ALHS tennis girls nearly knock off Owatonna

Staff

Published Wednesday, August 29, 2001

After sustaining lop-sided losses to a pair of South Central Conference squads, the Albert Lea High School girls' tennis team opened play in the always-tough Big Nine Tuesday.

Wednesday, August 29, 2001

After sustaining lop-sided losses to a pair of South Central Conference squads, the Albert Lea High School girls' tennis team opened play in the always-tough Big Nine Tuesday.

The Tigers almost pulled off an upset, dropping a 4-3 decision on the Southwest Middle School courts.

"It was a good opener to start the Big Nine," said Tigers coach David Kalis. "The girls know we can at least compete; we're not a cake walk, you know?"

Owatonna, a perennially strong team, isn't in a rebuilding year or anything like that, according to Kalis. The Tigers just had a good day, especially a doubles where they got all three of their wins.

"We just played fantastic at doubles," said Kalis. "Owatonna's singles players are unbelievable."

Mandy Blenka and Jasey Porter rallied to win at No. 1 doubles, dropping the first set 3-6 but winning the next two 7-6 (7-3 tiebreaker), 6-4. Nicole Rafdal and Ashley Helgerson also had a marathon, winning 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) at No. 2 doubles. The Tigers' No. 3 doubles duo of Amanda Rose and Nicole Merfeld won 6-4, 6-2.

The closest singles match was No. 2, where Elizabeth Schreiber lost 6-2, 6-4. Danielle Jacobs fell 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1, Dawn Ekern lost 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 and Karen Leonard was defeated 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4.

"It was nice to see a lot of fans there to support those girls in the tiebreakers," said Kalis. "It was fun to watch."

The Tigers play at Mankato West Thursday.

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