Packer tennis team blanks Albert Lea

Published 9:10 pm Thursday, August 22, 2013

Austin's Emily Johannsen goes after a ball during the No. 1 doubles match against Albert Lea in Paulson Courts in Austin Thursday. -- Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Emily Johannsen goes after a ball during the No. 1 doubles match against Albert Lea in Paulson Courts in Austin Thursday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

The Austin girls tennis team opened its dual season with a convincing 7-0 win over Albert Lea at Paulson tennis courts Thursday.

The Packers (1-0 overall, 1-0 Big Nine) won six of their matches in two sets. No. 1 singles player Alicia Sforza cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win and the No. 1 doubles team of Abbey Ball and Emily Johannsen won 6-2, 6-2.

Austin's Megan Fleiner goes with up a forehand in her No. 2 singles match against Albert Lea in Paulson tennis courts in Austin Thursday. -- Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Megan Fleiner goes with up a forehand in her No. 2 singles match against Albert Lea in Paulson tennis courts in Austin Thursday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Ball and Johannsen are doubles partners for this year for the first time since they were freshman, but they haven’t missed a beat on the court together.

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“There’s a lot of communication out there on the court between us,” Johannsen said. “I feel like we’re showing other players how to do that.”

The Packers were glad to get a dual win after the team had a solid showing at the Mankato East Invite on Tuesday.

“We came out strong and it’s good to start out with some wins,” Ball said. “Once we get consistency down, we’ll be good.”

Austin junior Megan Fleiner, who took first in No. 2 singles at East Tuesday, prevailed with a three-set win on Thursday by scores of 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

Singles

No. 1 Alicia Sforza (A) def. Katlyn Larson (AL) 6-0, 6-0

No. 2 Megan Fleiner (A) def. Lynzee Underdahl (AL) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2

No. 3 Jennifer Bogle (A) def. Mercedes Saltou (AL), 6-3, 6-1

No. 4 Maggie Leif (A) def. Rachel Wallin (AL) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles

No. 1 Abbey Ball and Emily Johannsen (A) def. Elizabeth Ogukanbi and Lamanda Johnson 6-2, 6-2

No. 2 Brianna Fritz and Maggie Trom (A) def. Carson McGivern and Ann Boettcher (AL), 6-1, 6-0

No. 3 Anna Bachmeier and Elizabeth Ettinger (A) def. Skyler Hanson and Alexa Drescher (AL), 6-0, 6-0