WAUKESHA - The Monroe High School girls tennis team went 2-1 in dual matches to place third at the eight-team Mukwonago tournament on Saturday.
After winning two matches Friday, Monroe was in contention for the team title. On Saturday, the Cheesemakers defeated Lake Mills 5-2 and lost to Menomonee Falls 5-2. The Cheesemakers clinched third place by edging Waukesha West 4-3.
Mukwonago captured the team title with 47 points. Brookfield Academy (36) edged Monroe (35) for second place by one point.
The Cheesemakers played without sophomore Grace Tostrud at No. 1 singles and senior Skye Allen at No. 4 singles due to family events.
"We got to watch some younger players step up and gain valuable experience," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "To play so well with players playing up positions speaks to how hard so many of our girls have worked to improve. We haven't had a team compete this well at a tournament in quite a few years."
The Cheesemakers' doubles teams shined going, 13-2 in the tournament. Monroe seniors Parris Bunker and Kiara Miller went 3-0 at No. 2 doubles Saturday and finished the tournament at 5-0, including two three-set wins. Juniors Jessa Lucas and Becky Thoman went 4-0 at No. 3 doubles, and the Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of senior Hallie Signer and sophomore Jensen Christensen went 4-1.
In the match against Lake Mills, Monroe senior Maggie Setterstorm at No. 1 singles defeated Lake Mills junior Sophia Thompson 6-0, 6-2. Sophomore Emma Towne, playing up at No. 2 singles, lost to Lake Mills sophomore Jena Smith 0-6, 6-3, (4-10). Junior teammate Cierra Larson, playing up two spots at No. 3 singles, also lost in a super tiebreaker (played instead of a full third set).
"Playing up a position offers a great chance to test your skills against better players than you usually face, and both Emma and Cierra played well," Saugstad said.
Monroe freshman Bekah Rath, who was playing her first varsity match at No. 4 singles, defeated Lake Mills junior Lainie Nolan 6-1, 7-6.
"Bekah played with a lot of composure for a freshman," Saugstad said. "This was a good win for her and important for the team."
The Cheesemakers swept every doubles match against Lake Mills. Signer and Christensen at No. 1 doubles defeated Lake Mills' Brooke Behm and Stephanie Behm 6-4, 6-4. At No. 2 doubles, Bunker and Miller defeated the L-Cats' Olivia Lescohier and Makayla Legel 6-1, 6-4. Lucas and Thoman at No. 3 doubles beat Lake Mills' Ashli Patrick and Julianna Wagner 6-4, 6-2.
Thoman played No. 4 singles against Menomonee Falls junior Deanna Hebbring and defeated her 6-1, 3-6, (14-12).
"I've had Becky focusing on doubles this year, but we needed her in singles and she stepped up big in this match for us," Saugstad said.
Both the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles matches were matches that came down to super tiebreakers. Bunker and Miller at No. 2 doubles defeated Menomonee Falls juniors Jackie Plantier and Gwen Viegnt 6-3, 4-6, (10-8). At No. 1, the Cheesemakers duo of Signer and Christensen lost 7-6, 4-6, (5-10) to juniors Haley Matthiesen and Ally Diestelhorst.
In the final match against Waukesha West, Towne at No. 2 singles picked up the only singles win for the Cheesemakers, knocking off sophomore Sarah Pettigrew 6-4, 6-2.
"Emma just had more energy than her opponent and outhustled and out-hit her in this match," Saugstad said.
Saugstad said the Cheesemakers knew they had to sweep the doubles matches to win, and they came through in a big way.
Bunker and Miller at No. 2 doubles, defeated Waukesha West's Bella Hebert and Audrey Rich 6-2, 6-0. The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of Lucas and Thoman beat Waukesha West's Maddie Denard and Jess Miller 6-1, 6-3.
At No. 1 doubles, Monroe's Signer and Christensen beat Waukesha West seniors Emily Shoemaker and Kayley Raasch 6-0, 6-7, (11-9).
Signer and Christensen were down quadruple match point in the super tiebreaker but then won six straight points to win the match and dual for the team.
"What an exciting way to end the day," Saugstad said.
After winning two matches Friday, Monroe was in contention for the team title. On Saturday, the Cheesemakers defeated Lake Mills 5-2 and lost to Menomonee Falls 5-2. The Cheesemakers clinched third place by edging Waukesha West 4-3.
Mukwonago captured the team title with 47 points. Brookfield Academy (36) edged Monroe (35) for second place by one point.
The Cheesemakers played without sophomore Grace Tostrud at No. 1 singles and senior Skye Allen at No. 4 singles due to family events.
"We got to watch some younger players step up and gain valuable experience," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "To play so well with players playing up positions speaks to how hard so many of our girls have worked to improve. We haven't had a team compete this well at a tournament in quite a few years."
The Cheesemakers' doubles teams shined going, 13-2 in the tournament. Monroe seniors Parris Bunker and Kiara Miller went 3-0 at No. 2 doubles Saturday and finished the tournament at 5-0, including two three-set wins. Juniors Jessa Lucas and Becky Thoman went 4-0 at No. 3 doubles, and the Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of senior Hallie Signer and sophomore Jensen Christensen went 4-1.
In the match against Lake Mills, Monroe senior Maggie Setterstorm at No. 1 singles defeated Lake Mills junior Sophia Thompson 6-0, 6-2. Sophomore Emma Towne, playing up at No. 2 singles, lost to Lake Mills sophomore Jena Smith 0-6, 6-3, (4-10). Junior teammate Cierra Larson, playing up two spots at No. 3 singles, also lost in a super tiebreaker (played instead of a full third set).
"Playing up a position offers a great chance to test your skills against better players than you usually face, and both Emma and Cierra played well," Saugstad said.
Monroe freshman Bekah Rath, who was playing her first varsity match at No. 4 singles, defeated Lake Mills junior Lainie Nolan 6-1, 7-6.
"Bekah played with a lot of composure for a freshman," Saugstad said. "This was a good win for her and important for the team."
The Cheesemakers swept every doubles match against Lake Mills. Signer and Christensen at No. 1 doubles defeated Lake Mills' Brooke Behm and Stephanie Behm 6-4, 6-4. At No. 2 doubles, Bunker and Miller defeated the L-Cats' Olivia Lescohier and Makayla Legel 6-1, 6-4. Lucas and Thoman at No. 3 doubles beat Lake Mills' Ashli Patrick and Julianna Wagner 6-4, 6-2.
Thoman played No. 4 singles against Menomonee Falls junior Deanna Hebbring and defeated her 6-1, 3-6, (14-12).
"I've had Becky focusing on doubles this year, but we needed her in singles and she stepped up big in this match for us," Saugstad said.
Both the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles matches were matches that came down to super tiebreakers. Bunker and Miller at No. 2 doubles defeated Menomonee Falls juniors Jackie Plantier and Gwen Viegnt 6-3, 4-6, (10-8). At No. 1, the Cheesemakers duo of Signer and Christensen lost 7-6, 4-6, (5-10) to juniors Haley Matthiesen and Ally Diestelhorst.
In the final match against Waukesha West, Towne at No. 2 singles picked up the only singles win for the Cheesemakers, knocking off sophomore Sarah Pettigrew 6-4, 6-2.
"Emma just had more energy than her opponent and outhustled and out-hit her in this match," Saugstad said.
Saugstad said the Cheesemakers knew they had to sweep the doubles matches to win, and they came through in a big way.
Bunker and Miller at No. 2 doubles, defeated Waukesha West's Bella Hebert and Audrey Rich 6-2, 6-0. The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of Lucas and Thoman beat Waukesha West's Maddie Denard and Jess Miller 6-1, 6-3.
At No. 1 doubles, Monroe's Signer and Christensen beat Waukesha West seniors Emily Shoemaker and Kayley Raasch 6-0, 6-7, (11-9).
Signer and Christensen were down quadruple match point in the super tiebreaker but then won six straight points to win the match and dual for the team.
"What an exciting way to end the day," Saugstad said.
