The offense wasn’t in synch for Albert Lea and United South Central was too strong from the service line Tuesday as the Rebels handed the Tigers a 3-1 loss at home.

USC won the first game 25-16 and breezed to a 25-8 win in the second, but the Tigers rallied for a 25-22 win in the fourth before falling 25-19 in the fourth game.

“We played better in game three,” Albert Lea head coach Lisa Deyak said. “We still aren’t utilzing our offense to the maximum that we needed and we’re still making too many mental errors.”

The Rebels meanwhile put the ball in play and put the ball down well. Setter Ciara Christenson went 20 of 23 serving with 38 assists while outside hitter Sabrina Bushlack was busy killing the ball. Bushlack had 26 kills in the game and added 22 digs. Dahl was 14 of 15 serving and Shannon Koestler was 16 of 17 for USC.

Rebels head coach Jolene Bute said her team could have played better and it will need to in order to compete with No. 1-ranked Bethlehem Academy Thursday at home.

“We didn’t play to the best of our abilities at all,” Bute said. “They had their time when the played well.

They are going to throw a lot of different stuff at us Thursday night and we’re going to get the girls mentally and physically prepared.”

Kelsey Stolt led Albert Lea with seven kills on the night and Kristine Kelly had 13 digs. The Tigers had 16 hitting errors on the night and Deyak said the team has to reduce those errors.

“We had too many hitting errors all together,” Deyak said. “We need to reduce our hitting errors and that will help tremendously.”

Albert Lea will host Mankato West Thursday.