MONROE — The Cheesemakers came oh-so-close to knocking off Oregon in a dual match Sept. 5, instead lost 4-3.

“This was a big match for us to find out where we stack in the conference. I think it goes to show that we can definitely hang in the middle of the conference, and so even though we lost it is a confidence boost knowing that we’ve played well in back-to-back conference matches,” Monroe coach Matt Bordner said.

Emma Towne got the win at No. 1 singles, defeating Jordana Burkeland 6-3, 6-1. Grace Mathiason fell at No. 3 singles 6-2, 6-2, while No. 2 singles Bekah Rath and No. 4 singles Cecily Burch were each blanked 6-0, 6-0.

At No. 3 doubles, Ava Petitjean and Sadie Conway lost 6-4, 6-2.

“We came up short with matches from the bottom-half of our lineup,” Bordner said. “Grace Mathiason played a fairly contested match, but just struggled a bit with some unforced errors and consistency issues. Ava and Sadie also found themselves in a competitive match, but their net play wasn’t quite up to par for where it needed to be. In some ways, I like getting matches like these that will hopefully help continue to motivate our players to want to improve at our weaknesses.”

Monroe also got wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Seniors Jensen Christensen and Grace Tostrud kept their heads in the top flight match and finished off Anna Donovan and Gianna Schulz 6-1, 7-5. At No. 2 doubles, sisters Kerstin and Kylie Miller dispensed Jordan Streiff and Emma Schaefer, 6-1, 6-0.

“Our top half of our lineup really played well tonight. Emma Towne continues to impress at 1-singles for us. I’m so proud of her and knowing how much work she put into this season, it’s fun to see it pay off. She’ll have some bigger tests coming up, but for now it’s great to enjoy her success and keep working on the little things,” Bordner said. “Kerstin and Kylie also played well. They’ve been a pleasant surprise for us all season long at 2-doubles.”

Christensen and Tostrud are having a strong year this fall. Last season, the pair worked together on the court for the first time and made it to state. The tandem has built on that chemistry and are flourishing through the first few weeks of the 2019 campaign.

“This season we already know each other so well. I think it’s just the more experience you have together, the better you play together,” Tostrud said. “You just have to keep talking, keep communicating and stay positive.”

With just one loss on the season, the duo knows the expectations are high, but they also know they have to keep calmer heads on the court.

“We just try to talk between each point, and sometimes get a laugh out of something,” Christensen said.

“We just have to take it one match at a time,” Tostrud said.

The Miller sisters, Kerstin a senior, and Kylie, a freshman, are learning to work together on the fly. 

“It’s kind of frustrating, honestly. I’m playing with my sister and I can get frustrated with her, because she’s my sister and all,” Kylie said.

“I can get angry very easily,” said Kerstin, the elder. “It takes a while to get used to how a (new) doubles partner works, and it took me a little longer because it’s my sister and I can get angry pretty easily. But now we are starting to figure each other out and we’re seeing more success.”

Early on this season, the two struggled to find their meshing, but now five weeks into the season, swapping partners is out of the question.

“It’s kind of hard to play with her, but I wouldn’t have another doubles partner because she’s the best I’ve had,” Kerstin said. “We also know each other’s limits, so I can tell when she is getting kind of ticked off, and I can tell what I can and can’t say to her.” 

The two have been working on communicating on the court as well in an effort to strengthen their game.

“We started using signs so we know where each other is at, and that’s helping a lot. But mostly I know how she plays, and she knows how I play and it’s been easier to read each other’s mind even though we’re not saying anything,” Kerstin said.

Kylie added that it’s been nice to get to know her sister on the court and not just at home. “We can have a bond that normal other doubles partners won’t have,” she said.

Not to say that frustrations don’t spill out at the dinner table.

“Our dad basically moderates us because I would say something and Kylie would start arguing back. So dad will tell us to stop. ‘Kerstin, you say what you have to say, then Kylie you say what you have to say,’” Kerstin said.