After sustaining lop-sided losses to a pair of South Central Conference squads, the Albert Lea High School girls’ tennis team opened play in the always-tough Big Nine Tuesday.

Wednesday, August 29, 2001

After sustaining lop-sided losses to a pair of South Central Conference squads, the Albert Lea High School girls’ tennis team opened play in the always-tough Big Nine Tuesday.

The Tigers almost pulled off an upset, dropping a 4-3 decision on the Southwest Middle School courts.

&uot;It was a good opener to start the Big Nine,&uot; said Tigers coach David Kalis. &uot;The girls know we can at least compete; we’re not a cake walk, you know?&uot;

Owatonna, a perennially strong team, isn’t in a rebuilding year or anything like that, according to Kalis. The Tigers just had a good day, especially a doubles where they got all three of their wins.

&uot;We just played fantastic at doubles,&uot; said Kalis. &uot;Owatonna’s singles players are unbelievable.&uot;

Mandy Blenka and Jasey Porter rallied to win at No. 1 doubles, dropping the first set 3-6 but winning the next two 7-6 (7-3 tiebreaker), 6-4. Nicole Rafdal and Ashley Helgerson also had a marathon, winning 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) at No. 2 doubles. The Tigers’ No. 3 doubles duo of Amanda Rose and Nicole Merfeld won 6-4, 6-2.

The closest singles match was No. 2, where Elizabeth Schreiber lost 6-2, 6-4. Danielle Jacobs fell 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1, Dawn Ekern lost 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 and Karen Leonard was defeated 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4.

&uot;It was nice to see a lot of fans there to support those girls in the tiebreakers,&uot; said Kalis. &uot;It was fun to watch.&uot;

The Tigers play at Mankato West Thursday.