BARABOO - Monroe coach Brad Saugstad didn't follow suit and he elected to have his No. 1 doubles team play against the top singles players in the Baraboo Invitational on Monday.
The move paid off as the Cheesemakers went 1-2 and had a strong showing.
Monroe defeated Portage 5-0 and lost two close matches to Oregon 3-2 and Baraboo 3-2. The Cheesemakers had four of their five doubles teams win two of the three matches.
"Our doubles play has improved dramatically over the past few days and it's great to see some stretches of aggressiveness in doubles," Saugstad said. "As a team though, we need to continue to work on being more consistent with our footwork and staying aggressive in matches. We are just having too many stretches were we are too content to just get the shots back instead of really stepping in and hitting a good ball."
The top two singles players from each team played doubles. However, the Cheesemakers stayed with the No. 1 doubles team of juniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire and they finished 2-1.
The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of Allie Coplien and Chelsea Miller went 2-1 playing against other No. 1 doubles teams players.
"The highlight of the day was Allie Coplien and Chelsea Miller going 2-1 against No. 1 doubles teams," Saugstad said.
Grossen and McGuire at No. 1 doubles defeated Portage's Sam Mueller and Jayne Hurd 7-5, 7-5. The duo also defeated Oregon's Charlie McMannes and Kayla Whip 6-4, 6-3. Their only loss came against Baraboo's Emma Saiz and Hanna Shumway 7-6 (10), 3-6, 10-5.
At No. 2 doubles, Coplien and Miller beat Portage's Kristen South and Leah Erickson 6-1, 6-1. They went on to knock off Oregon's Alexa Hanson and Hailey Marey 6-3, 6-4. Their only loss was to Baraboo's Sabrina Fuller and Courtney Johnson 6-2, 6-2.
Monroe's Macayla Quinn and Alisa Fager at No. 3 doubles beat Portage's Addie Hemming and Courtney Erickson 6-0, 6-1. The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles duo knocked off Baraboo's Jessie Carignan and Hailey Brooks 6-4, 2-6, 10-8. The only loss for Quinn and Fager came to Oregon's Leah Koopman and Michelle Peterson 3-6, 2-6.
The Cheesemakers' No. 5 doubles team of Sarah Sabatke and Sarah Wong defeated Portage's Sara Bailles and Yue Xin 6-0, 6-0. The duo also beat Baraboo's Kaylee Roberts and Kelli Kuschman 7-5, 6-2. Their only loss came against Oregon's Danielle Keller and Lauren Jacobson 6-4, 2-6, 10-5.
"Sarah Sabatke and Sarah Wong rebounded from a tough three-set loss to Oregon and played a nice match against Baraboo," Saugstad said. "These two girls have improved a ton in the last couple days."
At No. 4 doubles, Monroe's Paige Prien and Amber Jenson won one match defeating Portage's Camille Guenther and Cheyenne Heisz 6-0, 6-2.
The move paid off as the Cheesemakers went 1-2 and had a strong showing.
Monroe defeated Portage 5-0 and lost two close matches to Oregon 3-2 and Baraboo 3-2. The Cheesemakers had four of their five doubles teams win two of the three matches.
"Our doubles play has improved dramatically over the past few days and it's great to see some stretches of aggressiveness in doubles," Saugstad said. "As a team though, we need to continue to work on being more consistent with our footwork and staying aggressive in matches. We are just having too many stretches were we are too content to just get the shots back instead of really stepping in and hitting a good ball."
The top two singles players from each team played doubles. However, the Cheesemakers stayed with the No. 1 doubles team of juniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire and they finished 2-1.
The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of Allie Coplien and Chelsea Miller went 2-1 playing against other No. 1 doubles teams players.
"The highlight of the day was Allie Coplien and Chelsea Miller going 2-1 against No. 1 doubles teams," Saugstad said.
Grossen and McGuire at No. 1 doubles defeated Portage's Sam Mueller and Jayne Hurd 7-5, 7-5. The duo also defeated Oregon's Charlie McMannes and Kayla Whip 6-4, 6-3. Their only loss came against Baraboo's Emma Saiz and Hanna Shumway 7-6 (10), 3-6, 10-5.
At No. 2 doubles, Coplien and Miller beat Portage's Kristen South and Leah Erickson 6-1, 6-1. They went on to knock off Oregon's Alexa Hanson and Hailey Marey 6-3, 6-4. Their only loss was to Baraboo's Sabrina Fuller and Courtney Johnson 6-2, 6-2.
Monroe's Macayla Quinn and Alisa Fager at No. 3 doubles beat Portage's Addie Hemming and Courtney Erickson 6-0, 6-1. The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles duo knocked off Baraboo's Jessie Carignan and Hailey Brooks 6-4, 2-6, 10-8. The only loss for Quinn and Fager came to Oregon's Leah Koopman and Michelle Peterson 3-6, 2-6.
The Cheesemakers' No. 5 doubles team of Sarah Sabatke and Sarah Wong defeated Portage's Sara Bailles and Yue Xin 6-0, 6-0. The duo also beat Baraboo's Kaylee Roberts and Kelli Kuschman 7-5, 6-2. Their only loss came against Oregon's Danielle Keller and Lauren Jacobson 6-4, 2-6, 10-5.
"Sarah Sabatke and Sarah Wong rebounded from a tough three-set loss to Oregon and played a nice match against Baraboo," Saugstad said. "These two girls have improved a ton in the last couple days."
At No. 4 doubles, Monroe's Paige Prien and Amber Jenson won one match defeating Portage's Camille Guenther and Cheyenne Heisz 6-0, 6-2.
