MONROE - The Monroe girls tennis team was on the brink of winning its first conference dual match Thursday before Oregon pulled out a couple of three-set matches to edge the Cheesemakers 5-2.
"It was a close match with Oregon with three matches going three sets," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said in an email. "For a while, it looked like the match could go either way. Coming off playing the two best teams in the conference, it was great for us to play competitive like this. These are the types of matches that will help us improve as a team."
Monroe junior Maggie Setterstrom at No. 2 singles defeated Oregon sophomore Isabelle Krier in three sets 6-0, 2-6, 7-5. With the win, Setterstrom improved her record to 7-4.
"Maggie cruised through the first set because her opponent struggled to keep the ball in play, but all of a sudden her opponent in the second set was hitting with a lot of pace and everything was going in. Maggie had to battle in a close third set but prevailed in the end," he said.
The other win for the Cheesemakers came at No. 4 singles where junior Skye Allen beat Oregon junior Mary Sanford in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
"Skye has the shots to be successful at No. 4 singles, but sometimes struggles with consistency," Saugstad said. "Tonight she was more consistent and got the win."
Oregon junior Julia Gerhards at No. 1 singles defeated Monroe freshman Grace Tostrud 6-4, 6-1. At No. 4 singles, Oregon junior Katie Reisdorf defeated Monroe freshman Jensen Christensen 6-0, 6-4.
The Panthers swept all of the doubles matches. Oregon senior Kalli Choles and sophomore Sophia Choles at No. 1 doubles edged Monroe juniors Ashley Placek and Hallie Signer in three sets 7-6 (2), 26-6, 6-3.
At No. 2 doubles, Monroe junior Parris Bunker and sophomore Sam Huizenga lost a close match in three sets. Oregon's Reisdorf and Ashley Johnson defeated Bunker and Huizenga 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Panthers' Kailey O'Brien and Addie O'Brien at No. 3 doubles defeated Monroe junior Kiara Miller and senior Liz Skatrud 6-4, 6-1.
"We did a lot of things well in both matches," Saugstad said of the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches the Cheesemakers lost in three sets. "The girls were moving into the net and were active up there. In both matches we just missed a few too many shots early in the points."
Monroe has two more conference matches next week. The Cheesemakers will play at Monona Grove on Tuesday and host Milton Thursday.
"It was a close match with Oregon with three matches going three sets," Monroe coach Brad Saugstad said in an email. "For a while, it looked like the match could go either way. Coming off playing the two best teams in the conference, it was great for us to play competitive like this. These are the types of matches that will help us improve as a team."
Monroe junior Maggie Setterstrom at No. 2 singles defeated Oregon sophomore Isabelle Krier in three sets 6-0, 2-6, 7-5. With the win, Setterstrom improved her record to 7-4.
"Maggie cruised through the first set because her opponent struggled to keep the ball in play, but all of a sudden her opponent in the second set was hitting with a lot of pace and everything was going in. Maggie had to battle in a close third set but prevailed in the end," he said.
The other win for the Cheesemakers came at No. 4 singles where junior Skye Allen beat Oregon junior Mary Sanford in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
"Skye has the shots to be successful at No. 4 singles, but sometimes struggles with consistency," Saugstad said. "Tonight she was more consistent and got the win."
Oregon junior Julia Gerhards at No. 1 singles defeated Monroe freshman Grace Tostrud 6-4, 6-1. At No. 4 singles, Oregon junior Katie Reisdorf defeated Monroe freshman Jensen Christensen 6-0, 6-4.
The Panthers swept all of the doubles matches. Oregon senior Kalli Choles and sophomore Sophia Choles at No. 1 doubles edged Monroe juniors Ashley Placek and Hallie Signer in three sets 7-6 (2), 26-6, 6-3.
At No. 2 doubles, Monroe junior Parris Bunker and sophomore Sam Huizenga lost a close match in three sets. Oregon's Reisdorf and Ashley Johnson defeated Bunker and Huizenga 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Panthers' Kailey O'Brien and Addie O'Brien at No. 3 doubles defeated Monroe junior Kiara Miller and senior Liz Skatrud 6-4, 6-1.
"We did a lot of things well in both matches," Saugstad said of the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches the Cheesemakers lost in three sets. "The girls were moving into the net and were active up there. In both matches we just missed a few too many shots early in the points."
Monroe has two more conference matches next week. The Cheesemakers will play at Monona Grove on Tuesday and host Milton Thursday.
