OREGON — Monroe was swept by Oregon on May 4, 7-0, though head coach Matt Bordner though his team played tougher against the well-versed Panthers than they had a year ago, when they lost 6-1.

“I’m really happy with how we played at a bunch of the spots in our lineup today. Oregon is the top team in the conference, and we had some really great battles at 4 of the flights and realistically left a couple of matches out there that we could have won,” he said. “This year there was a lot better matches and competition.”

At No. 1 singles, Matthew Setterstrom fought tooth and nail with Kyle Barnish, falling short at 7-6 (8), 6-3. Ryan Mathiason strung out his match against Nicholas Schaefer even longer, falling in a tiebreaker 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

“No. 1 singles was probably the biggest surprise of the night, as Matthew really stepped his game up and played his best match of the season. He ended up dropping a really close first set in a tiebreaker where he had a 5-2 lead but just couldn’t close it out,” Bordner said. “Ryan Mathiason continues to play gritty, tough tennis for us at 2-singles. If we can get Ryan more confident at the net and with hitting some winners, I really think we will see his game take the next leap.”

Gavin Eckerman lost his No. 3 singles match 6-2, 6-3, and Max Petitjean fell 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 singles.

“Gavin Eckerman also played a really nice match at 3-singles for us. He worked through a ton of deuce games with his opponent and realistically it’s a match I think is winnable for him as well,” Bordner said.

On the doubles side, Chris Giasson and Aaron Roidt fell in a 3-set tiebreaker, 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-2.

“No. 1 doubles dropped a close one as well. Chris and Aaron struggled with overheads and volleys which was uncharacteristic, as that is usually their strength and how they generate most of their points,” Bordner said.

Ethan Towne and Wes Saunders dropped their match at No. 2 doubles 6-1, 6-2, and Mitch Ferguson and Dante Giordano lost at No. 3 doubles 6-1, 6-1.

Bordner said the team was back at it May 5 with another conference power: Edgewood. After that, Baraboo comes to Monroe May 6, and then the team plays May 7 in the Verona Quad — which means four days in a row of competition, thanks in part to both the Oregon and Edgewood duals being re-scheduled due to inclement weather.