The Owatonna Huskies had just taken a 2-0 lead over the Albert Lea Tigers, and veteran coach Rod Nakagaki could be heard urging his players to finish off the match.

Friday, September 07, 2001

The Owatonna Huskies had just taken a 2-0 lead over the Albert Lea Tigers, and veteran coach Rod Nakagaki could be heard urging his players to finish off the match.

&uot;Let’s get out of here,&uot; said Nakagaki.

The Tigers refused to let them leave so easily.

The Albert Lea girls won game three and battled to the finish in the fourth before falling 3-1 in a Big Nine volleyball match in the Tigers’ gym Thursday night. The final in favor of Owatonna was 15-10, 15-3, 8-15, 15-7.

According to coach Gina Eppen, the Tigers displayed the skills necessary to compete with one of the top programs in the conference. They just need continued work on their confidence, which Eppen feels is about the only thing holding them back at this point.

&uot;The only thing you can yell at the kids for is not knowing how good they are,&uot; said Eppen. &uot;They don’t know yet. Once they get some confidence and get some runs going, I know we can play with anybody.&uot;

The Tigers showed that in the first game, when they bounced back from a 5-1 deficit to take a 10-6 lead.

Three consecutive ace serves by Owatonna senior setter Stefanie Benson put the Huskies on top and, three sideouts later, they won it.

Senior Sophie Schottler was the nemesis in game two, serving nine consecutive points as Owatonna turned a 4-1 lead into a 12-1 score.

Nakagaki used some reserves in game three and the Tigers took advantage, rallying from 5-1 down to take an 11-5 lead on 10 straight service points by freshman Whitney Sorensen.

The Tigers fell behind early in game four, with Eppen calling a time out when it was 8-2. The Tigers got within 8-4 but the Huskies pulled away slowly but surely after that.

Amie Hartman led the Tigers with 23 digs, also totaling nine kills, two blocks and one ace serve. Sorensen finished with five kills, three blocks, nine digs and three aces.

Jenny Vanderploeg paced the Tigers with 12 kills, adding 18 digs, one block and one ace. Beth Kolling had 14 set assists, four kills and two blocks, Aubree Page nine kills and five blocks. Ashley Rankin had 15 assists.

Eppen said she again heard comments on the Tigers’ never-say-die attitude.

&uot;I’ve heard that a lot this season – from referees, coaches, other people,&uot; said Eppen. &uot;I’m just waiting for us to get over that hurdle and get that first Big Nine win, that first home win.&uot;

The Tigers, 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the Big Nine, host Northfield in a nonconference match Tuesday.