Sweeping doubles and splitting singles lifted the Albert Lea boys’ tennis team over .500.

The Tigers improved to 6-5 overall with a 5-2 win Tuesday over Red Wing at Albert Lea.

“Winning six matches is a direct result of playing hard and having a positive attitude on the court,” said Albert Lea coach Tom Dyrdal. “I really liked the way our team competed today.”

In the Big Nine Conference, the Tigers are 4-5. Throughout the lineup, the team has been improving, Dyrdal said.

“Different players have been stepping up all year,” he said.

At No. 1 doubles, Foster Otten and Garrett Matz lost the first set 6-4 but rebounded with 7-6 and 6-4 wins.

“I can’t say enough about the way Otten and Matz compete at the No. 1 spot,” Dyrdal said. “They won their fifth consecutive close match.”

The Tigers’ team of Andy Woitas and Austin Dulitz swept Red Wing 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2, and improved their record to 8-3, Dyrdal said.

Will Martin and Grant Herfindal won 7-6, 6-2 at No. 3.

“Martin and Herfindahl stepped up their game,” Dyrdal said. “I was really happy to see them get better as the match progressed.”

In singles action, Matt Carlson won 6-3, 4-6 and 6-4 at No. 3, and Nikk Christianson won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4.

In Carlson’s third set, he trailed 4-3 but rallied by scoring the last three points, Dyrdal said.

Taylor Herfindahl and Schafer Overgaard went to three sets at No. 1 and 2 but fell.

“(They) both played hard but lost matches that could’ve gone either way,” Dyrdal said.

Next, Albert Lea will host Winona at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Tigers’ JV team improved to 9-2 with a 10-2 win over Red Wing.