MONROE - The Monroe boys tennis team faced what coach Brad Saugstad deems a state championship-caliber Madison Edgewood squad Tuesday and endured a 7-0 loss.
Saugstad wasn't the least bit unhappy with his squad's effort.
"We may have lost 7-0, but I'm very happy with the kind of tennis we played," Saugstad said. "Edgewood is a good team with a lot of seniors. They have a legitimate chance to win state this year. Despite that, we hung with them and pushed them in a lot of the matches."
Saugstad was particularly pleased with the way his freshmen battled against the veteran Crusaders.
Cheesemakers freshman Kevin Noriega fell 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, classmate Eric Bush dropped a 7-5, 6-1 decision at No. 3 singles and freshman Matt Monahan lost a spirited 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 match at No. 4 singles.
Saugstad also singled out the play of freshman Jeremy Miller at No. 3 doubles.
"It's tough to be on the varsity as a freshman, and each one of these guys has struggled some to start the season, but today they came to play," Saugstad said. "Noriega had a three-time conference champion in Zach Munns on the ropes early in that match. Bush has improved with every single match and played a solid, smart first set. Monahan played a very consistent and smart match as well. He pushed it to three sets and almost pulled it out in the end.
"Our freshmen played like experienced varsity players today."
Saugstad wasn't the least bit unhappy with his squad's effort.
"We may have lost 7-0, but I'm very happy with the kind of tennis we played," Saugstad said. "Edgewood is a good team with a lot of seniors. They have a legitimate chance to win state this year. Despite that, we hung with them and pushed them in a lot of the matches."
Saugstad was particularly pleased with the way his freshmen battled against the veteran Crusaders.
Cheesemakers freshman Kevin Noriega fell 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, classmate Eric Bush dropped a 7-5, 6-1 decision at No. 3 singles and freshman Matt Monahan lost a spirited 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 match at No. 4 singles.
Saugstad also singled out the play of freshman Jeremy Miller at No. 3 doubles.
"It's tough to be on the varsity as a freshman, and each one of these guys has struggled some to start the season, but today they came to play," Saugstad said. "Noriega had a three-time conference champion in Zach Munns on the ropes early in that match. Bush has improved with every single match and played a solid, smart first set. Monahan played a very consistent and smart match as well. He pushed it to three sets and almost pulled it out in the end.
"Our freshmen played like experienced varsity players today."
