Eloise Blair, left, was named to the Big South Conference All-Conference team. Liz Beeler, right, received honorable mention. Blair is a sophomore and Beeler is a junior so they will both be back next year to play for the Buccaneers, hopefully without having to deal with a pandemic.

The Big South Conference (BSC) has released their volleyball All-Conference teams for the 2020 season and two Blue Earth Area Buccaneers are among those receiving post-season honors.

Sophomore Eloise Blair was named to the All-Conference First Team while junior Elizabeth Beeler received honorable mention honors.

It was an unusual year for volleyball teams across the state as well as for the teams in our area.

At first it appeared the volleyball season would be delayed until the spring of 2021. Then a move was made to hold the volleyball season this fall, starting much later than normal.

Almost every team in the area had games canceled or postponed because of COVID-19 concerns and activities directors were kept busy constantly juggling schedules.

In the end the Bucs would only get to play a total of eight games and would finish the season 2-6. Their first win came on the road against their Big South Conference rival Fairmont.

BEA claimed their second win in their last game of the season on Nov. 19, against the Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman Jaguars, one day before the governor’s executive order went into effect which brought an end to all high school sports for the time being.

“Even though our season was almost one third of the matches we would normally have had, the girls made the most of the opportunity which was given to them,” BEA head coach Donna Nawrocki said.

The Buc’s mentor also took time to talk about the two BEA players who were honored by the BSC.

“Eloise made a smooth transition from libero to an outside hitter,” Nawrocki said. “Her athleticism and competitive force was a benefit both on defense and offense.”

Nawrocki listed some statistics from Blair’s season.

“In seven total games she finished with 80 digs (3.3 per set) and 63 kills (2.6 per set),” Nawrocki shared.

The BEA coach then shared her thoughts on Beeler.

“Liz has been a steady hand for us in dishing out set assists and she is very consistant at the service line,” Nawrocki stated. “Each year she continues to get stronger in running the offense. She finished the season with 158 set assists and was successful on 94 percent of her serves.”

The Bucs have a strong nucleus of young players returning next year. If COVID-19 gets under control, the BEA girls will begin practice next August in hopes of playing a full slate of games next season.