Taylor Klabunde gets low to record one of her team-leading 13 digs during Blue Earth Area’s victory over Fairmont in volleyball on Sept. 12. The Bucs won the first game but dropped the next two games before rallying to win the fourth and fifth games to win the match.

“It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”

Those words, credited to baseball legend Yogi Berra, certainly rang true for the volleyball contest between the Fairmont Cardinals and Blue Earth Area Buccaneers on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

The Cardinals had come to Blue Earth to take on the Bucs in a Big South Conference match and were one point away from going home with a victory. But, the Bucs pulled off an incredible comeback to defeat their I-90 rival, 25-18, 25-27, 18-25, 25-18, 17-15.

Fairmont had a 14-8 lead and was serving for the match in the fifth and deciding game when BEA’s Kylee Eckmann tipped the ball into the open court to keep the Bucs’ hopes alive.

Hailey Becker stepped to the service line for the Maroon and Gold and delivered a serve that appeared to be a little long. However, the Cards attempted to play the ball but ended up misplaying it. The Bucs stayed alive and cut the Fairmont lead to 14-10.

“I thought I maybe hit it long,” Becker said after the game. “After that, I really concentrated on just getting my serves in.”

Fairmont coach Liz Lowry did not waste any time and called a timeout in an effort to stifle BEA’s momentum.

It didn’t work.

Fairmont was unable to return any of Becker’s next three serves across the net and suddenly BEA only trailed by one point at 14-13.

The Cards were able to receive Becker’s next serve and set up their offense, but their kill attempt sailed out of bounds and the game was tied 14-14.

Becker served again and the Bucs went ahead 15-14 when Eckmann once again tipped the ball away from the Cardinal defenders.

Becker’s serve for the win went long and the game was tied again at 15-15.

The Bucs gained a side out on the next point when the Cards’ kill attempt once again failed to land inbounds which resulted in a 16-15 lead for the home team.

Tailor Douglas was next to go to the service line for BEA. Fairmont returned her serve right to the Bucs’ front line where Eckmann pounded down a kill to win the game 17-15 and secure the contest, three games to two.

“When Fairmont called timeout in game five, I told the girls to just keep playing, trust one another, and believe,” BEA coach Donna Nawrocki said. “We had a number of different players step up tonight. This truly was a team win.”

BEA had won the first game 25-18 and appeared to be headed for a victory in the second game when they went up by nine points at 20-11. However, Fairmont produced a rally of their own and came back to take the second game 27-25.

The Cards used their momentum from their game two victory to cruise to a 25-18 triumph in the third game.

“That was a gut check for us when we lost our second game,” Nawrocki commented. “But, we fought back and won game four.”

The fourth game was tied 15-15 when BEA went on a five-point scoring streak thanks to two kills each by Kyla Roiger and Douglas. Unlike game two, there would be no Fairmont rally and Becker’s ace serve put the exclamation point on the Bucs’ 25-18 win to set up the pivotal fifth game.

Eckmann led the Bucs at the net with eight kills and two ace blocks. Kate Armon had seven kills and Becker finished with six while also leading the team with 17 set assists.

Armon and Klabunde were both credited with 14 service points. Armon was 22-for-23 serving with two aces while Klabunde was 20-for-21 at the service line with three aces.

Becker chipped in with 13 service points. She had six aces while going 15-for-19 from the service line. Berkley Hagedorn added nine service points on 16-for-17 serving with three aces.

Klabunde led the way on defense with 13 digs followed by Madelyn Ferguson with 12, Armon with 10 and Hagedorn with seven.

With the win the Bucs even their conference record at 2-2 while their overall record stands at 2-3.

BEA returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 19, when they take on the St. James Area Saints at the SJA Event Center.