The Blue Earth Area girls volleyball team cinched the South Central Conference championship Thursday night with a win against St. Peter.

The Bucs advanced their conference record to a perfect 9-0, with one SCC match left. That will be against St. James on Tuesday.

Traveling to St. Peter on Thursday, the Bucs had little trouble with the Saints, sweeping them in three quick games, 25-11, 25-14, 25-12.

Danika Stindtman led the way for the Bucs with 13 kills and getting 10 digs. She also had two ace blocks.

Jenny Smith also had 10 digs for BEA. She had 19 service points as well, including four ace serves.

Kate Hassing was second in kills for the Bucs, delivering seven of them. She also tallied 14 service points. Morgan Dickman added seven service points.

Sydney Ristau added six kills for the Bucs, as well as three ace blocks.

Setter Kirsten Johansen made 24 set assists for the Buccaneers, who move to 14-6 overall for the season.

Their next match is Monday, when they host Le Sueur-Henderson.

BEA 4th at tourney

The Blue Earth Area girls volleyball team came in at fourth place in their own invitational tournament on Saturday, Oct. 4.

They lost the third-place match to Class A No. 10 ranked Martin County West (MCW), 25-19, 25-14.

To get to the playoff round, the Bucs earlier in the day defeated Medford 25-17, 25-10, then downed Albert Lea 25-20, 25-22.

A loss to New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (NRHEG), 25-22, 25-20, sent the Bucs to the third-place match.

MCW had defeated United South Central (USC) and Minnesota Valley Lutheran (MVL) in Pool B play, but lost to Southwest Star Concept (SSC).

SSC defeated NRHEG in the championship match to win the tourney. Game scores were 25-22, 18-25, 15-9.

USC won the fifth place match over Albert Lea 25-19, 25-15. MVL downed Medford for seventh place, 26-24, 25-18.

BEA vs. Medford

The Bucs were led by Danika Stindtman and Kate Hassing in the 25-17, 25-10 win over Medford.

Stindtman had 10 kills, an ace block, nine digs and was 10 of 10 with two aces from the service line. Hassing hit six kills, an ace block and was 11 of 11 serving.

Jenny Smith led the serving going 14 of 14. She also had four digs.

Sidney Ristau added four kills for the Bucs, while Kirsten Johansen had 16 set assists.

BEA vs. Albert Lea

Danika Stindtman had eight kills in the 25-20, 25-22, victory over Albert Lea. That put her over the 1,000 kill mark in her high school career.

She also had nine digs.

Kate Hassing had seven kills, and ace block, and was 7 of 7 with an ace from the service line.Hayley Pirsig had an ace block and was a perfect 12 of 12 serving. Jenny Smith was 8 of 8 serving.

Morgan Dickman added eight digs for the Bucs, and Kirsten Johansen had 17 set assists.

BEA vs. NRHEG

The Bucs had a battle on their hands in their third match of the day.

After losing the first game 25-21, they came back and won the second 25-22.

That set up a third game which BEA lost 15-9.

Kate Hassing had nine kills for the Bucs, Jenny Smith added five and Danika Stindtman and Sydney Ristau each had four.

Smith was 13 of 13 serving, and Stindtman 12 of 13. Stindtman also had six digs, Mariah Cooke four more.

Kirsten Johansen had 19 set assists.

BEA vs. MCW

The two second place teams from both pools met to determine the third place trophy winners.

The Bucs lost to MCW 25-19, 25-14, and took fourth.

Danika Stindtman was kill leader with four.

Jenny smith was 9 of 9 serving and had four digs. Hayley Pirsig was 7 of 7 from the service line with one ace.

Kate Hassing had one ace block for the Bucs, and Kirsten Johansen had eight set assists.

BEA’s season record after the tourney stood at 13-5, while they remained 8-0 in the conference.

The Bucs host LeSueur-Henderson on Monday this week, followed by a home match against St. James on Tuesday.

They will be at the Rochester Tournament this weekend.