Morgan Dickman

The Blue Earth Area girls volleyball team remained undefeated in conference play as they beat the visiting Fairmont Cardinals 3 games to 1 in action Thursday night.

With the win the Buc’s conference record improved to 3-0.

“Stronger communication on the court and more aggressive play each time they go out are a couple of reasons for our improving performance,” says coach Donna Nawrocki.

Game 1 saw the Bucs open up an early lead on their way to a 25-15 win. Everything seemed to be going the Bucs way as their play appeared very sharp and efficient.

Then came Game 2 and it was role reversal time.

Fairmont scored the first point of the game and never trailed as they tied the match up at a game apiece with a 25-17 victory over the Bucs.

Although BEA trailed by as many as 10 points early in the game they kept fighting and pulled within 5 at 21-15 but they were unable to pull any closer as the Cardinals tied the match at a game each.

Ashley Olson served eight consecutive points including 3 straight aces to increase the Bucs lead from one to 9 points as the Bucs took game three 25-14.

BEA trailed 2-1 in the early going, but with Theresa Claeys serving they took the lead 3-2 and did not relinquish it as they went ahead in the match 2 games to one.

In the closest game of the evening, the Bucs defeated the Cardinals 25-22 in game 4 to win the match.

BEA had opened a four-point lead at 14-10, but the Cardinals battled back and took the lead 17-16. Fairmont would have the lead at 20-18 and 21-19 before the Bucs tied the game at 21 all. The teams exchanged points to make it 22-22 before senior Mariah Cooke stepped to the line and served out the game for the Bucs 25-21 victory.

Leading the way for the Bucs was Kate Hassing who recorded 13 kills. Sydney Ristau added 10 kills for the host team. Hassing and Katie Krieger each recorded 5 ace blocks.

Ashley Olson had an active night as she had 18 set assists while hitting all 21 of her serves and tallying 14 points with five aces, Morgan Dickman was 19-19 in serving which was good for 11 points

Jenny Smith had 14 digs, while Dickman and Mariah Cooke each had 12.

The Bucs have a busy week this next week as they host the No. 2-ranked JCC Huskies on Monday, followed by a trip to Waseca to face the Bluejays on Tuesday. Next, they travel to St. Peter to face the Saints for the second time this season.

BEA 4, New Ulm 3

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneers improved their conference record to 2-0 with a four game win over New Ulm on Tuesday night.

Scores were 25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 25-14.

After winning the first two games in close contests, the Bucs were unable to end the evening with a three-game sweep, and lost 26-24 in a real hard-fought battle.

Jenny Smith had a spectacular night, going a perfect 25 of 25 from the serving line with 17 service points and three aces. She also added 13 kills and 17 digs.

Kate Hassing was great at the net with 15 kills and two ace blocks.

Ashley Olson had a spectacular night with nine kills, 20 set assists and 10 digs. She also was 15 of 17 serving, with 10 service points and one ace.

Morgan Dickman added 17 set assists and 11 digs, while Sydney Ristau had three ace blocks.

The Bucs overall record went to 4-3 for the season.

This week they will host Jackson on Monday night, travel to Waseca on Tuesday night and St. Peter on Thursday.

BEA takes fifth

at tournament

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneer volleyball team won one match at the Luverne Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 12, and wound up in fifth place.

The Bucs lost to Southwest Christian and Worthington in very close contests, then defeated Edgerton in another tight, 3-game match for fifth place honors.

The Bucs opened up the day by losing to SWC 25-14, 25-23.

Jenny Smith led the way with four kills and nine digs.Sydney Ristau was a perfect 12 for 12 serving, with nine service points and one ace. Morgan Dickman was 10 for 11 and seven points.

Ashley Olson had five set assists, and Carly Hyland had seven digs.

In the match against Worthington, the Bucs lost two heartbreaking games by the identical scores of 26-24.

Smith was 16 of 16 serving with 11 points and four aces. She also had six kills.

Kate Hassing was 14 of 14 serving, 10 points and an ace, while getting eight digs.

Dickman also had a perfect night at the line, serving 12 of 12 with eight points and two aces. She also had eight digs.

Next up, BEA had to play Edgerton. The Bucs lost a close first game 25-22. They bounced back with a 25-21 win in game two, then finished up with an exciting third game win of 16-14.

Once again it was Smith leading the way with nine kills, 12 digs and a 17 for 17 serving. She had 12 service points and four aces.

Olson was 18 for 18 serving with 12 service points and also had 15 set assists.

Dickman had eight set assists and eight digs.

Kate Hassing and Katie Krieger each had two ace blocks, while Ristau added six kills and Mariah Cooke eight digs.

The Bucs overall record went to 3-3, 2-0 in the South Central Conference.