With a new head coach and many of last year’s players graduated, the Albert Lea High School volleyball team is looking for a fresh start.

Tuesday, August 28, 2001

With a new head coach and many of last year’s players graduated, the Albert Lea High School volleyball team is looking for a fresh start.

It will have to wait at least one more night.

The Tigers were not sharp in their season opener, falling 3-0 to Byron Monday night in their first-ever match in the new high school. The scores in favor of the Bears were 15-2, 15-7, 15-10.

&uot;It was a new gym, new uniforms, the season opener – yeah, the girls were a little tight, but that’s not unusual,&uot; said coach Gina Eppen. &uot;We did warm up a little bit. We just couldn’t put a good string of points together, and we didn’t capitalize on some of their mistakes.&uot;

The Tigers missed six serves all night, but it seemed like each was at a critical time.

Jenny Vanderploeg led the Tigers with six kills and six digs. Whitney Sorensen had five kills and two blocks, Aubree Page three kills and three blocks. Beth Kolling had a team-high nine assists, adding three blocks and one service ace.

Eppen said she’d like to see the Tigers play with more emotion.

&uot;We don’t play with enough emotion sometimes,&uot; she said. &uot;Every time something good happens, we need to celebrate it. Any time something good happens, we should enjoy it. We’re getting there.&uot;

The Tigers won’t have much time to think about it. They’re in action again tonight, traveling to Adams to face Southland, the team Eppen coached before taking the job in Albert Lea.