AUSTIN &045; The Albert Lea volleyball team completed the season sweep of Austin Thursday downing the Packers in four games 18-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-19.

After getting off to an uninspired start in game one, the Tigers turned up the intensity in the next three to get the win.

Setter Kat Ladwig did a good job of distributing the ball helping lead to a balanced Tiger attack with 29 assists.

Annika Smed continues to make a strong comeback from an ankle injury leading the team with 15 kills while Missy Webb had 10 and Ladwig added nine of her own.

&8220;Kat distributed the ball well as we tried all our hitters and I didn&8217;t have to tell her to do it,&8221;

Albert Lea head coach Melissa Wasmoen said. &8220;The girls just played with a lot more emotion after the first game.&8221;

Smed had 23 digs, Ladwig added 18 and Chandra Hundley chipped in with 17. Ali Demmer had four solo blocks to lead the defense.

&8220;Austin was scrappy and worked hard tonight,&8221; Wasmoen said. &8220;As a first-year coach everyone told me this was the team we had to beat, so it was nice to get the win.&8221;

The Tigers now sit at 17-9 on the season with one match remaining in the regular season. Albert Lea will host Mankato East Tuesday in another Big Nine battle.