The Albert Lea volleyball team traveled to Winona on Thursday and looked to get a Big Nine conference win against the Winhawks.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but couldn’t get the third, fourth or fifth game as Winona defeated Albert Lea 3-2.

“The first two games were great,” Albert Lea head coach Jaime Mauseth said. “We were playing very good volleyball. We knew their middle was open, and we tipped it there and we got points on it.”

After that, Winona changed their rotations and took the middle away from Albert Lea, and Winhawks outside hitter Brianna Neitzke started to make her presence felt in the last three games.

“In the fourth game she came out and hammered the ball, and my girls kind of got scared and we couldn’t adjust to it,” Mauseth said.

Albert Lea accumulated 75 digs on the night and had 28 kills.

The Tiger also had 23 set assists and recorded four ace blocks with six ace serves.

Albert Lea is back in action next Tuesday as they host Rochester John Marshall.

Winona 3, Albert Lea 2

Winona – 22 16 25 25 15

Albert Lea – 25 25 19 21 3