ROCHESTER – Austin’s Katie Erickson brought home a Big Nine Conference girls tennis championship in the fourth singles division here Saturday.

Monday, October 02, 2000

ROCHESTER – Austin’s Katie Erickson brought home a Big Nine Conference girls tennis championship in the fourth singles division here Saturday. Erickson’s victory highlighted a strong showing by the Packer girls, who earned two second-place finishes, two third-place finishes, a fourth-place finish and one consolation championship at the Big Nine individual conference meet.

Erickson’s victory capped off a solid week for her which included three wins in the Packers dual meets against Rochester Century a week ago today, Rochester John Marshall on Tuesday and a 6-3, 6-2 win over Rochester Mayo in the Packers’ 5-2 dual meet loss to the Spartans on Thursday.

The Packers received second-place finishes from Amy Kelly at second singles and Emily Bue at third singles. Kelly fell in the finals to Mayo’s Caitlin Loprinzi, who has been a thorn in Kelly’s side this week, defeating the Austin player 6-4, 6-2 in a hard fought match during the dual meet at Mayo on Thursday.

Junior Laurie Alonso placed third at first singles for Austin as did the third doubles team of Caitlin Jurgensen and Noelle Wiebelhaus. Lindy Swedberg and Chelsea McColley finished fourth at first doubles, while the team of Mindy Neilon and Tiffany Ankeny defeated Rochester Century’s second doubles team to win the consolation championship in their bracket.

The Packers’ season continues Tuesday with the first round of the Section 1 team tournament. Austin is currently ranked sixth in the state in Class AA.