The Blue Earth Area girls tennis team was enjoying a good start to their season, sporting a 7-1 record. But, they had yet to face a South Central Conference opponent this year.

That changed on Thursday afternoon when the Buccaneers hosted the St. Peter Saints at Schroeder Courts in Blue Earth.

The Bucs flexed their muscles and downed the Saints by a score of 6-1 to give them a 1-0 start in SCC actions and boost the season record to 8-1.

Karleigh Wolff started things off right for the Buccaneers by coming back for a hard-fought victory at the No. 1 singles position over her opponent, Rachel Huber.

Wolff lost the first set 7-5, then battled to a thrilling win in the second set, 7-6 (7-2). She completed the come-from-behind win by taking the third set 6-3.

At No. 2 singles, Kaitlyn Olsen defeated Val Bresnahan by a score of 6-0, 6-3. Lindsey Prokop won by the same scores only reversed, 6-3, 6-0, over her Saint’s opponent, Katie Sandquist at No. 3 singles.

Anikka Wilhelmi completed the Bucs’ singles sweep with an easy 6-1, 6-0 win over Aliza Doherty at the No. 4 slot.

The Bucs No. 1 doubles team of Karli Olsen and Natali Fellows added to the Bucs’ team score by downing Kali Cummins and Mallory Malecek by scores of 6-2, 6-3.

At No. 2 doubles, Beka Krussow and Paige Darrington combined for a 6-1, 6-2 win over Michaela Meyer and Allie Sandquist.

Kali Viland and Lacey Benz fell to Natalie Weelborg and Johanna Dietrich, 6-1, 7-5, at the No. 3 doubles slot.

This week the Bucs will host United South Central on Tuesday, then travel to St. James on Thursday and Mankato West on Saturday.

BEA 7, Maple River 0

A decisive victory over the Maple River Eagles on Thursday morning, Aug. 29, boosted the Blue Earth Area Buccaneer girls tennis team to a 7-1 season record.

In fact, the Bucs blanked the Eagles 7-0 in the match that was held in the morning hours instead of the scheduled 4 p.m. start because of the expected hot temperatures that day.

BEA’s Karleigh Wolff, a junior, was also perfect individually at No. 1 singles, downing her Maple River opponent, Megan Langworthy, also a junior, by scores of 6-0, 6-0.

No. 2 singles also featured a pair of juniors. Kaitlyn Olsen defeated Hannah Proehl, 6-2, 6-1. Senior Lindsey Prokop, at No. 3 singles, scored a 6-1, 6-2 win over junior Rachel Rigdon. And, sophomore Anikka Wilhelmi easily defeated her senior opponent, Cassie Barkosky, 6-1, 6-0.

The doubles teams all came through with wins as well.

Buc sophomores Karli Olsen and Natali Fellows combined to defeat juniors Emily Spear and Steph Beto at No. 1 doubles, 6-2, 6-4.

At the No. 2 spot, Beka Krussow, a junior, and Paige Darrington, a sophomore, cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 doubles victory over senior Haley Schulz and freshman Mariah Proehl.

Buc sophomores Lacey Benz and Annaliese Klinkner joined up to defeat the Eagles No. 3 doubles team of sophomores Sarah Stromer and Gwen Ward, 6-3, 6-4.