FORT ATKINSON - The Cheesemakers tennis team fell to conference foe Fort Atkinson Monday, 4-3.
"We knew it was going to be a close match," Monroe head coach Brad Saugstad said. "Coming in I was guessing it would be 4-3 one way or another. We knew Fort Atkinson's strength was singles and we were hoping to pull off a couple singles wins to go with a couple doubles wins. The boys came close, but in the end came up a little short."
Tim Hartwick, who Saugstad said would be the No. 1 seed at this week's conference tournament, knocked off Monroe's Carson Root in the No. 1 singles match, 6-0, 6-0.
"Carson just couldn't get anything going against him," Saugstad said.
Freshman Taylor Soddy continued his impressive start to his Cheesemaker career by knocking off Jacob Starkweather in No. 2 singles, 6-4, 6-1.
"Taylor's opponent played a very similar style to him. Taylor got off to a slow start, but maintained his patience and took control of the match," Saugstad said.
Fort Atkinson's Marc Dahnert upended Eric Knudtson, 6-1, 6-3 in No. 3 singles. Vitor Daudt continued the singles onslaught by the Blackhawks by knocking off Jess Hager, 6-2, 6-0.
Patrick Gellings and Garrett Tschanz beat Joe Athas and Nate Dailing in the top doubles match, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.
"Patrick and Garrett got off to a slow start and got a little down on themselves. They rebounded after the first set and really picked up their intensity and their game. When Patrick and Garrett get on a roll, they are a tough doubles team to beat," Saugstad said.
Jakob Baertschi and Cristian Noriega knocked off A.J. Lechman and Sam Enslin, 6-1, 6-3 for the Cheesemakers' final victory.
"Jakob and Cristian continued their solid play from the doubles tournament this past weekend. This was our one win that was never in doubt. They took control from the beginning and never let up," Saugstad said.
Monroe's Luke Andraski and Luke Molinaro lost the No. 3 doubles match, 7-5, 6-3.
"This was a tight match the whole way. The Luke's have really been picking up their game as of late and been in a lot of close sets. They're just a shot here and there away from winning some of these close ones," Saugstad said.
"We knew it was going to be a close match," Monroe head coach Brad Saugstad said. "Coming in I was guessing it would be 4-3 one way or another. We knew Fort Atkinson's strength was singles and we were hoping to pull off a couple singles wins to go with a couple doubles wins. The boys came close, but in the end came up a little short."
Tim Hartwick, who Saugstad said would be the No. 1 seed at this week's conference tournament, knocked off Monroe's Carson Root in the No. 1 singles match, 6-0, 6-0.
"Carson just couldn't get anything going against him," Saugstad said.
Freshman Taylor Soddy continued his impressive start to his Cheesemaker career by knocking off Jacob Starkweather in No. 2 singles, 6-4, 6-1.
"Taylor's opponent played a very similar style to him. Taylor got off to a slow start, but maintained his patience and took control of the match," Saugstad said.
Fort Atkinson's Marc Dahnert upended Eric Knudtson, 6-1, 6-3 in No. 3 singles. Vitor Daudt continued the singles onslaught by the Blackhawks by knocking off Jess Hager, 6-2, 6-0.
Patrick Gellings and Garrett Tschanz beat Joe Athas and Nate Dailing in the top doubles match, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.
"Patrick and Garrett got off to a slow start and got a little down on themselves. They rebounded after the first set and really picked up their intensity and their game. When Patrick and Garrett get on a roll, they are a tough doubles team to beat," Saugstad said.
Jakob Baertschi and Cristian Noriega knocked off A.J. Lechman and Sam Enslin, 6-1, 6-3 for the Cheesemakers' final victory.
"Jakob and Cristian continued their solid play from the doubles tournament this past weekend. This was our one win that was never in doubt. They took control from the beginning and never let up," Saugstad said.
Monroe's Luke Andraski and Luke Molinaro lost the No. 3 doubles match, 7-5, 6-3.
"This was a tight match the whole way. The Luke's have really been picking up their game as of late and been in a lot of close sets. They're just a shot here and there away from winning some of these close ones," Saugstad said.
