Throughout most of the match, the Albert Lea High School volleyball team was about even with the Northfield Raiders.

The Tigers were just behind at the wrong times.

Northfield won Tuesday night’s nonconference match 3-0 at ALHS, by scores of 25-22, 25-18 and 25-22.

&uot;We were neck and neck with them throughout most of the match,&uot; said Tigers coach Gina Eppen. &uot;Every now and then they’d get a run of four or five points, and we just couldn’t get back from it. We had some inconsistent play tonight, but we did compete.&uot;

The Raiders used some quick sets with what Eppen called remarkable success, and Northfield’s middle hitter caused the Tigers problem all night.

&uot;That girl was pretty strong,&uot; said Eppen. &uot;If we could have shut down their middle hitter, we could have won tonight. Our blockers were just too late most of the time.&uot;

The Tigers were 57-for-58 at the service, bettering their goal of 90 percent.

Individual statistics: Danielle Rankin two aces, one block, 10 kills, 15 digs; Amber Edwards one ace, three blocks, three kills, six digs; Heather Stegenga one ace, six blocks, five kills, nine digs; Jenna Brackey one ace, one block, nine assists, 11 digs; Katie Brackey one block, one kill, 11 aces, seven digs; Emily Bartusek two kills, six digs.

The Tigers host Mankato East Thursday.

(Contact Jim Lutgens at sports@albertleatribune.com or 379-3437.)