MADISON - The Monroe No. 2 doubles team of senior Ellyott Baertschi and freshman Cody Althaus finished fourth place at the Badger Conference tennis tournament Friday at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
"Fourth place wasn't Ellyott and Kody's goal coming into today, but they still had a great tournament and played their best tennis of the season," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "This was both Ellyott and Kody's first Badger Conference Tournament and they made a memorable run."
Madison Edgewood and Oregon tied for the Badger South Conference title (11 points) ahead of third-place Milton (8). Monroe (5) took fourth place as a team in the final conference standings.
Baertschi and Althaus were the only unseeded players still in the tournament. Baertschi and Althaus lost a semifinal match to Monona Grove 7-5, 7-5. The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first set. The Silver Eagles made a comeback and cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 5-4.
"We couldn't break their serve," Saugstad said. "Monona Grove broke Kody and got a 6-5 lead. Kody hadn't lost a serve all tournament long and unfortunately the first one came at the wrong time."
Baertschi and Althaus jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the second set, but couldn't close the door.
All of the sudden though, Monona Grove picked up their play and we looked exhausted," Saugstad said. "The boys were very disappointed because they knew they had some opportunities to win the first and second set but couldn't quite do it. That disappointment carried over into the third place match."
The Oregon No. 2 doubles team beat Baertschi and Althaus in a third-place match 6-3, 6-1.
Saugstad said Kody and Ellyott could never get their energy going.
"Fourth place wasn't Ellyott and Kody's goal coming into today, but they still had a great tournament and played their best tennis of the season," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said. "This was both Ellyott and Kody's first Badger Conference Tournament and they made a memorable run."
Madison Edgewood and Oregon tied for the Badger South Conference title (11 points) ahead of third-place Milton (8). Monroe (5) took fourth place as a team in the final conference standings.
Baertschi and Althaus were the only unseeded players still in the tournament. Baertschi and Althaus lost a semifinal match to Monona Grove 7-5, 7-5. The Cheesemakers' No. 2 doubles team jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first set. The Silver Eagles made a comeback and cut the Cheesemakers' lead to 5-4.
"We couldn't break their serve," Saugstad said. "Monona Grove broke Kody and got a 6-5 lead. Kody hadn't lost a serve all tournament long and unfortunately the first one came at the wrong time."
Baertschi and Althaus jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the second set, but couldn't close the door.
All of the sudden though, Monona Grove picked up their play and we looked exhausted," Saugstad said. "The boys were very disappointed because they knew they had some opportunities to win the first and second set but couldn't quite do it. That disappointment carried over into the third place match."
The Oregon No. 2 doubles team beat Baertschi and Althaus in a third-place match 6-3, 6-1.
Saugstad said Kody and Ellyott could never get their energy going.
