BLUE EARTH &045; It was another educational experience for the Albert Lea High School girls’ tennis team.

The Tigers, fielding one of their youngest lineups in years, lost twice to veteran opponents in Saturday’s Blue Earth Invitational, falling 6-1 to the host team and 4-3 to Sibley East.

&uot;We played two good, experienced teams,&uot; said ALHS coach Sean Gillam. &uot;It’s good for us to play those type of teams.&uot;

With the Tigers battling some illness in addition to injuries, Gillam shuffled the lineup against Blue Earth.

Niki Hendrickson got the Tigers’ win, 6-0, 6-3 at No. 4 singles. Danielle Jacobs lost 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1, Amanda Leonard fell 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 and Kate Schreiber was defeated 6-0, 6-4 at No. 3.

Elizabeth Thompson and Cara Thorn moved up to the No. 1 doubles spot and dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision. Hali Hendrickson and Brie Bangert were upended 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2. Antonia Kolas and Danielle Merfeld were nipped at No. 3 doubles, dropping a third-set &uot;super tiebreaker&uot; 10-8 after winning the first set 6-4 and losing the second 6-0.

&uot;We showed a lot of improvement from our previous match against Mankato East,&uot; said Gillam.

Jacobs got the Tigers’ lone singles victory against Sibley East, winning 10-6 in a super tiebreaker after splitting 3-6, 6-0.

Jacobs improved her season record to 4-5.

&uot;That’s not bad for a freshman at No. 1 singles,&uot; said Gillam.

Leonard lost 6-3, 7-5 at No. 2, Nicole Greibrok fell 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 and Laura Hibbard was defeated 6-3, 6-0 at No. 4.

Thompson and Thorn survived a marathon super tiebreaker at No. 1 doubles, winning 17-15 after splitting the first two sets by 6-4 scores. Schreiber and Niki Hendrickson won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 doubles while Bangert and Hali Hendrickson fell 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2.

&uot;We had a good showing in a lot of ways against Sibley East,&uot; said Gillam. &uot;But we’ve got to get more than just one win out of four singles spots.&uot;

The Tigers, 2-7, host Austin in a 4:30 p.m. Big Nine meet on the Southwest Middle School courts Tuesday.