The Blue Earth Area boys tennis team took on the St. James Saints in a Section 1A quarterfinal match on Monday, May 24, at St. James.

Unfortunately for the Bucs, it was the Saints who prevailed for a 4-3 victory. St. James advances to the semifinal round where they faced Class A No. 4-ranked Rochester Lourdes.

The Saints swept the doubles matches and won one of the singles matches to gain the victory.

BEA’s Vern Johnson was victorious in his match at No. 1 singles. He defeated Marco Hernandez in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0.

At No. 2 singles, Nick Frundt of the Bucs lost only one game while downing Payton Brown 6-1, 6-0.

Preston Wegner picked up the only win for the Saints in the singles matches when he rallied to defeat James Greer in the No. 3 singles match, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1.

BEA’s Jamie Johnson was the winner at No. 4 singles. He won 6-2, 6-2 over Brennan Kern of St. James.

The Saints’ No. 1 doubles team of Caleb Rivera and James Gutierrez downed Joe Frundt and Seth Stevermer of the Bucs, 6-2, 6-3.

At No. 2 doubles, Andrei Rivera and Rudolpho Arreola of the Saints were victorious over Devin Haase and Jerry Passe 6-3, 6-0.

The St. James pair of Adan Rodriguez and Juan Castaneda defeated Seth Mathews and John Lappe 6-0, 6-1 in No. 3 doubles.

“Two years ago we had a record of 2-7 and this year we were 5-4, so we are turning things around,” BEA mentor Konny Wolff said. “It was a good season and we only lose one senior (James Greer) off of this year’s team.”

Individual Section play began on Thursday, May 27. Look for those results in next week’s edition of the Faribault County Register.