MONROE — The Cheesemakers had their three tightest duels of the year, but fell in the closest of calls in each one.

Monroe was 4-3 to Stoughton (May 6), Whitewater (May 7) and DeForest (May 7).

“We are so close as a team to breaking through on some of these matches,” Monroe coach Matt Bordner said. “Tennis is interesting because you can go out there and have some individual success, but to achieve that team success it really does take a total effort. Our guys are battling hard which is all I can ask. To get to that magic number of 4 matches out of 7 will be tricky in our last couple duals but I really think this team is capable of it.”

In the loss to Stoughton, Monroe’s No. 1 doubles tandem of Luke Quinn and Evan Thompson lost 6-3, 7-6 (4) to Stephen Krcma and Collin Ace.

“We had four tight matches and won three of them. Unfortunately, we needed to grab that victory at No. 1 doubles to get the team victory and so we came up just short,” Bordner said. “Evan and Luke battled at No. 1 doubles, but ultimately made too many unforced errors. They had their chances and had a lead in the second set tiebreaker, but ended up losing it in what turned out to be the deciding match for the night. Moving forward, it will be a great match for them to learn from in terms of limiting the unforced errors.”

The Cheesemakers picked up wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, as well as at No. 4 singles with Charlie Frehner (6-4, 6-2). Jon Callaway and Heath Bear won the No. 2 doubles match 7-5, 6-4, while Wade Sweeney and Luis Torres scored a victory at three-doubles, 6-2, 6-4.

“Charlie picked up another singles victory for us at No. 4 singles against a freshman who had a very similar playing style to Charlie’s. Charlie is just so steady and his ability to focus throughout an entire match really helps set him apart against his opponents,” Bordner said.

Bo Bahler fell in the top flight of the singles matches, 6-0, 6-1, while Chris Andraski lost the No. 2 singles match 6-0, 6-1. Gabe Moon came up short at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-2.

The next day, Quinn and Thompson lost 6-3, 7-5 in the swing match against DeForest. Callaway and Bear won 6-1, 6-4, while Sweeney and Torres won a nail-biter 7-6 (3), 7-5.

Frehner won the bottom singles flight 6-1, 6-0, while Bahler fell in the top flight 6-0, 6-2. Andraski lost 6-2, 6-0 and Moon dropped his match 6-1, 6-0.

In the loss to Whitewater, it was Andraski who took his match to the brink, falling to Austin Kaja in a tiebreaker 6-2, 5-7, 10-6.

“Chris Andraski played a nice second set after losing his first set pretty easily. He made it to a third set tiebreaker but just couldn’t close it out. He wanted it and the effort is there, so I just hope he can break through this slump soon,” Bordner said.

Bahler took a 6-3, 6-3 loss at No. 1 singles, while Moon fell 6-1, 6-1. Frehner won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 singles.

Thompson and Quinn won the top flight in doubles, 6-4, 6-4, and Callaway and Bear were victorious 6-4, 6-2. Torres and Sweeney lose 6-2, 6-0.