MONROE - The Monroe boys tennis team knocked off Fort Atkinson 4-3 in a Badger South Conference match Monday.
"We knew Fort's strength was singles and I was hoping to get two singles wins, and Matt Monahan and Silas Setterstrom came through for us," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said.
Monahan at No. 2 singles defeated Fort Atkinson's Willy Lemke 6-3, 6-0. Setterstrom at No. 4 singles beat Fort Atkinson's Tanner Bakken 6-1, 6-2. With the win, Monroe improves its record to 3-3 in the Badger South Conference. The Cheesemakers are in fourth place heading into the conference tournament.
Monahan lost three straight games at one point in the first set and trailed love-30 on his serve. He got out of the jam and didn't lose another game.
"Earlier this season, losing three straight games might have thrown Matt for a funk he couldn't get out of, but that just shows the mental gains he has made this season," Saugstad said.
As a freshman, Setterstrom has made improvements.
"He (Setterstrom) is a consistent player from the baseline and has added a nice net game since the start of the season," he said.
The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of senior Mark Jenson and junior Kevin Noriega defeated Fort Atkinson's Owen Kirkeby and Jack Chisholm 6-4, 6-2. At No. 2 doubles, Monroe senior Ellyott Baertschi and freshman Kody Althaus defeated Fort Atkinson's Ryan Baker and Doni Lumani 7-5, 6-1.
"Mark and Kevin looked a little lethargic on the court and definitely didn't play their best, but they played well enough to get the win," Saugstad said. "I feel like Mark and Kevin have another level to their game we haven't seen this season, and the conference tournament would be a great time for them to show how good they can really be."
Baertschi and Althaus were down 5-2 in the first set and won 11 of the next 12 games by being aggressive at the net.
"I don't feel like Ellyott and Kody have had a breakout match this season," Saugstad said. "They have had moments where they have looked really good, and I hope to see them put together some strong matches at the conference tournament."
Fort Atkinson senior Andrew Dahl, the defending No. 1 singles Badger Conference champion, defeated Monroe junior David Shon 6-1, 6-1. At No. 3 doubles, Fort Atkinson's Shaun Campbell and Fredrik Afzelius beat Monroe's Zach Hendrickmson and Keyton Friske in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 10-7.
"We knew Fort's strength was singles and I was hoping to get two singles wins, and Matt Monahan and Silas Setterstrom came through for us," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said.
Monahan at No. 2 singles defeated Fort Atkinson's Willy Lemke 6-3, 6-0. Setterstrom at No. 4 singles beat Fort Atkinson's Tanner Bakken 6-1, 6-2. With the win, Monroe improves its record to 3-3 in the Badger South Conference. The Cheesemakers are in fourth place heading into the conference tournament.
Monahan lost three straight games at one point in the first set and trailed love-30 on his serve. He got out of the jam and didn't lose another game.
"Earlier this season, losing three straight games might have thrown Matt for a funk he couldn't get out of, but that just shows the mental gains he has made this season," Saugstad said.
As a freshman, Setterstrom has made improvements.
"He (Setterstrom) is a consistent player from the baseline and has added a nice net game since the start of the season," he said.
The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles team of senior Mark Jenson and junior Kevin Noriega defeated Fort Atkinson's Owen Kirkeby and Jack Chisholm 6-4, 6-2. At No. 2 doubles, Monroe senior Ellyott Baertschi and freshman Kody Althaus defeated Fort Atkinson's Ryan Baker and Doni Lumani 7-5, 6-1.
"Mark and Kevin looked a little lethargic on the court and definitely didn't play their best, but they played well enough to get the win," Saugstad said. "I feel like Mark and Kevin have another level to their game we haven't seen this season, and the conference tournament would be a great time for them to show how good they can really be."
Baertschi and Althaus were down 5-2 in the first set and won 11 of the next 12 games by being aggressive at the net.
"I don't feel like Ellyott and Kody have had a breakout match this season," Saugstad said. "They have had moments where they have looked really good, and I hope to see them put together some strong matches at the conference tournament."
Fort Atkinson senior Andrew Dahl, the defending No. 1 singles Badger Conference champion, defeated Monroe junior David Shon 6-1, 6-1. At No. 3 doubles, Fort Atkinson's Shaun Campbell and Fredrik Afzelius beat Monroe's Zach Hendrickmson and Keyton Friske in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 10-7.
