Coach Sean Gillam was hopeful the Albert Lea High School boys’ tennis team could end its long Big Nine drought Tuesday.

Now, he’s hopeful the Tigers can do it Thursday.

The ALHS boys, who haven’t won a conference dual meet in five years, lost 6-1 to Mankato East on the Southwest Middle School courts.

&uot;I had a good feeling about this one, but I think the boys are a little bit frustrated at this point,&uot; said Gillam, whose team fell to 0-6 in the Big Nine and 1-7 overall. &uot;We have to realize that you pay a price for wins. You have to know when you step on the court that you’ve put in just as much work as your opponent and you’re every bit as prepared as your opponent.&uot;

Sophomore Conner Keyeski got the Tigers’ win Tuesday with a 7-5, 6-1 decision at No. 2 singles.

Adam Luebke lost 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, Kurtis Bohrnstedt fell 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3, and Andrew Dyrdal was defeated 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4.

The doubles teams were very competitive.

Stephen Thorn and Greg Peterson almost pulled off a win at No. 1, where they took the first set 7-6, taking the tiebreaker 7-1. But they lost a second-set tiebreaker 7-4 and dropped the third set 6-4.

Eric Hutchison and Paul Marlin lost a 7-3 second-set tiebreaker after falling 6-0 in the first set at No. 3 doubles.

The Tigers’ No. 2 doubles team of Micah Holt and Corey Dieser lost 6-4, 6-2.

The Tigers play at Austin Thursday.

&uot;Again, I have a good feeling,&uot; said Gillam. &uot;If we go in there with the right attitude and put them at a disadvantage early, we can win it.&uot;