The Albert Lea volleyball team has dominated teams this year, beaten Big Nine foes, tested highly ranked squads and Saturday the Tigers added another impressive accomplishment by winning the Rochester John Marshall Tournament.

The Tigers finished 4-0 on the day beating two Big Nine teams in Austin and the host Rockets to take the title for the first time in several years.

Albert Lea opened up the tournament with a convincing win over St. Charles 26-24, 25-20 and that was followed up with an impressive come-from-behind win over Kasson-Mantorville 13-25, 28-26, 15-12.

The team played several close matches winning four games by two points on the day.

&8220;We keep finding ways to win those close matches, and this win really gave the team a lot of confidence,&8221; Albert Lea head coach Melissa Wasmoen said. &8220;They were all very excited about the win.&8221;

Against Austin, the Tigers dominated the first game winning 25-17 but lost the second 23-25 before taking the third 15-13.

Annika Smed led the team in digs and kills collecting more than 70 and 50, respectively.

Smed and Ali Demmer also came up big at the service line combining for 13 aces on the day.

Kat Ladwig played well from her setter position all tournament and Chandra Hundley teamed with

her to help dig the ball all day long.

The championship match was a rematch between JM and the Tigers who squared off a little more than a week ago with Albert Lea winning in three.

This time the Rockets would take the first game 22-25 before AL rebounded 25-23, 15-10.

&8220;The first two games were very close but the girls really played well in the third,&8221; Wasmoen said.