MONROE - When he assigned first-year varsity tennis players to play No. 1 doubles, Monroe coach Brad Saugstad knew his sophomore top tandem would face adversity.
The latest challenge came Tuesday.
Monona Grove senior Rysa Weigel-Sterr and junior Kelcie Lee defeated Monroe's Maggie Setterstrom and Hallie Signer 6-1, 6-4. After dropping the first set, Setterstrom and Signer jumped out to a 4-3 lead in the second set. But the Silver Eagles' top doubles team rallied to win three straight games and seal a comeback victory.
That doubles win helped Monona Grove knock off Monroe 6-1, but it also showed that Setterstrom and Signer have the mettle to shake off a lopsided set against a tough opponent.
"I think we were more determined and motivated to win because it was a new set," Setterstrom said. "They hit a lot of winners."
The match was the final tuneup for the Cheesemakers before the Badger Conference tournament starts Friday at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
"We want to be more confident in our net play and more motivated because every point matters," Setterstrom said.
With the loss, Monroe finished the regular season 2-13 in dual matches and 1-5 in the Badger South.
"We wanted to build momentum going into conference and get some more match experience," Saugstad said. "It's been a tough season. I would just love to see the girls get some more wins."
The lone win for the Cheesemakers came from Maija Liimatainen and Morgan Quinn at No. 3 doubles. The seniors defeated Monona Grove sophomore Emma Soderholm and freshman Peyton Blung 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.
"They have been playing solid tennis recently," Saugstad said of Liimatainen and Quinn. "In the second set, Monona Grove got more aggressive at the net hitting some good shots down the line. In the third set you could see the confidence Maija and Morgan have been building the last few matches as they adjusted to what Monona Grove was doing. They hit good shots and took over to dominate the third set. Having confidence in your shots and strategy is a big deal in tennis and Morgan and Maija have it now."
At No. 2 doubles, the Silver Eagles' Paige Marten and Megan DeVault outlasted Monroe seniors Hannah Zweifel and Shannon Rabotski 6-3, 6-1.
The Silver Eagles swept all four singles matches. Monona Grove junior Amanda Newman, a state qualifier last year, beat Monroe senior Eva Priewe 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1. Monona Grove senior Liz Schaver beat Monroe senior Katie Demianiuk 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2, and Monona Grove senior Rachel Wilson knocked off Monroe sophomore Ashley Placek 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3. At No. 4, Monona Grove sophomore McKenna Doherty got the best of Monroe sophomore Skye Allen 6-0, 6-1.
Both Signer and Setterstrom are looking forward to the Badger Conference tournament Friday.
"I will be nervous, but excited," Signer said. "I think we have gotten better at hitting lobs."
Setterstrom welcomes the chance to play in the conference tournament.
"I knew it (playing No. 1 doubles) would be challenging," she said. "I don't think it (conference tournament) will be too much different. It's not very much pressure."
The latest challenge came Tuesday.
Monona Grove senior Rysa Weigel-Sterr and junior Kelcie Lee defeated Monroe's Maggie Setterstrom and Hallie Signer 6-1, 6-4. After dropping the first set, Setterstrom and Signer jumped out to a 4-3 lead in the second set. But the Silver Eagles' top doubles team rallied to win three straight games and seal a comeback victory.
That doubles win helped Monona Grove knock off Monroe 6-1, but it also showed that Setterstrom and Signer have the mettle to shake off a lopsided set against a tough opponent.
"I think we were more determined and motivated to win because it was a new set," Setterstrom said. "They hit a lot of winners."
The match was the final tuneup for the Cheesemakers before the Badger Conference tournament starts Friday at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
"We want to be more confident in our net play and more motivated because every point matters," Setterstrom said.
With the loss, Monroe finished the regular season 2-13 in dual matches and 1-5 in the Badger South.
"We wanted to build momentum going into conference and get some more match experience," Saugstad said. "It's been a tough season. I would just love to see the girls get some more wins."
The lone win for the Cheesemakers came from Maija Liimatainen and Morgan Quinn at No. 3 doubles. The seniors defeated Monona Grove sophomore Emma Soderholm and freshman Peyton Blung 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.
"They have been playing solid tennis recently," Saugstad said of Liimatainen and Quinn. "In the second set, Monona Grove got more aggressive at the net hitting some good shots down the line. In the third set you could see the confidence Maija and Morgan have been building the last few matches as they adjusted to what Monona Grove was doing. They hit good shots and took over to dominate the third set. Having confidence in your shots and strategy is a big deal in tennis and Morgan and Maija have it now."
At No. 2 doubles, the Silver Eagles' Paige Marten and Megan DeVault outlasted Monroe seniors Hannah Zweifel and Shannon Rabotski 6-3, 6-1.
The Silver Eagles swept all four singles matches. Monona Grove junior Amanda Newman, a state qualifier last year, beat Monroe senior Eva Priewe 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1. Monona Grove senior Liz Schaver beat Monroe senior Katie Demianiuk 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2, and Monona Grove senior Rachel Wilson knocked off Monroe sophomore Ashley Placek 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3. At No. 4, Monona Grove sophomore McKenna Doherty got the best of Monroe sophomore Skye Allen 6-0, 6-1.
Both Signer and Setterstrom are looking forward to the Badger Conference tournament Friday.
"I will be nervous, but excited," Signer said. "I think we have gotten better at hitting lobs."
Setterstrom welcomes the chance to play in the conference tournament.
"I knew it (playing No. 1 doubles) would be challenging," she said. "I don't think it (conference tournament) will be too much different. It's not very much pressure."
