With a little delay the Albert Lea girls’ tennis team got the season started on a good note Thursday with a 4-3 win over United South Central in Wells.

The Tigers were scheduled to begin the season at home Tuesday, but rain cancelled the season opener and the team played its first match of the season on the road. It was the same result for Albert Lea as last season when the Tigers beat the Rebels 4-3 in Albert Lea, which was the first time in more than a decade. Thursday’s win was just the second for the Tigers against USC under head coach Sean Gillam.

Albert Lea got three singles wins and added a win at two doubles for the 4-3 victory. Kellsie Dieser earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory over United South Central’s Katie Lorenz at No. 2 singles. Two former doubles players hooked up at the No. 3 singles matchup when Albert Lea’s Sarah Wenum faced the Rebels’ Rachel Mattick. Wenum held on for a 7-5 win in the first set and came back with a 6-2 second set win for the match.

Sophomore Michelle Hartmann earned a 6-3, 6-3 over Ali Wood for the Tigers to stake them to three wins.

The doubles matches all went three sets Thursday and Albert Lea was able to get one win at No. 2 doubles for the victory. Amy Bohlen and Jenna Sager defeated Megan Allis and Dani Roberts 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 for the Tigers’ first victory of the year.

“It’s good that we got back to winning,” Gillam said. “Without having that match on Tuesday it was one of those things we had to come up with a lineup.”

Despite the loss United South Central head coach Kim Stevermer was impressed with how her young team handled themselves against a veteran Albert Lea squad, which played just one underclassman in the lineup.

“I was proud of the girls,” Stevermer said. “The other girls didn’t give up. They all really battled to get the three points.”

USC’s Ali Ramsley and Albert Lea’s Taylor Nelson had a battle at the No. 1 singles spot, but it was Ramsley who outlasted Nelson in a 7-6, 7-5 victory. Ramsley jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first set, but Nelson rallied to within one down the stretch.

Cami Christian and Brianna Schroeder gave the Rebels a 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-4 victory at No. 1 doubles while Robin Stolach and Megan Chicos came up with a 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 win over Zoey Hill and Kayla Hartmann at No. 3 doubles for USC.

“I was really happy because all three doubles went into three sets,” Stevermer said. “That was good to see.”

The Rebels travel to New Prague Saturday for a tournament while the Tigers host New Ulm and Marshall Monday in Albert Lea.

The Albert Lea junior varsity team picked up several wins Thursday as well. Chelsea Anderson, Carlie Bertlson, Emily Troe, Ashley Petersen

Alissa Allison, Ashley Gilbertson, Alycia Hall, Kayla Swee, Courtney Stewart, Lucy Villagomez were all winners for the Tigers.