MONROE - Before the season, Monroe's state qualifying No. 1 doubles team of Pam Lehman and Melissa Hill were not a slam dunk to play together.
Monroe coach Stephanie Miller had reservations about the Cheesemaker senior duo's sticking power as a No. 1 doubles team.
"At the beginning of the season, that was a trial run," Miller said. "I wasn't sold on it. They knew it would be a trial run."
After the first five matches, Miller was convinced.
"They proved it to me," Miller said. "They came out and dominated on the court when they played."
On the eve of the WIAA Division 1 state tennis tournament, the wet courts at Monroe High School couldn't dampen their spirits.
"We are happy to get to the state tournament," Lehman said. "Hopefully, there will be a win there. We will try our best to stay focused. Hopefully, it won't be our last game."
Lehman and Hill (21-7) at No. 1 doubles will open the state tournament with a match at 5:30 p.m. today against Homestead's Kristin Swenson and Sarah Berman at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
Despite being friends since fourth grade, developing a rapport on the tennis court took time. Lehman and Hill played two matches as a doubles team as sophomores.
"Then it was just a big flop," Hill said.
Lehman, who was in her first season in tennis as a sophomore, has a philosophy on why the early partnership on the court flamed out.
"We were really competitive with each other," Lehman said.
Hill recalls the growing pains in those first two matches.
"We were fighting over the ball," Hill said.
Lehman played No. 2 singles last year and a seamless transition back to doubles wasn't a lock.
Hill said the doubles partners worked hard in the summer playing together to make a No. 1 doubles pairing work.
When asked what the biggest difference was in the turnaround, Hill said, "We grew up."
Miller has noticed a transition in developing a cohesion on the court.
"They talk to each other on the court and pump each other up," she said. "They have meshed as well as any doubles team I have ever had. They have earned it and worked really hard for it."
Monroe coach Stephanie Miller had reservations about the Cheesemaker senior duo's sticking power as a No. 1 doubles team.
"At the beginning of the season, that was a trial run," Miller said. "I wasn't sold on it. They knew it would be a trial run."
After the first five matches, Miller was convinced.
"They proved it to me," Miller said. "They came out and dominated on the court when they played."
On the eve of the WIAA Division 1 state tennis tournament, the wet courts at Monroe High School couldn't dampen their spirits.
"We are happy to get to the state tournament," Lehman said. "Hopefully, there will be a win there. We will try our best to stay focused. Hopefully, it won't be our last game."
Lehman and Hill (21-7) at No. 1 doubles will open the state tournament with a match at 5:30 p.m. today against Homestead's Kristin Swenson and Sarah Berman at the University of Wisconsin's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
Despite being friends since fourth grade, developing a rapport on the tennis court took time. Lehman and Hill played two matches as a doubles team as sophomores.
"Then it was just a big flop," Hill said.
Lehman, who was in her first season in tennis as a sophomore, has a philosophy on why the early partnership on the court flamed out.
"We were really competitive with each other," Lehman said.
Hill recalls the growing pains in those first two matches.
"We were fighting over the ball," Hill said.
Lehman played No. 2 singles last year and a seamless transition back to doubles wasn't a lock.
Hill said the doubles partners worked hard in the summer playing together to make a No. 1 doubles pairing work.
When asked what the biggest difference was in the turnaround, Hill said, "We grew up."
Miller has noticed a transition in developing a cohesion on the court.
"They talk to each other on the court and pump each other up," she said. "They have meshed as well as any doubles team I have ever had. They have earned it and worked really hard for it."
