Senior Alicia Machacek goes up for a kill during BEA’s three-game sweep over the Waseca Bluejays on Thursday, Sept. 8, in Blue Earth.

After being on the wrong end of too many close games to begin the season, the Blue Earth Area volleyball team found the recipe for success and swept the visiting Waseca Bluejays on Thursday, Sept. 8. The scores were 27-25, 25-23, 25-20.

“I just want to savor the moment,” BEA head coach Donna Nawrocki said with a big smile on her face. “This was a good day.”

There is an old baseball adage which says, “Hit ’em where they ain’t.”

Senior middle hitter Alicia Machacek employed that strategy throughout the night, whether slamming kills or placing softer hit balls in the perfect spot.

Machacek was particularly effective in the second game.

With BEA trailing 16-9, Machacek’s play at the net was directly responsible for four of the Bucs’ next seven points and helped the home team pull even with the Bluejays at 16-16.

Every facet of BEA’s game was better against Waseca.

“The girls played every point as if it was the game point,” Nawrocki commented. “It was a good team effort.”

The first game saw the Bucs only one point away from defeat with the Jays holding a 25-24 lead.

A kill by Hailey Becker followed by Becker’s ace serve had the Bucs back on top 26-25. A violation by the visitors gave BEA the 27-25 win.

Leading 24-23 in the second game, Machacek hit the game winner to an open spot on the floor for the Bucs’ second victory.

BEA never trailed in the third game and completed the sweep with a 25-20 triumph.

Machacek recorded eight kills during the contest, Becker had six, Kylee Eckmann had five and Eloise Blair had four.

Haley Kalis led the team in set assists with 15 followed by Becker with six.

On defense, Blair had 12 digs, Kate Armon had eight and Taylor Klabunde finished with seven.

Machacek was credited with 10 service points, including four aces, on 15-for-17 serving. Kalis and Klabunde each had seven service points, Becker had six while Blair and Eckmann each tallied five.

The Bucs’ record is now 1-3.

New Ulm 3, BEA 0

It was a hard-fought contest when the Blue Earth Area Buccaneers traveled to New Ulm on Tuesday, Sept. 6, to take on the Eagles in volleyball.

Unfortunately for the ladies in Maroon and Gold, it was the Eagles who prevailed by winning all three games. The winning scores were 26-24, 25-17 and 25-15.

The opening game was the closest with both teams battling for the victory. The game went into overtime and New Ulm came out on top 26-24.

Although the Bucs continued to work hard, the Eagles were able to gain two more wins to close out the match.

Alicia Machacek led the offensive attack at the net with seven kills followed closely by Hailey Becker with five. Eloise Blair and Kylee Eckmann each recorded three kills and Kyla Roiger added one.

Becker added two ace blocks while Machacek and Roiger each had one.

The assists leader for the game was also Becker with seven. Haley Kalis finished with four assists while Blair and Taylor Klabunde each had two.

Blair led the defense with nine digs. Kate Armon had eight and Klabunde finished with two.

Klabunde was credited with eight service points on 13-for-14 serving. Kalis was 12-for-13 from the service line for seven points. Blair had one ace and five points while hitting on eight of her nine serves.