MONROE - The Monroe High School girls tennis team opened the Badger South Conference season with a dominating 6-1 victory over Fort Atkinson on Tuesday.
"What a great way to kick off the conference season," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "I was a little worried how it would go, because we haven't hit a lot recently with rain, and it was pretty hot out tonight, but the girls played very well."
The Cheesemakers swept the four singles matches, led at No. 1 with senior Eva Priewe's 6-1, 6-3 victory over junior Emma Hartwig.
At No. 2 singles, senior Katie Demianiuk overwhelmed Fort Atkinson senior Mackenzie Chady, 6-1, 6-0, and at No. 3, sophomore Ashley Placek stifled junior Ari Wheeler, 6-0, 6-2.
"(Priewe and Demianiuk) came out, played fast and took care of business," Saugstad said. "I was happy with how they were hitting the ball tonight.
"Ashley Placek also played a sound match tonight. She ran her opponent around a got a solid win."
In the most competitive match of the day, Monroe sophomore Skye Allen rallied for a 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Fort Atkinson sophomore Stephany Sykes.
Allen trailed 5-2 in the second set and fought off four match points before closing out the set. Allen also fell behind 5-2 in the third set but won five straight games again to clinch the match.
"This win was great in the present, but it's so important moving forward for Skye," Saugstad said. "Skye has learned how to fight back from tough situations. Some players never learn how to do that, and Skye has learned it as a sophomore."
The No. 2 doubles match also was decided in three sets, with Monroe seniors Hannah Zweifel and Shannon Rabotski upending seniors Brianna Halvorson and Sarina Halvorson, 7-5, 1-6, 6-1.
"When Shannon and Hannah are at their best, they are flying around the court and putting balls away left and right," Saugstad said. "That's what happened in the third set."
Monroe seniors Maija Liimatainen and Morgan Quinn scored a 6-4, 6-2 victory over sophomores Kasten Hebbe and Hannah Beckman.
"Miaja was hitting solid returns and groundstrokes, and Morgan was closing out at the net and putting balls away. These two had a nice night tonight."
At No. 1 doubles, Monroe sophomores Maggie Setterstrom and Hallie Signer fell 6-3, 6-0 to seniors Evalise Yang and Megan Jordan.
Next, the Cheesemakers head into the teeth of their conference schedule.
"We have a tough road ahead now," Saugstad said. "We play Edgewood, Stoughton and Waunakee in the next three dual matches, and those are probably the top three teams in the Badger North and South. Over the next couple weeks we'll really focus on a few small things in practice that will hopefully make a big difference."
"What a great way to kick off the conference season," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "I was a little worried how it would go, because we haven't hit a lot recently with rain, and it was pretty hot out tonight, but the girls played very well."
The Cheesemakers swept the four singles matches, led at No. 1 with senior Eva Priewe's 6-1, 6-3 victory over junior Emma Hartwig.
At No. 2 singles, senior Katie Demianiuk overwhelmed Fort Atkinson senior Mackenzie Chady, 6-1, 6-0, and at No. 3, sophomore Ashley Placek stifled junior Ari Wheeler, 6-0, 6-2.
"(Priewe and Demianiuk) came out, played fast and took care of business," Saugstad said. "I was happy with how they were hitting the ball tonight.
"Ashley Placek also played a sound match tonight. She ran her opponent around a got a solid win."
In the most competitive match of the day, Monroe sophomore Skye Allen rallied for a 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Fort Atkinson sophomore Stephany Sykes.
Allen trailed 5-2 in the second set and fought off four match points before closing out the set. Allen also fell behind 5-2 in the third set but won five straight games again to clinch the match.
"This win was great in the present, but it's so important moving forward for Skye," Saugstad said. "Skye has learned how to fight back from tough situations. Some players never learn how to do that, and Skye has learned it as a sophomore."
The No. 2 doubles match also was decided in three sets, with Monroe seniors Hannah Zweifel and Shannon Rabotski upending seniors Brianna Halvorson and Sarina Halvorson, 7-5, 1-6, 6-1.
"When Shannon and Hannah are at their best, they are flying around the court and putting balls away left and right," Saugstad said. "That's what happened in the third set."
Monroe seniors Maija Liimatainen and Morgan Quinn scored a 6-4, 6-2 victory over sophomores Kasten Hebbe and Hannah Beckman.
"Miaja was hitting solid returns and groundstrokes, and Morgan was closing out at the net and putting balls away. These two had a nice night tonight."
At No. 1 doubles, Monroe sophomores Maggie Setterstrom and Hallie Signer fell 6-3, 6-0 to seniors Evalise Yang and Megan Jordan.
Next, the Cheesemakers head into the teeth of their conference schedule.
"We have a tough road ahead now," Saugstad said. "We play Edgewood, Stoughton and Waunakee in the next three dual matches, and those are probably the top three teams in the Badger North and South. Over the next couple weeks we'll really focus on a few small things in practice that will hopefully make a big difference."
