BELOIT - The Monroe girls tennis team had two singles players and one doubles team win first-round matches at the WIAA Division 1 Beloit Memorial subsectional, but none of the Cheesemakers will advance to the sectional.
"At most of our positions today, we played about as well as we have this season," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "I'm happy with the girls' effort because they played their game and did their best today."
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud, at No. 2 singles, senior Skye Allen, at No. 4 singles, and the No. 3 doubles team of Jess Lucas and Becky Thoman all won first-round matches. Tostrud defeated Delavan-Dairen's Laura Farley 6-2, 6-4. Janesville Craig's Kerington Sauser then edged Tostrud 6-3, 6-4 in a second-round match.
"Grace played some solid tennis today," Saugstad said. "In her first-round match, Grace played a strong first set before falling behind 4-1 in the second set. From there, Grace got her volleys back under control and closed out the set winning five straight games. Grace's second match was a back-and-forth match with (Sauser). It was very well played, but Grace just came up a little short in the end."
Allen beat Elkhorn's Leah Meersman 6-2, 7-5 in the first round. Janesville Craig's Chie Wolf then topped Allen 6-3, 6-0.
"Skye Allen played two nice matches today," Saugstad said. "As a senior, it was nice seeing her go out playing her best. She was controlling her shots from the baseline well and moving her opponents around. It worked against Elkhorn in the first round, but Craig was just a little too steady."
At No. 1 singles, Elkhorn's Gabby Richardson breezed by Monroe senior Maggie Setterstrom 6-0, 6-0. Elkorn's Leesa Seesing edged Monroe sophomore Emma Towne at No. 3 singles in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.
"Emma played a quality match," Saugstad said. "Emma has lost a few close ones to end the season. She has only been playing tennis for two years and has a bright future ahead of her."
The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles duo of Lucas and Thoman beat Milton's Hannah Richardson and Sam Goodger 6-2, 7-5 in the first round. Lake Geneva Badger's Hannah Gage and Nichole Ritzman then cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Lucas and Thoman.
"Becky Thoman and Jessa Lucas had a nice first round match where they came from behind to beat Milton," he said. "Badger was just too strong in the second match."
Burlington's No. 1 doubles team of Grace Boyle and Mary Jagodzinski rolled past the Cheesemakers' tandem of senior Hallie Signer and Jensen Christensen 6-4, 6-1. At No. 2 doubles, Burlington's Adriana Castillo and Josie Klein defeated Monroe seniors Paris Bunker and Kiara Miller 6-2, 6-1.
"Both (No. 1 and No. 2 doubles) teams fought hard and had a lot of competitive games. We just couldn't capitalize on some of the opportunities we had in these matches," Saugstad said.
"At most of our positions today, we played about as well as we have this season," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "I'm happy with the girls' effort because they played their game and did their best today."
Monroe sophomore Grace Tostrud, at No. 2 singles, senior Skye Allen, at No. 4 singles, and the No. 3 doubles team of Jess Lucas and Becky Thoman all won first-round matches. Tostrud defeated Delavan-Dairen's Laura Farley 6-2, 6-4. Janesville Craig's Kerington Sauser then edged Tostrud 6-3, 6-4 in a second-round match.
"Grace played some solid tennis today," Saugstad said. "In her first-round match, Grace played a strong first set before falling behind 4-1 in the second set. From there, Grace got her volleys back under control and closed out the set winning five straight games. Grace's second match was a back-and-forth match with (Sauser). It was very well played, but Grace just came up a little short in the end."
Allen beat Elkhorn's Leah Meersman 6-2, 7-5 in the first round. Janesville Craig's Chie Wolf then topped Allen 6-3, 6-0.
"Skye Allen played two nice matches today," Saugstad said. "As a senior, it was nice seeing her go out playing her best. She was controlling her shots from the baseline well and moving her opponents around. It worked against Elkhorn in the first round, but Craig was just a little too steady."
At No. 1 singles, Elkhorn's Gabby Richardson breezed by Monroe senior Maggie Setterstrom 6-0, 6-0. Elkorn's Leesa Seesing edged Monroe sophomore Emma Towne at No. 3 singles in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.
"Emma played a quality match," Saugstad said. "Emma has lost a few close ones to end the season. She has only been playing tennis for two years and has a bright future ahead of her."
The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles duo of Lucas and Thoman beat Milton's Hannah Richardson and Sam Goodger 6-2, 7-5 in the first round. Lake Geneva Badger's Hannah Gage and Nichole Ritzman then cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Lucas and Thoman.
"Becky Thoman and Jessa Lucas had a nice first round match where they came from behind to beat Milton," he said. "Badger was just too strong in the second match."
Burlington's No. 1 doubles team of Grace Boyle and Mary Jagodzinski rolled past the Cheesemakers' tandem of senior Hallie Signer and Jensen Christensen 6-4, 6-1. At No. 2 doubles, Burlington's Adriana Castillo and Josie Klein defeated Monroe seniors Paris Bunker and Kiara Miller 6-2, 6-1.
"Both (No. 1 and No. 2 doubles) teams fought hard and had a lot of competitive games. We just couldn't capitalize on some of the opportunities we had in these matches," Saugstad said.
