MONROE - Senior Matt Monahan knew what was at stake at the Monroe Doubles Invitational Saturday. If there was any chance Monahan and Kevin Noriega, Monroe's No. 1 doubles team, could get a top three seed at the Badger Conference tournament, they would have to run the table Saturday and win the championship.
Monahan and Noriega did just that, knocking off Sauk Prairie's Brendan Ballweg and T.J. Pfaff 6-2, 6-4 for the title. For Ballweg and Pfaff (17-4), it marked just their fourth loss this season. Monahan and Noriega (15-5) avenged an earlier season loss to Sauk Prairie.
"We want to win this (Monroe Doubles Invite) and get a No. 3 seed," Monahan said referencing the conference tournament. "If we beat Sauk Prairie, we can get a No. 3 seed. That way we won't have to play Edgewood on the first day of conference."
Sauk Prairie won the doubles team championship 23-18 over Monona Grove and McFarland, which tied for second place. The Eagles won three of the five flights. Monroe finished fourth place (14 points), which was just behind Monona Grove and McFarland.
"Matt and Kevin played a great match," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said of the title match against the Eagles. "Matt was moving into the net and hitting strong volleys and Kevin was really hitting strong shots and using his athleticism to his advantage. In winning the championship, they took their game to another level. I hope they can continue that level for the remainder of the season."
There was extra motivation for Monahan.
"We have been seeded No. 1 before for a tournament, but haven't won one," he said. "We want to get that first place in a tournament because it gives us confidence for conference."
Monahan and Noriega rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 win over McFarland in the first round. Then they breezed to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Baraboo's Gavin La Mar and Sean McCutchin.
Noriega, who made a state run at No. 1 doubles last year with Mark Jenson, likes how his game has developed with Monahan.
"I'm confident in our team chemistry," Noriega said.
Both Noriega and Monahan are looking to perfect their craft on the court.
"I think on my side of the court, I need to keep my returns in," Noriega said. "I have been missing a lot of returns. If I can keep it in, we have a good chance of getting to state. We also have to get our second serves in and not double fault."
WIAA rules require players to play five doubles matches, if coaches decide to switch them from singles to doubles for the subsectional. It used to be just three doubles matches. Tournaments like the doubles invite give coaches the flexibility to juggle their lineup for the postseason.
"That is part of the reason we host tournaments like this," Saugstad said.
Saugstad doesn't plan to make any changes with Monroe's lineup.
"I didn't think about it this year," Saugstad said. "David (Shon) can probably be the No. 2 seed in the subsectional this year."
Monroe senior David Shon and sophomore Silas Setterstrom at No. 1A doubles finished third place, losing to Monona Grove 6-7, 7-6. Shon and Setterstrom rebounded to beat Sauk Prairie's Logan Chrisler and Jarrett Frosch 6-3, 7-5 and defeated Fort Atkinson's top team 6-1, 6-2.
"David and Silas were in the toughest round robin," Saugstad said. "As two singles players playing doubles, this was a good opportunity for the boys to relax and have a little fun, but also was a great opportunity for them to practice playing aggressively and working on their net games. I liked what I saw out of these two and I hope they gained some confidence moving into the conference tournament."
The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of seniors Zach Hendrickson and Rhett Katzenberger and the No. 4 doubles team of seniors Cole Oudinot and Keyton Friske each took fourth place. Both the No. 3 and 4 doubles teams for the Cheesemakers finished 1-2. Monroe senior Jeremy Miller and sophomore Kody Althaus at No. 2 doubles went 1-2 and took fifth place.
At No. 3 doubles, Hendrickson and Katzenberger's lone win came against Fort Atkinson in three sets 6-7 (5), 6-3, 10-2. Monona Grove beat Hendrickson and Katzenberger in a three-set match 4-6, 6-2, 10-6. The only win for Oudinot and Friske at No. 4 doubles was a 6-4, 6-3 win over Baraboo. The only win for Miller and Althaus at No. 2 doubles came against Baraboo's Aiden Carlson-Edwards, 6-0, 6-0.
"Zach and Rhett's games are better suited for singles, but they fought hard and played two three-set matches," Saugstad said. "The pace of doubles is a little faster than singles so it was good to see Zach and Rhett have to hit a lot of shots under a little more pressure than usual.
"This will only help them as they go back to play singles this week."
Monahan and Noriega did just that, knocking off Sauk Prairie's Brendan Ballweg and T.J. Pfaff 6-2, 6-4 for the title. For Ballweg and Pfaff (17-4), it marked just their fourth loss this season. Monahan and Noriega (15-5) avenged an earlier season loss to Sauk Prairie.
"We want to win this (Monroe Doubles Invite) and get a No. 3 seed," Monahan said referencing the conference tournament. "If we beat Sauk Prairie, we can get a No. 3 seed. That way we won't have to play Edgewood on the first day of conference."
Sauk Prairie won the doubles team championship 23-18 over Monona Grove and McFarland, which tied for second place. The Eagles won three of the five flights. Monroe finished fourth place (14 points), which was just behind Monona Grove and McFarland.
"Matt and Kevin played a great match," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said of the title match against the Eagles. "Matt was moving into the net and hitting strong volleys and Kevin was really hitting strong shots and using his athleticism to his advantage. In winning the championship, they took their game to another level. I hope they can continue that level for the remainder of the season."
There was extra motivation for Monahan.
"We have been seeded No. 1 before for a tournament, but haven't won one," he said. "We want to get that first place in a tournament because it gives us confidence for conference."
Monahan and Noriega rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 win over McFarland in the first round. Then they breezed to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Baraboo's Gavin La Mar and Sean McCutchin.
Noriega, who made a state run at No. 1 doubles last year with Mark Jenson, likes how his game has developed with Monahan.
"I'm confident in our team chemistry," Noriega said.
Both Noriega and Monahan are looking to perfect their craft on the court.
"I think on my side of the court, I need to keep my returns in," Noriega said. "I have been missing a lot of returns. If I can keep it in, we have a good chance of getting to state. We also have to get our second serves in and not double fault."
WIAA rules require players to play five doubles matches, if coaches decide to switch them from singles to doubles for the subsectional. It used to be just three doubles matches. Tournaments like the doubles invite give coaches the flexibility to juggle their lineup for the postseason.
"That is part of the reason we host tournaments like this," Saugstad said.
Saugstad doesn't plan to make any changes with Monroe's lineup.
"I didn't think about it this year," Saugstad said. "David (Shon) can probably be the No. 2 seed in the subsectional this year."
Monroe senior David Shon and sophomore Silas Setterstrom at No. 1A doubles finished third place, losing to Monona Grove 6-7, 7-6. Shon and Setterstrom rebounded to beat Sauk Prairie's Logan Chrisler and Jarrett Frosch 6-3, 7-5 and defeated Fort Atkinson's top team 6-1, 6-2.
"David and Silas were in the toughest round robin," Saugstad said. "As two singles players playing doubles, this was a good opportunity for the boys to relax and have a little fun, but also was a great opportunity for them to practice playing aggressively and working on their net games. I liked what I saw out of these two and I hope they gained some confidence moving into the conference tournament."
The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of seniors Zach Hendrickson and Rhett Katzenberger and the No. 4 doubles team of seniors Cole Oudinot and Keyton Friske each took fourth place. Both the No. 3 and 4 doubles teams for the Cheesemakers finished 1-2. Monroe senior Jeremy Miller and sophomore Kody Althaus at No. 2 doubles went 1-2 and took fifth place.
At No. 3 doubles, Hendrickson and Katzenberger's lone win came against Fort Atkinson in three sets 6-7 (5), 6-3, 10-2. Monona Grove beat Hendrickson and Katzenberger in a three-set match 4-6, 6-2, 10-6. The only win for Oudinot and Friske at No. 4 doubles was a 6-4, 6-3 win over Baraboo. The only win for Miller and Althaus at No. 2 doubles came against Baraboo's Aiden Carlson-Edwards, 6-0, 6-0.
"Zach and Rhett's games are better suited for singles, but they fought hard and played two three-set matches," Saugstad said. "The pace of doubles is a little faster than singles so it was good to see Zach and Rhett have to hit a lot of shots under a little more pressure than usual.
"This will only help them as they go back to play singles this week."
