MONROE - Before making it back for the homecoming dance Saturday, Monroe seniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire are looking to bring home the gold and keep an unbeaten mark going at No. 1 doubles.

Grossen and McGuire (16-0) are the No. 2 seed and received a first-round bye entering the Badger Conference tournament Friday, Sept. 27 at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles duo were state qualifiers last year. Grossen and McGuire finished third place at No. 1 doubles in the conference tournament last year. Both have high expectations entering the conference tournament this year.

"Our goal is to make it to the championship," Grossen said. "Our goal has been to go undefeated."

Waunakee twin sisters Shelby Chorney (No. 1 singles) and Tilly Chorney (No. 2 singles) have been the Warriors' top two singles players, but they could play doubles in the conference tournament after both won conference singles titles last year.

Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said Waunakee and Madison Edgewood are the favorites to win the overall tournament title. Waunakee has a loaded lineup with Shelby, Tilly and Bailey Chorney, which are the daughters of Tom Chorney, the director of tennis at Cherokee Country Club in Madison. Waunakee's No. 4 singles player, Bobbi Stricker, is the daughter of PGA professional golfer Steve Stricker.

"No matter who they put at doubles they will be tough," Saugstad said of the Warriors.

The Cheesemakers are 3-3 in the Badger South after winning their last two matches. They enter the conference tournament in fourth place in the Badger South behind Oregon and Monona Grove. Madison Edgewood leads the Badger South and has dominated the league, winning four straight conference titles.

Despite being unbeaten, Grossen and McGuire have played several three-set matches the last few weeks and have struggled some in the first sets. The Cheesemakers are counting on them and several others to make a deep run in the tournament.

"In the conference tournament, you could be one-match-and-done if you don't play your best at the start," Saugstad said. "If they come out and are flat, it would be hard to come back. They have the ability if they can avoid the droughts."

McGuire sees room for improvement despite the perfect record.

"We need to work on everything," McGuire said about the three days of practice the Cheesemakers have had after their final regular season meet against Fort Atkinson on Monday. "We can improve our shots and everything."

Both Grossen and McGuire have been in pressure situations before on the softball diamond and basketball court.

"They have been in so many competitions in different sports and have been down before," Saugstad said. "That is big. They know how to handle it. They know how to stay mentally composed on the court."

McGuire agreed with her coach's assessment.

"We always put a lot of pressure on ourselves," McGuire said. "We know how to handle it. We have to play a lot better at conference so we don't have to play a lot of pressure matches."

Monroe juniors Erin Gellings and Paige Prien at No. 2 doubles are another team that could make a deep run for the Cheesemakers. Gellings and Prien finished third in the conference last year at No. 3 doubles.

"We have improved a lot this season," Gellings said. "I think we will go and do the best we can."

After winning a final regular season match against Fort Atkinson, Prien remained confident about the upcoming conference tournament.

"It gives us a mental advantage, gives us a positive attitude and reassures us what we can do," Prien said.

Saugstad said the goal is to jump ahead of Oregon and Monona Grove in the Badger South Conference. The Cheesemakers lost dual matches to Oregon and Monona Grove 4-3 during the regular season.

"We will need at least three entries into the semifinals" if the Cheesemakers are going to finish second in the Badger South, Saugstad said. "I think it's a positive if we can finish ahead of one of those teams."