MILTON - The Monroe girls tennis team lost a nail-biting dual match to Milton 4-3 Monday.
It was the final Badger South match of the regular season for the Cheesemakers (10-8, 1-6 Badger South).
"This really was a disappointing outcome for us," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "We had our chances to get this match and it was definitely winnable. A few close matches went our way, but we couldn't get enough close matches to end our season with a win. Close matches like this often times come down to winning points when you are up 40-30 or ad-in (advantage-in), and we left too many of those points on the court tonight."
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud, at No. 2 singles, defeated Milton's Grace Van Den Heuvel, 6-0, 7-6 (7). Tostrud improves her record to 7-3.
"Grace cruised through the first set, but her opponent really picked up her game in the second," Saugstad said. "Grace played from behind most of the second set, but kept it within a game on every changeover. Grace played a confident tiebreak to take the set."
Monroe sophomore Emma Towne beat Milton's Phoenix Novak in the No. 3 singles match, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (7).
"Emma played a nail-biter tonight," Saugstad said. "Emma got up in both sets, but her opponent kept fighting back and forcing tiebreaks. Emma stayed calm in the tiebreaks and was able to force her opponent into baseline mistakes on big points."
Monroe junior Becky Thoman missed the No. 3 doubles match due to illness. Junior Jessa Lucas teamed with Cierra Larson, who played for Thoman, and they edged Milton's Sam Goodyer and Hannah Reharden, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.
"Cierra played with confidence and Jessa continued to move well and put balls away at the net," Saugstad said.
Monroe will begin play in the two-day Badger Conference tournament Friday.
"We have a few days of practice to make some changes so we have a good showing at the conference tournament," Saugstad said. "So much comes down to the draw at the conference tournament. We aren't going to have many seeds, so we hope to get drawn against players whose styles will match up well against."
It was the final Badger South match of the regular season for the Cheesemakers (10-8, 1-6 Badger South).
"This really was a disappointing outcome for us," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "We had our chances to get this match and it was definitely winnable. A few close matches went our way, but we couldn't get enough close matches to end our season with a win. Close matches like this often times come down to winning points when you are up 40-30 or ad-in (advantage-in), and we left too many of those points on the court tonight."
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud, at No. 2 singles, defeated Milton's Grace Van Den Heuvel, 6-0, 7-6 (7). Tostrud improves her record to 7-3.
"Grace cruised through the first set, but her opponent really picked up her game in the second," Saugstad said. "Grace played from behind most of the second set, but kept it within a game on every changeover. Grace played a confident tiebreak to take the set."
Monroe sophomore Emma Towne beat Milton's Phoenix Novak in the No. 3 singles match, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (7).
"Emma played a nail-biter tonight," Saugstad said. "Emma got up in both sets, but her opponent kept fighting back and forcing tiebreaks. Emma stayed calm in the tiebreaks and was able to force her opponent into baseline mistakes on big points."
Monroe junior Becky Thoman missed the No. 3 doubles match due to illness. Junior Jessa Lucas teamed with Cierra Larson, who played for Thoman, and they edged Milton's Sam Goodyer and Hannah Reharden, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.
"Cierra played with confidence and Jessa continued to move well and put balls away at the net," Saugstad said.
Monroe will begin play in the two-day Badger Conference tournament Friday.
"We have a few days of practice to make some changes so we have a good showing at the conference tournament," Saugstad said. "So much comes down to the draw at the conference tournament. We aren't going to have many seeds, so we hope to get drawn against players whose styles will match up well against."
