The Blue Earth Area volleyball team traveled to Mapleton on Tuesday, Aug. 27, for a non-conference match against the Maple River Eagles.

Maple River escaped the first set with a narrow 25-23 victory before winning the second set 25-18 to go up 2-0 in sets.

The Bucs fought back and posted a 25-17 victory in the third set but the Eagles triumphed 25-18 in the fourth set to win the match three sets to two.

Autumn Gordon continued her early season success at the net by pounding down a total of 20 kills. Taylor Ripley and Tailor Douglas each added four kills and Anna Mwangi finished with three. Mwangi led the team in ace blocks with three.

Madison Ehrich and Ripley split setting duties with Ehrich finishing with 16 set assists and Ripley totaling 13.

Madelyn Ferguson led a well-balanced effort on defense with 14 digs. Gordon ended the night with 13 digs, while Ripley and Douglas had 12 each.

Douglas led the team at the service line by going 21-for-21 with one ace and 13 points. Ferguson was credited with nine points while putting all 14 of her serves in play. Gordon was 13-for-13 from the service line with two aces and six points. Rhionna Weerts was a perfect 12-for-12 from the service line with one ace and six points while Ehrich was 12-for-13 with two aces and six points.

The volleyball team returns to action on Thursday, Sept. 5, when they host the Belle Plaine Tigers. The Tigers were ranked fourth in the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Class AA preseason poll.

Windom Area 3, BEA 0

The Blue Earth Area volleyball team opened their season with a match against the Windom Area Eagles. The contest was played at Jackson County Central High School as part of the Big South Conference Volleyball Showcase.

Windom Area defeated BEA 25-11, 25-16, 25-17.

Autumn Gordon led the Bucs both in kills, with 12, and in digs, with 17.

Tailor Douglas contributed five kills, eight digs and was 9-for-9 at the service line for two points.

Taylor Ripley led the team with 15 set assists. She was also a perfect 9-for-9 at the service line and was credited with four points.

Madelyn Ferguson was second on the team with 10 digs while Rionna Weerts got all six of her serves in for two points.