WELLS &045; Owatonna was expected to be the strongest opponent so far for the United South Central girls’ tennis team, so coach Randy Halvorson did some tinkering with the lineup.

It wasn’t enough to knock off the Huskies.

The Rebels fell 5-2 to Owatonna on the Wells courts Monday, their first loss of the season after three straight wins against Big Nine Conference foes.

&uot;I knew they would be tough,&uot; said Halvorson. &uot;They beat us by the same score last year, and they have five or six excellent singles players. I was hoping to get one of those (singles) points, but we didn’t get any.&uot;

The Rebels won at No. 2 doubles, where Marie Halvorson and Cassie Wood &045; teaming for the first time this season &045; prevailed 6-0, 6-1. Ashley Wermedal and Kim Staloch swept 6-0, 6-3 at No. 3 doubles. Erin Allis and Danielle Huper fell 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1.

Kallie Rollenhagen, moved from doubles to No. 4 singles, dropped a three-set match, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

Kate Ostrowski and Rebecca Leland swapped spots at the top of the singles chart, with Ostrowski falling 6-4, 6-2 and Leland losing 6-2, 6-4. Sara Neubauer was defeated 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.

&uot;Kate and Rebecca are both excellent players with entirely different styles,&uot; said Coach Halvorson. &uot;Who plays No. 1 or No. 2 depends on which team we’re playing.&uot;

The Rebels play Fairmont in another nonconference meet Thursday at 4 p.m. at Wells.