MONROE — The Cheesemakers were swept by Madison Edgewood Sept. 6 at home.

“The score says 7-0 but this match was really good for our confidence,” Monroe coach Matt Bordner said. “Many of our players played their best match of the season, which was a bit of a surprise considering the opponent and lack of practice we’ve had this week due to weather.”

In the No. 1 singles match, Emma Towne lost to Baluck Deang 6-1, 6-0, and Cierra Larson lost to Julia Hess in the No. 2 match 6-0, 6-0. At No. 3 singles, Bekah Rath lost to Morgan Merckx 6-0, 6-1, and Grace Mathiason lost the No. 4 singles match to Aliya Macdonald 6-3, 6-1.

“Grace Mathiason played her best match at singles thus far. She’s moving around the court well and her serve continues to improve. Once she picks up a more consistent groundstroke and we get her playing more strategic, she really can blossom into a nice player,” Bordner said.

Monroe’s No. 1 doubles team of Grace Tostrud and Jensen Christensen lost in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

“Our doubles teams played really solid matches. Our (No. 1) doubles played a super competitive match with so many great points from both pairs. There was great energy in this match and Jensen and Grace really took control of the net in that second set,” Bordner said. “We’re still struggling a bit with some double faults and just inconsistent play, but they really show flashes of fantastic play. I’m looking forward to these two and how far they can go.”

At No. 2 doubles, Becky Thoman and Samm Huizenga also lost in three sets, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.

“(It) was another great and long match. Our girls took the first set pretty handily, but Edgewood made some adjustments and had a really solid second set. Samm and Becky fought hard in the third set which I was proud of. It was tight all the way up to the middle of the set but Edgewood just was too much for us,” Bordner said.

Jessa Lucas and Kerstin Miller, playing No. 3 doubles for the Cheesemakers, lost 7-6 (4), 6-1. 

“Kerstin and Jessa made a fantastic comeback in their first set. They were down 5-2 and came back to send the set into a tiebreaker but couldn’t win the tiebreaker. I think that killed some of their momentum and gave Edgewood more confidence in that second set,” Bordner said.

The Cheesemakers were scheduled to travel to Oregon Monday in a rain makeup and then were to host Fort Atkinson Tuesday before going to Stoughton Thursday. The conference meet is already scheduled for Sept. 22 with subsectionals not far behind.

“I feel like our girls are close to jumping over the hump, but it really is difficult in this conference. It’s been a tough stretch, so hopefully we can start to right the ship as we have three conference matches (this) week,” Bordner said. “Our growth has been there, and I know that if we continue to play hard and the weather cooperates for us to get practices in, our girls will be playing their best tennis by subsectionals.”