The Baraboo High School girls tennis team will have a few duals like it did Wednesday, where the Thunderbirds are just overmatched by a darn good team.
This time it was Fort Atkinson, and the T-Birds were defeated 6-1.
"We've got some tough teams on our schedule this year," BHS coach Karll Kruse said. "We're facing some very tough competition, and I think we're going to be better in the end because of it."
Baraboo's No. 1 doubles team of Mya Flentje and Rachel Holtz was the only one to pick up a win. They beat Brianne Brandenberg and Ally Deichel, 6-2, 6-7 (7-9), 6-2.
"I really think the first set was the best doubles I've seen from anybody this year," Kruse said. "Second set we kind of rested on our laurels a little bit. In the third, we had five match points and won the last one."
The T-Birds' No. 3 doubles team of Jenny Kuschman and Katy Philabaum went three sets with Ellery Barrow and Becky Johnson before losing 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
The BHS No. 2 doubles had a difficult task and lost 6-2, 6-3.
"Their one and two were very even," Kruse said of Fort Atkinson. "We were just kind of playing defensive tennis at two. We came back in both sets but not enough to win."
The singles matches weren't so close.
Melissa Miller's match with Ellen Ringle at No. 4 was as close as the T-Birds got. Miller lost that match, 7-5, 6-2.
Jessica Labeots lost 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Lydia Greve lost 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2, and Bianca Martin fell 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3.
"Melissa played very well," Kruse said. "She's young and inexperienced, but she's a very smart player."
The Baraboo JV team had more success, splitting its matches with Fort Atkinson, 9-9.
Fort Atkinson 6, Baraboo 1
Singles
BHS takes fourth in Monroe
MONROE — The Thunderbirds were looking to bounce back from a week in which they struggled. They got that bounce Saturday at the Monroe Doubles tournament.
Baraboo took fourth place in the tournament, with three teams winning two matches apiece.
"I though the Monroe Doubles tournament went really well for us," Kruse said. "Three of our teams got two wins each. I was very happy about that.
"I felt like we could have done better with a couple of teams there, but we also won some close ones."
The T-Birds' No. 1 team of Flentje and Holtz and the No. 2 team of McReath and Bildsten both took home second place after winning their first two matches and falling in the final in each bracket.
The BHS No. 3 team, Greve and Philabaum, came back strong after losing a first-round match to win their next two and take fifth.
Baraboo's 1a team of Labeots and Kuschman, playing in the bracket reserved for players who typically play singles, won its first-round match and lost the next two. The same happened with the BHS No. 4 team of Danielle Vogel and Martin.
"I was hoping to get things on the right track, and we did," Kruse said. "It was a good tournament. I'm happy with the way the kids played."
The T-Birds play at Oregon today. Next week they host DeForest on Tuesday and finish a postponed match against McFarland on Wednesday at home.
Baraboo results
1a. Labeots and Kuschman:
def. Marie and Hicks (Delavan), 6-0, 6-0.
lost to Elkhorn, 6-0, 6-0.
lost to McArdie and Shuda (Monroe), 6-1, 6-1.
1. Flentje and Holtz:
def. Steinhoff and Mabis (Lodi), 7-5, 1-6, 10-4.
def. Ferguson and Veith (Stoughton), 6-1, 6-1.
lost to Elkhorn, 6-3, 6-0.
2. Bildsten and McReath:
def. Lemke and Kleinfeldt (Lodi), 0-6, 6-4, 10-8.
def. Endl and Breukman (Burlington), 6-3, 6-0.
lost to Hermanson and Sutter (Monroe), 6-4, 6-3.
3. Greve and Philabaum:
lost to Weis and Erickson (Monroe), 6-2, 6-2.
def. Gile and Kryshak (Beloit), 6-0, 6-1.
def. Koch and Magherey (Lodi), 6-4, 4-6, 10-1.
4. Vogel and Martin:
def. Wimmer and Fredrick (Lodi), 6-2, 6-2.
lost to Bruce and Berger (Monroe), 6-1, 6-2.
lost to Elkhorn, 2-6, 6-2, 10-6.
1. Leah Dahl (FA) def. Jessica Labeots, 6-0, 6-0.
2. Olivia Hartwick (FA) def. Lydia Greve, 6-1, 6-1.
3. Lexi Weigand (FA) def. Bianca Martin, 6-0, 6-0.
4. Ellen Ringle (FA) def. Melissa Miller, 7-5, 6-2.
Doubles
1. Mya Flentje and Rachel Holtz (B) def. Brianne Brandenberg and Ally Deichel, 6-2, 6-7 (7-9), 6-2.
2. Rachel Humes and Carrie Hartwick (FA) def. Kristen McReath and Hilary Bildsten, 6-2, 6-3.
3. Ellery Barrow and Becky Johnson (FA) def. Jenny Kuschman and Katy Philabaum, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
