Set to defend its Gopher Valley Conference title, the United South Central girls’ tennis team opened the season with a busy weekend of matches.

The Rebels dropped four of five matches – three by one point – and beat Sibley East.

“It was a good showing,” Rebels first-year coach Jill Bailey said. “We saw that we can be competitive.”

The Rebels opened its schedule Friday morning with a quadrangular in St. Peter. USC lost to Jordan 4-3 and defeated Sibley East 5-2 before falling to St. Peter 6-1.

On Saturday, the Rebels fell to Luverne and Lac Qui Parle Valley 4-3 in Lurverne.

USC was led by ninth-grader Lindsey Thisius who went undefeated on the weekend at No. 3 and 4 singles. At No. 4 singles, Thisius defeated Jordan’s Carina Larson 6-0 6-1, Sibley East’s Lauren Otto 6-0, 6-1, St. Peter’s Val Bresnahan 6-1, 6-4 and Lac Qui Parle Valley’s Marina Risch 6-2, 5-7, 10-2. At No. 3 singles, Thisius topped Luverne’s Katie Eeten 7-5, 7-6 (7-1).

Bailey said while the Rebels played well in its first five games, they didn’t play well enough, and that’s the message she had for team at the end of each day.

“We have to work on our mental game so we consistently have that drive, determination and focus,” Bailey said. “We’ve got to figure out some things to improve on and work to get over that hurdle so things go our way next time.”

The Rebels (1-4) play again at 4 p.m. Thursday against Albert Lea (0-0) in Wells.

Friday’s scores

United South Central 5, Sibley East 2

Singles

No. 1 Claire Christen (USC) def. Morgan Setterman 6-0, 6-2

No. 2 Robin Staloch (USC) def. Breann Walsh 6-0, 6-1

No.3 Julia Stenzel (USC) def. Hannah Larson 6-4, 6-1

No. 4 Linsey Thisius (USC) def. Lauren Otto 6-1, 6-0

Doubles

No.1 Alicia Kranz/Mariah Schrupp (SE) def. Monica Bye/Kia Legred 6-4, 2-6, 10-5

No. 2 Allison Larson/Lindsay Fasching (SE) def. Joyce Rubio/Deanna Shelle 6-1, 4-6, 10-3

No. 3 Lauren Allis/Adriana Soto (USC) def. Molly Kjellsvig/Kelsey Klaustermeir 6-4, 2-6, 13-11

St. Peter 6, United South Central 1

Singles

No. 1 Sidney Dirks (SP) def. Claire Christen 6-4, 6-2

No. 2 Katie Hanson (SP) def. Robin Staloch 6-3, 6-2

No. 3 Calleigh Carlson (SP) def. Julia Stenzel 6-1, 6-1

No. 4 Linsey Thisius (USC) def. Val Bresnahan 6-1, 6-4

Doubles

No. 1 Ashley Welp/Rachael Thompson (SP) def. Monica Bye/Kia Legred 6-1, 6-1

No.2 Kasandra McCabe/Morgan Schwarz (SP) def. Joyce Rubio/Deanna Shellen 6-2, 6-1

No. 3 Angelina Dettmer/Karly Maier (SP) def. Lauren Allis/Adriana Soto 6-0, 6-1

Saturday’s scores

Luverne 4, United South Central 3

Singles

No.1 Kaitlin Wohnouta (L) def. Claire Christen 6-4, 1-6, 10-6

No.2 Robin Staloch (USC) def. Emily Robinson 6-2, 6-2

No. 3 Linsey Thisius (USC) def. Katie Eeten 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)

No. 4  Emilee Johnson (L) def. Kia Legred 7-5, 6-4

Doubles

No.1  Monica Bye/Julia Stenzel (USC) def. Erin Doherty/Erica Marshall 7-6 (7-4), 7-5

No. 2 Kynzie Snebomd/Erin Fick (L) def. Deanna Shellen/Joyce Rubio 6-2, 6-2

No. 3 Paige Adams/Hailey Boltjes (L) def. Lauren Allis/Adriana Soto 6-2, 6-1