MONROE - The Cheesemakers picked up a 5-2 win in their home opener Thursday night in boys tennis. It was Monroe's first win since the season opening dual win Saturday at the Janesville Craig Quad.
"It was nice to get back on the winning track tonight," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said of snapping the three-match losing streak. "We made some changes to the lineup to try and get more of a spark out of doubles and we saw some positive results."
Jess Hager and Cristian Noriega were paired up to play No. 2 doubles for the Cheesemakers. They beat Reedsburg's Craig Meyer and Nate Nowak 6-4, 6-1.
"Jess and Kevin had not spent much time practicing doubles before Wednesday night," Saugstad said.
Saugstad also split Luke Andraski and Luke Molinaro, who played doubles with each other much of last year. The duo each played singles, with Andraski falling in No. 3 singles 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 and Molinaro (No. 4) going down 7-6 (6), 6-4.
"Luke and Luke had not spent much time practicing singles this year or last year," Saugstad said. "Overall I was happy with how those guys transition into new spots. With more practice time at those positions, they'll continue to improve."
One the more surprising moves this season was taking senior Carson Root, who had owned the No. 1 singles spot last year, and pairing him with Garrett Tschanz at No. 1 doubles. Tschanz went to state a year ago with Patrick Gellings in the doubles.
"I had a great doubles season last year, and I have a feeling we'll have a great year again this season," said Tschanz, a senior. "Being paired with Carson gives me a great deal of confidence. I feel we can make it to state."
And state is just what Saugstad had in mind when he made the change. Knowing full well that Root could qualify for state in singles, he determined that pairing his best doubles player and his de facto No. 1 singles player together made it possible for a deep run in the tournament. So far, the duo has been unstoppable.
"Carson and Garrett continued to overwhelm their opponents at one doubles. They have yet to be challenged this year," Saugstad said after his top doubles pair ripped apart Mark Hollendyke and Blake Koch 6-1, 6-0.
Root, a dominating singles player in his own right, said playing doubles with Tschanz is working out easier than it could be because of his teammate's experience.
"It's a lot easier because he knows what to do and where to move," said Root, who admitted that there are still kinks that need to be worked out. "I have to come to the net a lot more, which isn't that much of a big deal. We're doing great and working as a team right now. But there is always things we can improve on."
Taking over for Root in the No. 1 singles slot is sophomore Taylor Soddy, who moves up from No. 2 singles a year ago. Soddy blanked Damien Hahn in straight sets 6-0, 6-0. Soddy said that he feels comfortable moving up a spot because many of his opponents are also filling the No. 1 singles role after other players graduated last spring.
Soddy also feels that he can make a solid impression in not only the Badger Conference, but in the state tournament as well.
"I want to win state," said Soddy, who admitted the reality of winning is easier said than done. "You just can't set the bar low. You have to set it high."
Quinten L'Yvonnet, a foreign exchange student, won his No. 2 singles match against Kyle Hinze 6-2, 6-2.
Monroe's Kevin Kohlstedt and Josh Riese defeated Jacob Clisch and Josef Kiweherlin 6-3, 7-6 (5).
"It was nice to get back on the winning track tonight," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said of snapping the three-match losing streak. "We made some changes to the lineup to try and get more of a spark out of doubles and we saw some positive results."
Jess Hager and Cristian Noriega were paired up to play No. 2 doubles for the Cheesemakers. They beat Reedsburg's Craig Meyer and Nate Nowak 6-4, 6-1.
"Jess and Kevin had not spent much time practicing doubles before Wednesday night," Saugstad said.
Saugstad also split Luke Andraski and Luke Molinaro, who played doubles with each other much of last year. The duo each played singles, with Andraski falling in No. 3 singles 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 and Molinaro (No. 4) going down 7-6 (6), 6-4.
"Luke and Luke had not spent much time practicing singles this year or last year," Saugstad said. "Overall I was happy with how those guys transition into new spots. With more practice time at those positions, they'll continue to improve."
One the more surprising moves this season was taking senior Carson Root, who had owned the No. 1 singles spot last year, and pairing him with Garrett Tschanz at No. 1 doubles. Tschanz went to state a year ago with Patrick Gellings in the doubles.
"I had a great doubles season last year, and I have a feeling we'll have a great year again this season," said Tschanz, a senior. "Being paired with Carson gives me a great deal of confidence. I feel we can make it to state."
And state is just what Saugstad had in mind when he made the change. Knowing full well that Root could qualify for state in singles, he determined that pairing his best doubles player and his de facto No. 1 singles player together made it possible for a deep run in the tournament. So far, the duo has been unstoppable.
"Carson and Garrett continued to overwhelm their opponents at one doubles. They have yet to be challenged this year," Saugstad said after his top doubles pair ripped apart Mark Hollendyke and Blake Koch 6-1, 6-0.
Root, a dominating singles player in his own right, said playing doubles with Tschanz is working out easier than it could be because of his teammate's experience.
"It's a lot easier because he knows what to do and where to move," said Root, who admitted that there are still kinks that need to be worked out. "I have to come to the net a lot more, which isn't that much of a big deal. We're doing great and working as a team right now. But there is always things we can improve on."
Taking over for Root in the No. 1 singles slot is sophomore Taylor Soddy, who moves up from No. 2 singles a year ago. Soddy blanked Damien Hahn in straight sets 6-0, 6-0. Soddy said that he feels comfortable moving up a spot because many of his opponents are also filling the No. 1 singles role after other players graduated last spring.
Soddy also feels that he can make a solid impression in not only the Badger Conference, but in the state tournament as well.
"I want to win state," said Soddy, who admitted the reality of winning is easier said than done. "You just can't set the bar low. You have to set it high."
Quinten L'Yvonnet, a foreign exchange student, won his No. 2 singles match against Kyle Hinze 6-2, 6-2.
Monroe's Kevin Kohlstedt and Josh Riese defeated Jacob Clisch and Josef Kiweherlin 6-3, 7-6 (5).
