MONROE - The Cheesemakers tennis team has accomplished a lot so far in their season. After sweeping Oregon 7-0 for a second time this year, head coach Jim Bartholf knows his team still has a little more improving to do before the final weeks.
"We didn't exactly play real well tonight. We were dragging a little bit," he said. "Oregon's about the middle of the pack in the Badger South. But a win is a win."
As expected, Monroe's No. 1 singles player, Lauri Juonela, a Finnish exchange student, dominated Jake Butterfield 6-1, 6-0 for the second time this season.
"Sometimes I play well, some times I don't," Juonela said. "It's different playing in America. Here I'm good."
Playing since before he started school, Juonela grew up playing with Finnish tennis clubs and numerous tournaments. That experience allowed Bartholf to move his other two top singles players, sophomore Carson Root (No. 2) and senior Matt Le (No. 3) down a level.
"It's nice having Lauri. It allows Carson and Matt to relax and play down a level. And everyone really likes Lauri. He's a great kid and very skilled," Bartholf said.
Lee won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1 while Root needed three sets to dispose of Dan Smeaton, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.
"He's been playing really well except for today. He got off to a terrible start. I don't know what it was, but he picked it up at the end and that's the important thing," Bartholf said.
Artem Beer and Jim Kundert took the No. 1 doubles match 6-3, 6-4. The pair of seniors are in their first year working together, but they have a chemistry on the court together that Bartholf said is special.
"They played all winter long in Madison and Janesville. They wanted to play doubles. They have a lot of desire between the two of them. The chemistry is just great; about as good as two players can get," he said.
Tim Gellings and Garrett Tschanz won the No. 2 doubles match 6-0, 6-1 and Mark Hoesly and Dan Becker took care of the No. 3 doubles match 6-3, 6-1.
"Our doubles are pretty strong, and going into the season, I thought that would be our weakest part," Bartholf said.
The final match was the No. 4 singles, where Monroe junior Eric Knudtson was taken to the brink of defeat before rallying for the win.
Knudtson fell 5-7 in the first set before rallying in the second 7-6 (8-6) in a tiebreaker. Knudtson was locked in for the final set and won 6-2 to close out the match in about two hours time.
"The exciting part of the season is coming up now - the big stuff," Bartholf said.
Monroe will attend an eight-team tournament this weekend in Delavan before taking on unbeaten Madison Edgewood on Friday, May 15 in Madison.
"I think we can do real well this weekend. Our biggest match will be Friday (against Edgewood). That will be a big match," Bartholf said.
The winner of the Edgewood match up will take home the conference regular season title, with the conference tournament and regionals just around the corner.
"The real heavy stuff is coming in the next couple weeks," Bartholf said.
"We didn't exactly play real well tonight. We were dragging a little bit," he said. "Oregon's about the middle of the pack in the Badger South. But a win is a win."
As expected, Monroe's No. 1 singles player, Lauri Juonela, a Finnish exchange student, dominated Jake Butterfield 6-1, 6-0 for the second time this season.
"Sometimes I play well, some times I don't," Juonela said. "It's different playing in America. Here I'm good."
Playing since before he started school, Juonela grew up playing with Finnish tennis clubs and numerous tournaments. That experience allowed Bartholf to move his other two top singles players, sophomore Carson Root (No. 2) and senior Matt Le (No. 3) down a level.
"It's nice having Lauri. It allows Carson and Matt to relax and play down a level. And everyone really likes Lauri. He's a great kid and very skilled," Bartholf said.
Lee won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1 while Root needed three sets to dispose of Dan Smeaton, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.
"He's been playing really well except for today. He got off to a terrible start. I don't know what it was, but he picked it up at the end and that's the important thing," Bartholf said.
Artem Beer and Jim Kundert took the No. 1 doubles match 6-3, 6-4. The pair of seniors are in their first year working together, but they have a chemistry on the court together that Bartholf said is special.
"They played all winter long in Madison and Janesville. They wanted to play doubles. They have a lot of desire between the two of them. The chemistry is just great; about as good as two players can get," he said.
Tim Gellings and Garrett Tschanz won the No. 2 doubles match 6-0, 6-1 and Mark Hoesly and Dan Becker took care of the No. 3 doubles match 6-3, 6-1.
"Our doubles are pretty strong, and going into the season, I thought that would be our weakest part," Bartholf said.
The final match was the No. 4 singles, where Monroe junior Eric Knudtson was taken to the brink of defeat before rallying for the win.
Knudtson fell 5-7 in the first set before rallying in the second 7-6 (8-6) in a tiebreaker. Knudtson was locked in for the final set and won 6-2 to close out the match in about two hours time.
"The exciting part of the season is coming up now - the big stuff," Bartholf said.
Monroe will attend an eight-team tournament this weekend in Delavan before taking on unbeaten Madison Edgewood on Friday, May 15 in Madison.
"I think we can do real well this weekend. Our biggest match will be Friday (against Edgewood). That will be a big match," Bartholf said.
The winner of the Edgewood match up will take home the conference regular season title, with the conference tournament and regionals just around the corner.
"The real heavy stuff is coming in the next couple weeks," Bartholf said.
