BARABOO - The Monroe girls tennis team couldn't overcome its nemesis last weekend - the Baraboo Thunderbirds.
Baraboo edged the Cheesemakers 22-20 in the Monroe Doubles Invitational. The Cheesemakers won two of three matches at the Baraboo Quad and finished second. The only loss for the Cheesemakers came to Baraboo 3-2. Monroe defeated Portage 5-0 and Oregon 4-1.
"We battled the heat as much as the opponents today," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "On an unbearably hot day like this, it's tough to stay physical and mentally ready to play tennis."
The Cheese-makers as a team were 4-2 in three-set matches and 5-3 in tiebreakers.
"Good teams have to be able to win three-set matches and tie breaks, so that was a positive today," Saugstad said.
Monroe seniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire at No. 1 doubles went 3-0 at the quad Monday, Aug. 26 and improved their record to 7-0. Grossen and McGuire defeated Portage's Jayne Hurd and Kristen South 6-2, 6-2. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles duo then breezed by Oregon's Leah Koopman and Michelle Peterson 6-1, 6-1. Grossen and McGuire pulled out a three-set win over Baraboo's Hannah Shumway and Sabrina Fuller 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 10-7.
"The Baraboo girls put up a lot of lobs, and on a hot day like this, chasing down lobs can be frustrating," Saugstad said. "Ellie and Chandra dug deep in the end to pull out the victory."
Eva Priewe and Amber Jenson at No. 4 doubles also went unbeaten. Priewe and Jenson defeated Portage's Kaeleea Lohr and Yue Xin in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 11-9. Priewe and Jenson also pulled out a three set win over Oregon's Kayla Nyles and Cosette Sommers 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 and cruised past Baraboo's Becky Freed and Katie Quinn 6-2, 6-4.
"These two had stretches where they played really well and stretches where they struggled with consistency," Saugstad said of Priewe and Jenson. "They started to find their groove as the day went on.
The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of Paige Prien and Allie Coplien and the No. 3 doubles team of Alisa Fager and Katie Demianiuk each finished 2-1. Monroe's Chelsea Miller and Erin Gellings at No. 1A doubles finished 1-2 and played the opponents top doubles teams.
"Overall, I'm walking away from this match encouraged with how the team played," Saugstad said. "I'm hoping our singles players can use some of what they learned in doubles to add a little aggressiveness to their game."
Baraboo edged the Cheesemakers 22-20 in the Monroe Doubles Invitational. The Cheesemakers won two of three matches at the Baraboo Quad and finished second. The only loss for the Cheesemakers came to Baraboo 3-2. Monroe defeated Portage 5-0 and Oregon 4-1.
"We battled the heat as much as the opponents today," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "On an unbearably hot day like this, it's tough to stay physical and mentally ready to play tennis."
The Cheese-makers as a team were 4-2 in three-set matches and 5-3 in tiebreakers.
"Good teams have to be able to win three-set matches and tie breaks, so that was a positive today," Saugstad said.
Monroe seniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire at No. 1 doubles went 3-0 at the quad Monday, Aug. 26 and improved their record to 7-0. Grossen and McGuire defeated Portage's Jayne Hurd and Kristen South 6-2, 6-2. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles duo then breezed by Oregon's Leah Koopman and Michelle Peterson 6-1, 6-1. Grossen and McGuire pulled out a three-set win over Baraboo's Hannah Shumway and Sabrina Fuller 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 10-7.
"The Baraboo girls put up a lot of lobs, and on a hot day like this, chasing down lobs can be frustrating," Saugstad said. "Ellie and Chandra dug deep in the end to pull out the victory."
Eva Priewe and Amber Jenson at No. 4 doubles also went unbeaten. Priewe and Jenson defeated Portage's Kaeleea Lohr and Yue Xin in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 11-9. Priewe and Jenson also pulled out a three set win over Oregon's Kayla Nyles and Cosette Sommers 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 and cruised past Baraboo's Becky Freed and Katie Quinn 6-2, 6-4.
"These two had stretches where they played really well and stretches where they struggled with consistency," Saugstad said of Priewe and Jenson. "They started to find their groove as the day went on.
The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team of Paige Prien and Allie Coplien and the No. 3 doubles team of Alisa Fager and Katie Demianiuk each finished 2-1. Monroe's Chelsea Miller and Erin Gellings at No. 1A doubles finished 1-2 and played the opponents top doubles teams.
"Overall, I'm walking away from this match encouraged with how the team played," Saugstad said. "I'm hoping our singles players can use some of what they learned in doubles to add a little aggressiveness to their game."
