FORT ATKINSON - The Monroe boys tennis team won a thriller 4-3 over Fort Atkinson to reach .500 in the Badger South Conference.
"This ended up closer than I anticipated coming into the match, but a win's a win," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said.
Monroe (2-2 Badger South) won all three doubles matches en route to the match victory. Monroe seniors Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager at No. 1 doubles defeated Fort Atkinson Jack Chisholm and Juan Hernandez-Cruz 6-0, 6-0. At No. 2 doubles, senior Josh Riese and junior Mark Jenson defeated David Kramer and Ryan Baker 6-2, 6-0. Monroe's Jared Nix and Vince Wartenweiler beat Dan Lumani and Etheine Yang 6-0 6-1.
"Our doubles dominated from start to finish," Saugstad said. "Fort was pretty inexperienced in the doubles lineup, and our guys went out there and took care of business. We took over the net and got off to early leads in every set."
Monroe sophomore Kevin Noriega at No. 2 singles defeated Fort Atkinson Willy Lemke in three sets 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.
"Kevin Noriega clinched the win for us as a team with a come-from-behind victory," Saugstad said.
Noriega trailed 5-0 in the first set before rallying.
"Kevin got a few games in the first set which was important for his confidence, and then he turned it on," he said. "Kevin has nice shots, but sometimes over-hits. He started to find a good rhythm."
At No. 1 singles, Fort Atkinson's Andrew Dahl defeated Monroe senior Taylor Soddy 6-1, 7-6 (5). Monroe sophomore Matt Monahan at No. 3 singles lost to Fort Atkinson's Owen Kirkeby 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. Monroe's Jeremy Miller at No. 4 singles also lost a three-set match to Justin Gdaniec 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
"Taylor's shots were off at the start of his match too, but I liked the way he fought back when he was down 4-1 in the second," Saugstad said.
"This ended up closer than I anticipated coming into the match, but a win's a win," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said.
Monroe (2-2 Badger South) won all three doubles matches en route to the match victory. Monroe seniors Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager at No. 1 doubles defeated Fort Atkinson Jack Chisholm and Juan Hernandez-Cruz 6-0, 6-0. At No. 2 doubles, senior Josh Riese and junior Mark Jenson defeated David Kramer and Ryan Baker 6-2, 6-0. Monroe's Jared Nix and Vince Wartenweiler beat Dan Lumani and Etheine Yang 6-0 6-1.
"Our doubles dominated from start to finish," Saugstad said. "Fort was pretty inexperienced in the doubles lineup, and our guys went out there and took care of business. We took over the net and got off to early leads in every set."
Monroe sophomore Kevin Noriega at No. 2 singles defeated Fort Atkinson Willy Lemke in three sets 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.
"Kevin Noriega clinched the win for us as a team with a come-from-behind victory," Saugstad said.
Noriega trailed 5-0 in the first set before rallying.
"Kevin got a few games in the first set which was important for his confidence, and then he turned it on," he said. "Kevin has nice shots, but sometimes over-hits. He started to find a good rhythm."
At No. 1 singles, Fort Atkinson's Andrew Dahl defeated Monroe senior Taylor Soddy 6-1, 7-6 (5). Monroe sophomore Matt Monahan at No. 3 singles lost to Fort Atkinson's Owen Kirkeby 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. Monroe's Jeremy Miller at No. 4 singles also lost a three-set match to Justin Gdaniec 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
"Taylor's shots were off at the start of his match too, but I liked the way he fought back when he was down 4-1 in the second," Saugstad said.
