The Austin Packer tennis team is well on its way to challenge the Mayo Spartans for supremacy on the courts in the Big Nine.

Friday, September 17, 1999

The Austin Packer tennis team is well on its way to challenge the Mayo Spartans for supremacy on the courts in the Big Nine.

On Thursday, Austin went to Mankato and knocked off East to go 5-0 in the conference, 6-3 overall. It was a battle to the end with Austin’s Sara Ormseth scoring the final point of the match at No. 4 singles to secure the 4-3 victory.

At No. 1 singles, Laurie Alonso played the best player in the Big Nine right now, Briggs Rolfsrud. Rolfsrud handed Alonso her first loss of the year in singles, 6-4, 6-2. Rolfsrud remains undefeated in the Big Nine.

"Briggs is a backboard," Austin coach Deb Hoyt said. "Laurie needed to hit two or three winners to win a point. She thought she had hit one and the ball came flying back. Because of that she never got in a groove."

At No. 2 singles, Amy Kelly again made quick work of her match with a 6-2, 6-0 win.

Austin’s No. 1 doubles team of sophomores Mindy Neilon and Chelsea McColley quickly scored Austin’s second point with a 6-4, 6-1 win.

"They played really solid," Hoyt said. "They felt comfortable right from the beginning and kept the momentum going."

The third Austin point came from the rackets of the No. 3 doubles team of Amber Dolphin and Claire Johnson. They had a nip-and-tuck battle but had the upper hand throughout in their two set sweep.

"They adjust really well in their play," Hoyt said, "and they know how to close out the point."

Austin had chances to win the decisive points both at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles. These two matches both went three sets. Emily Bue faced Briggs’ younger sister Breck in the singles. Bue ran off with the first set 6-1.

"Rolfsrud then changed her tactics and hit with no pace," Hoyt said. "Emmy likes to play hard-hitting opponents."

The result were two straight 6-2 wins for Rolfsrud.

At No. 2 doubles, Tiffany Ankeny and Lindy Swedberg lost the first set 6-4. They then came back to win the second set 6-2, but a late break of serve spelled the difference in the third set which East won 6-4.

That left it up to Ormseth. She lost the first set 6-3 and then rallied to win 6-3 in set two. The rest of the matches were all over so the meet came down to one set. Ormseth went out to a 5-1 lead. The East girl then held serve and then broke Ormseth to make it 5-3. East held serve again. The pressure was now on for Ormseth to hold serve. With the great support from her team, she did.

Things don’t get any easier in the Big Nine for Austin. The schedule is slightly in its favor as the Packers host all three Rochester teams in the next two weeks and face Albert Lea on the road.

Next week, Century comes over on Tuesday and the Packers go to Albert Lea on Thursday. The following week John Marshall is here on Tuesday before the final showdown of the Big Nine season happens the 30th when the Spartans show up. Before all that happens Austin will be hosting Waseca and Northfield this Saturday and perhaps a third team beginning at 10 a.m.

Austin 4, Mankato East 3

Singles

No. 1 Briggs Rolfsrud (MW) def. Laurie Alonso, 6-4, 6-2.

No. 2 Amy Kelly (A) def. Lindsey Miller, 6-2, 6-0.

No. 3 Breck Rolfsrud (MW) def. Emily Bue, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.

No. 4 Sara Ormseth (A) def. Becky Viaene, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles

No. 1 Mindy Neilon/Chelsea McColley (A) def. Rian Fox/Laurie Sellner, 6-4, 6-1.

No. 2 Sally Morrison/Jodi Braunhausen (MW) def. Tiffany Ankeny/Lindy Swedberg, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

No. 3 Amber Dolphin/Claire Johnson (A) def. Raina Habib/Emily Sutter, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).