
Power serves played a role for the Crusaders, Saugstad said.
"The big difference came down to Edgewood's serves," he said. "We just couldn't return enough in play. We will work on that in practice."
