FARIBUALT &045; Injuries have left the Albert Lea volleyball team in a tough position and battling just to stay competitive with some tough early season foes.

The Tigers fell to the Falcons 25-10, 25-9, 25-15 in a match that they were never able to get into because of their inability to pass the serve.

&uot;We are just outmanned right now, with three key contributors down,&uot; said Albert Lea head coach Preston Peper.

&uot;We are going to struggle until we get those injured girls back, and right now it is looking like that will be midseason.

I think the girls are mature enough to realize that it is going to be tough when you are missing so many players, and hopefully the Hayfield and Blue Earth tournaments will help give us some confidence.&uot;

The Falcons are a talented team that never let up once they got up early in each game.

The Tigers are back in action Tuesday at Waseca.