MONROE - The Cheesemakers doubles tournament on Saturday was a tune-up for the Monroe duos and a chance to perfect net play for Monroe's singles players.
Green Bay Notre Dame, ranked No. 1 in Division 2, won the tournament over McFarland 30-17, and Sauk Prairie finished third (16) ahead of fourth place Monroe (9).
"I feel like that was about where we would finish," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "We just couldn't pull out the big points when we had the match close."
Monroe junior Taylor Soddy and freshman Eric Bush at No. 1A doubles finished fourth. At No. 2 doubles, Josh Riese and Bob Seichter took fourth, and the No. 3 doubles team of Jeremy Miller and Luke Andraski also finished fourth.
Soddy and Bush defeated Baraboo's Adam Laux and Tyler Laux 6-2, 6-4 in the first round. They then lost a three-set match to Sauk Prairie's Sterling Walsh and Mitchell Fiene 6-3, 6-7, 10-6. Soddy and Bush then dropped a match to McFarland's Sam Locke and Joey Kopp 6-4, 6-0.
"For them, it was more of a relaxing tournament," Saugstad said. "It's tougher to stay focused in singles. It definitely worked on their aggressiveness and net play. They got to work on their volleys."
Riese and Seichter at No. 2 doubles avenged a loss to Monona Grove's Sakher Sijapati and Peter Maillefer from a day earlier, knocking off the Silver Eagles' duo 7-5, 6-4. Green Bay Notre Dame's Connor Kosmoski and Ryan Cropp then shut down the Monroe duo 6-0, 6-0. Riese and Seichter then lost a three-set match to McFarland's Adam Cook and Sam Divita 1-6, 6-4, 10-6.
"That was encouraging," Saugstad said of Riese and Seichter's win over Monona Grove. "They knew they could beat them. When they have a lot of energy and are getting to the net, they are a strong doubles team. We hope this gives them a little more confidence when conference comes around."
At No. 3 doubles, Jeremy Miller and Luke Andraski defeated Stoughton's Austin Scheel and Kai Hedstrom in three sets: 6-7 (5), 6-3, 13-11. The Cheesemakers' duo then lost to Green Bay Notre Dame's Nick Williams and Nate Calawerts 6-0, 6-4. In the final round, Miller and Andraski lost to Sauk Prairie's Kevin Nelson and Brenden Sullivan 6-4, 7-5.
"He (Andraski) has stepped up a couple of levels from the last few years," Saugstad said. "He's very consistent and putting the ball away."
Saugstad also pointed out that Miller's upbeat personality on the court makes an impact.
"He's always smiling whether he is up a point or down a point," he said. "That positive energy helps the team play well."
The Cheesemakers' No. 4 doubles team of Matt Monahan and Jared Nix went 2-1 and finished fifth place. Monahan and Nix defeated Fort Atkinson's Chad Hoof and Jacob Huckabee 6-3, 6-0. The Cheesemakers' No. 4 doubles duo then defeated Baraboo's Ian Krzszjaniek and Zoryg Kusyk 7-5, 6-1. The No. 1 doubles team of Cristian Noriega and Kevin Kohlstedt finished 1-2 and took sixth place. Noriega and Kohlstedt's only win came against Monona Grove's Cam Meyferth and Grant Smith, which they defeated 6-4, 6-3.
Monroe will now gear up for the Badger Conference tournament, which will be held Friday and Saturday at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
"We want to pull a few upsets," Saugstad said.
Green Bay Notre Dame, ranked No. 1 in Division 2, won the tournament over McFarland 30-17, and Sauk Prairie finished third (16) ahead of fourth place Monroe (9).
"I feel like that was about where we would finish," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "We just couldn't pull out the big points when we had the match close."
Monroe junior Taylor Soddy and freshman Eric Bush at No. 1A doubles finished fourth. At No. 2 doubles, Josh Riese and Bob Seichter took fourth, and the No. 3 doubles team of Jeremy Miller and Luke Andraski also finished fourth.
Soddy and Bush defeated Baraboo's Adam Laux and Tyler Laux 6-2, 6-4 in the first round. They then lost a three-set match to Sauk Prairie's Sterling Walsh and Mitchell Fiene 6-3, 6-7, 10-6. Soddy and Bush then dropped a match to McFarland's Sam Locke and Joey Kopp 6-4, 6-0.
"For them, it was more of a relaxing tournament," Saugstad said. "It's tougher to stay focused in singles. It definitely worked on their aggressiveness and net play. They got to work on their volleys."
Riese and Seichter at No. 2 doubles avenged a loss to Monona Grove's Sakher Sijapati and Peter Maillefer from a day earlier, knocking off the Silver Eagles' duo 7-5, 6-4. Green Bay Notre Dame's Connor Kosmoski and Ryan Cropp then shut down the Monroe duo 6-0, 6-0. Riese and Seichter then lost a three-set match to McFarland's Adam Cook and Sam Divita 1-6, 6-4, 10-6.
"That was encouraging," Saugstad said of Riese and Seichter's win over Monona Grove. "They knew they could beat them. When they have a lot of energy and are getting to the net, they are a strong doubles team. We hope this gives them a little more confidence when conference comes around."
At No. 3 doubles, Jeremy Miller and Luke Andraski defeated Stoughton's Austin Scheel and Kai Hedstrom in three sets: 6-7 (5), 6-3, 13-11. The Cheesemakers' duo then lost to Green Bay Notre Dame's Nick Williams and Nate Calawerts 6-0, 6-4. In the final round, Miller and Andraski lost to Sauk Prairie's Kevin Nelson and Brenden Sullivan 6-4, 7-5.
"He (Andraski) has stepped up a couple of levels from the last few years," Saugstad said. "He's very consistent and putting the ball away."
Saugstad also pointed out that Miller's upbeat personality on the court makes an impact.
"He's always smiling whether he is up a point or down a point," he said. "That positive energy helps the team play well."
The Cheesemakers' No. 4 doubles team of Matt Monahan and Jared Nix went 2-1 and finished fifth place. Monahan and Nix defeated Fort Atkinson's Chad Hoof and Jacob Huckabee 6-3, 6-0. The Cheesemakers' No. 4 doubles duo then defeated Baraboo's Ian Krzszjaniek and Zoryg Kusyk 7-5, 6-1. The No. 1 doubles team of Cristian Noriega and Kevin Kohlstedt finished 1-2 and took sixth place. Noriega and Kohlstedt's only win came against Monona Grove's Cam Meyferth and Grant Smith, which they defeated 6-4, 6-3.
Monroe will now gear up for the Badger Conference tournament, which will be held Friday and Saturday at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
"We want to pull a few upsets," Saugstad said.
