Baraboo girls tennis coach Karll Kruse knew his team would have its work cut out for them if they were to beat DeForest on Tuesday, but he thought they had a shot at it.

The Thunderbirds went down to the wire with the Norskies, but losses in two key three-setters proved to be the difference in a 5-2 loss.

"I thought we'd have to win probably three doubles matches and pull out a singles match," Kruse said. "It's kind of disappointing, but DeForest is a good team that played hard and deserved to win."

The T-Birds had an advantage in doubles play, but Rachel Holtz and Mya Flentje at No. 1 doubles lost their first set to Morgan Trace and Alexis Klas, and Hilary Bildsten and Kristen McReath dropped their first set to DeForest's Cara Conway and Sarah Kolonko.

Bildsten and McReath came back to win the next two sets, 6-2, 7-6, but Holtz and Flentje couldn't take their third set after winning a tie-breaker in the second. Holtz and Flentje lost their third set 6-4.

"I thought all the doubles teams played pretty well," Kruse said. "They all competed and fought pretty well."

At No. 3 doubles, Jenny Kuschman and Katy Philabaum beat Amanda Steinart and Victoria Schuette in three sets after losing their second set.

DeForest's strength

in singles play was what made it a hard dual to pull out.

The Norskies won the top three singles matches in straight sets before Mellisa Miller went three sets with Allie Brill at No. 4.

Since the dual's outcome was already determined, that match was decided by a tie-breaker, which Miller lost to Allie Brill, 10-2.

Jessica Labeots at No. 1 singles lost to a tough sophomore in Katherine Karagysh, 6-2, 6-0.

At No. 2, Lydia Greve fell to Sarah Hope, 6-2, 6-3.

At No. 3, Bianca Martin lost 6-2, 6-2 to Kelsey Keegan.

"We kind of knew that DeForest was coming on last year," Kruse said. "They were young and we beat them, but they're tough this year.

"We're kind of struggling to find some singles wins."

Baraboo lost their top two singles players from a year ago, and Kruse knew that finding their replacements would be the toughest task for his team this season.

The Baraboo JV team beat DeForest 9-3.