ROCHESTER – In recent weeks, assistant coach Mike Miller has spent a lot of time working with the doubles players on the Albert Lea High School girls’ tennis team.

Tuesday, October 02, 2001

ROCHESTER – In recent weeks, assistant coach Mike Miller has spent a lot of time working with the doubles players on the Albert Lea High School girls’ tennis team.

&uot;It’s something that hasn’t been done before,&uot; said head coach Sean Gillam.

It probably will be again.

The result was three consolation championships as the Tigers had their best showing in several years in Saturday’s Big Nine Conference tournament at Rochester.

&uot;It’s one of the best days the girls have had in the Big Nine in a long time,&uot; said Gillam. &uot;If they would have kept team standings, we would have been fifth. That’s big. It means we’re moving into the upper echelon of the conference.&uot;

For the first time in recent memory, the Tigers had a victory at every position at the Big Nine tourney. In addition to the titles by the doubles teams, two singles players reached the consolation finals.

&uot;The girls were happy,&uot; said Gillam. &uot;I was proud of the way we recovered from a loss. Perhaps most importantly, all the girls started attacking; that’s the first step toward winning.&uot;

Mandy Blenka and Jasey Porter almost won all their matches at No. 1 doubles, dropping a three-setter to a Rochester John Marshall duo before sweeping teams from Rochester Century and Mankato West.

Ashley Helgerson and Nicole Rafdal lost to the eventual champions from Austin in their opener at No. 2 doubles, then dominated opponents from West and Century.

Nicole Merfeld and Amanda Rose rallied to win the consolation crown at No. 3 doubles, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5 over a team from John Marshall.

Making it to the consolation finals before falling were No. 1 singles player Danielle Jacobs and No. 2 singles player Liz Schreiber.

Karen Leonard and Becky Birkhofer defeated opponents from Mankato East in the first round at No. 3 and 4 singles, respectively, then lost to the third-seeded player in their bracket.

The Tigers are seeded fourth in the Section 2AA tournament and open postseason play today against fifth-seeded Mankato West at 4:30 on the Southwest Middle School courts