ALBERT LEA -- Austin won the first two games before Albert Lea rallied for a 3-2 victory in Big Nine Conference volleyball on Tuesday.
The Packers were in control early, but host Albert Lea came back to win 15-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-15, 15-12
"It was one of those games where we counted our chickens too early and we just didn't play well the last three games," Austin coach Lisa Grunewald said.
The Packers had a chance to win in three games. But the Tigers rolled to a 12-6 lead in the third game. A late Austin comeback fell short. Albert Lea then went on to take the final two games to win the match. The Tigers never trailed in the fifth and deciding game.
"They played (hard) all five games and we didn't," Grunewald said. "We let up and weren't able to finish it."
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The Packers were coming off a 3-2 victory over Waseca on Monday night. The Packers rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win that match. Angie Rohne paced the team with 14 kills and Nicole Miller added 10.
Rohne led the Packers again Tuesday as she had 12 kills and added five digs. Megan Erickson had nine kills while Shannon Smith had seven kills and three ace blocks.
Natalie Miller had 40 set assists and was 20-for-22 serving with four ace serves for Austin. Danielle Hewitt and Staci Tucker both had five digs.
The Packers (3-15, 2-5 Big Nine) will play their final home match Thursday against Mankato West at 7:30 p.m.
