MONROE - The Monroe tennis team won its third match in a row and now holds a winning record in the Badger South Conference, after beating Monona Grove 5-2 Friday, May 11.
The Cheesemakers (3-2 Badger South) won three of the four singles matches. At No. 1 singles, Taylor Soddy defeated Monona Grove's Jimmy Platz 6-2, 6-3. At No. 2 singles, Kevin Noriega defeated Peter Maillefer 7-6 (4), 6-4. At No. 3 singles, Monroe's Matt Monahan defeated Alex McDade 6-1, 6-4.
Monroe also got a win at No. 1 doubles, where Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager defeated Monona Grove's Kevin Hernandez and Jack Hegge 7-5, 6-0. At No. 2 doubles, Monroe's Josh Riese and Mark Jenson defeated Sam Taylor and Nick Rice 6-4, 6-2.
"We had our struggles at times tonight, but we stuck with it even when things weren't going well and got a nice win," said Monroe coach Brad Saugstad.
Saugstad had much praise for his singles players, for working with what the match dictated and battling back when they needed to.
"Taylor Soddy played a consistent and patient match tonight," Saugstad said. "He worked his opponent's weaknesses and got a fairly straight-forward win. Kevin Noriega had to battle back from being down in both sets but did a nice job consistently placing his shots and got another nice win. Kevin's been picking it up the last few matches which is great to see at the end of the season.
"Matt Monahan played against a hard hitter tonight, which Matt really likes, and put together a nice match."
At doubles, the Cheesemakers struggled some in both of their match wins.
"Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager played a close first set then turned it on in the second," Saugstad said. "Jess and Kevin were a little off their game early and had a few unfortunate bounces go against them, but they played a solid second set to close out the match.
"Josh Riese and Mark Jenson, just like 1 doubles, weren't on their game early in the match. I give them credit though because they managed to fight through some struggles and win in two sets tonight."
At No. 4 singles, Monroe's Jeremy Miller lost to Christian Docter 7-6 (5), 7-5, and at No. 3 doubles Monroe's team of Vince Wartenweiler and Jared Nix lost to Michael Frisque and Luke Maillefer 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Cheesemakers will host the Monroe Doubles Invite on Saturday, May 11. The event will feature teams from McFarland, Baraboo, Stoughton, Sauk Prairie and Fort Atkinson.
"The boys are excited for the tournament," Saugstad said, "and we feel like we've got a good chance to win it as a team."
The Cheesemakers (3-2 Badger South) won three of the four singles matches. At No. 1 singles, Taylor Soddy defeated Monona Grove's Jimmy Platz 6-2, 6-3. At No. 2 singles, Kevin Noriega defeated Peter Maillefer 7-6 (4), 6-4. At No. 3 singles, Monroe's Matt Monahan defeated Alex McDade 6-1, 6-4.
Monroe also got a win at No. 1 doubles, where Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager defeated Monona Grove's Kevin Hernandez and Jack Hegge 7-5, 6-0. At No. 2 doubles, Monroe's Josh Riese and Mark Jenson defeated Sam Taylor and Nick Rice 6-4, 6-2.
"We had our struggles at times tonight, but we stuck with it even when things weren't going well and got a nice win," said Monroe coach Brad Saugstad.
Saugstad had much praise for his singles players, for working with what the match dictated and battling back when they needed to.
"Taylor Soddy played a consistent and patient match tonight," Saugstad said. "He worked his opponent's weaknesses and got a fairly straight-forward win. Kevin Noriega had to battle back from being down in both sets but did a nice job consistently placing his shots and got another nice win. Kevin's been picking it up the last few matches which is great to see at the end of the season.
"Matt Monahan played against a hard hitter tonight, which Matt really likes, and put together a nice match."
At doubles, the Cheesemakers struggled some in both of their match wins.
"Kevin Kohlstedt and Jess Hager played a close first set then turned it on in the second," Saugstad said. "Jess and Kevin were a little off their game early and had a few unfortunate bounces go against them, but they played a solid second set to close out the match.
"Josh Riese and Mark Jenson, just like 1 doubles, weren't on their game early in the match. I give them credit though because they managed to fight through some struggles and win in two sets tonight."
At No. 4 singles, Monroe's Jeremy Miller lost to Christian Docter 7-6 (5), 7-5, and at No. 3 doubles Monroe's team of Vince Wartenweiler and Jared Nix lost to Michael Frisque and Luke Maillefer 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Cheesemakers will host the Monroe Doubles Invite on Saturday, May 11. The event will feature teams from McFarland, Baraboo, Stoughton, Sauk Prairie and Fort Atkinson.
"The boys are excited for the tournament," Saugstad said, "and we feel like we've got a good chance to win it as a team."
