MONROE - Paige Prien took advantage of her final regular season doubles match Monday at Recreation Park.
The Cheesemakers' No. 2 junior doubles tandem of Prien and Erin Gellings dropped just one game and cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Fort Atkinson's Taylor Kyle and Emma Hartwig. The Cheesemakers swept every doubles match en route to a 5-2 win over Fort Atkinson. With the win, Monroe improved to 4-3 (3-3 Badger South Conference) heading into the conference tournament Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28.
"It definitely gives us a mental advantage," Prien said after winning the match at No. 2 doubles. "It gives us a positive attitude and reassures us what we can do."
Gellings and Prien said they didn't feel any extra pressure to win.
"I think we have improved a lot this season," Gellings said. "I think we just wanted to do the best we can."
Monroe seniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire defeated Fort Atkinson's Mariah Gorman and Michaela Powers 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. After dropping the first set, Grossen and McGuire rebounded to finish the regular season unbeaten at 15-0.
"It feels great," Grossen said. "Going undefeated has been our goal. We just wanted to play better in some of our matches including this one. It should not have been this hard."
McGuire said they will have a lot to work on to improve in practice with the conference tournament coming up.
"We always put ourselves under a lot of pressure," McGuire said. "We know how to handle it. We have to improve a lot for conference so we don't have to play with a lot of pressure."
The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of senior Alisa Fager and junior Amber Jenson defeated the Blackhawks' Casey Schuerman and Taylor Garlock 6-2, 6-1.
Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said it was a must-win match for the Cheesemakers.
"I felt we really needed to get this," Saugstad said. "The girls know that Fort Atkinson hasn't won very many matches this year. You always want to win the match before the conference tournament."
Monroe sophomore Eva Priewe at No. 3 singles defeated Brittany Skyles 6-3, 6-0 and sophomore Katie Demianiuk at No. 4 singles beat junior Patricia Samara 6-1, 6-0. Fort Atkinson's Sarah Johnson defeated Monroe senior Allie Coplien at No. 1 singles in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 and Chelsea Miller at No. 2 singles lost in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
The Cheesemakers' No. 2 junior doubles tandem of Prien and Erin Gellings dropped just one game and cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Fort Atkinson's Taylor Kyle and Emma Hartwig. The Cheesemakers swept every doubles match en route to a 5-2 win over Fort Atkinson. With the win, Monroe improved to 4-3 (3-3 Badger South Conference) heading into the conference tournament Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28.
"It definitely gives us a mental advantage," Prien said after winning the match at No. 2 doubles. "It gives us a positive attitude and reassures us what we can do."
Gellings and Prien said they didn't feel any extra pressure to win.
"I think we have improved a lot this season," Gellings said. "I think we just wanted to do the best we can."
Monroe seniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire defeated Fort Atkinson's Mariah Gorman and Michaela Powers 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. After dropping the first set, Grossen and McGuire rebounded to finish the regular season unbeaten at 15-0.
"It feels great," Grossen said. "Going undefeated has been our goal. We just wanted to play better in some of our matches including this one. It should not have been this hard."
McGuire said they will have a lot to work on to improve in practice with the conference tournament coming up.
"We always put ourselves under a lot of pressure," McGuire said. "We know how to handle it. We have to improve a lot for conference so we don't have to play with a lot of pressure."
The Cheesemakers' No. 3 doubles team of senior Alisa Fager and junior Amber Jenson defeated the Blackhawks' Casey Schuerman and Taylor Garlock 6-2, 6-1.
Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said it was a must-win match for the Cheesemakers.
"I felt we really needed to get this," Saugstad said. "The girls know that Fort Atkinson hasn't won very many matches this year. You always want to win the match before the conference tournament."
Monroe sophomore Eva Priewe at No. 3 singles defeated Brittany Skyles 6-3, 6-0 and sophomore Katie Demianiuk at No. 4 singles beat junior Patricia Samara 6-1, 6-0. Fort Atkinson's Sarah Johnson defeated Monroe senior Allie Coplien at No. 1 singles in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 and Chelsea Miller at No. 2 singles lost in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
