Averi Blair spikes the volleyball past a Jaguars defender in a game played in Blue Earth earlier this season.

The Buccaneer volleyball team was on the road on Sept. 23 when they traveled to Redwood Falls to battle the Redwood Valley Cardinals.

The first set went into overtime with Redwood Valley eventually triumphing by a 26-24 score. The Cardinals had an easier time in the second set when they won 25-9. The third set proved to be another close contest with the hosts hanging on for a 25-21 victory to take the match 3-0.

Taylor Ripley had 16 set assists to be the leader setting up the Bucs’ offense.

Madie Redepenning slammed down seven kills to pace the Bucs followed by Ripley and Caitlin Eitzmann with four each. Eitzmann also had two ace blocks.

Hailey Hanson topped BEA with 11 digs followed by Isabel Vargas, Averi Blair and Ripley with seven each and Taylynn Amundson with six.

Blair was 14-for-15 at the service line with three aces and 10 service points. Samantha Meyers and Eitzmann each were 8-for-9 serving with one ace and five service points.

BEA will compete in the St. Clair Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 27.

USC Tournament

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneers were able to get plenty of action on the volleyball court when they traveled to Wells on Sept. 20 to take part in a tournament hosted by United South Central. The day included six rounds of play for the Bucs.

Round 1

BEA split two sets with Minnesota Valley Lutheran but won the round on points.

The Bucs were victorious in the first set 25-16 while MVL won the second set 25-19.

Taylor Ripley led the team with nine set assists and Samantha Meyers had the most digs for the Bucs with seven.

Averi Blair and Ripley each recorded four kills and Caitlin Eitzmann had two ace blocks.

Ripley had eight service points and two aces on 12-for-12 serving. Hailey Hanson was 9-for-10 at the service line with two aces and seven points.

Round 2

The Bucs got their second win of the day after once again winning on points.

BEA won the first set versus Maple River by a 25-18 margin. The Eagles narrowly won the second set 25-23 giving the Bucs the higher point total.

Hanson was the leader at the net with five kills followed by Ripley and Blair with four each.

Ripley’s 10 set assists led the team and Marissa Wright had the most digs with five.

Ripley totaled 11 service points and four aces on 14-for-16 serving.

Round 3

The Bucs faced the United South Central Rebels in the third round with USC winning both sets. The scores were 25-20 and 25-17 in the Rebels’ favor.

The Bucs juggled their lineup against the Rebels with Caitlin Eitzmann and Ayla Warmka leading the team in kills with three each. Cassie Hagedorn led the Bucs in set assists with nine and Reese Olson had the most digs with seven followed by Taylynn Amundson with six.

Olson and Hagedorn were each 11-for-11 from the service line with Olson having three aces and scoring seven points while Hagedorn had two aces and seven points.

Round 4

The fourth round of play saw BEA face the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers.

NRHEG won the match 25-10, 25-15.

Ripley had five set assists for BEA with Meyers and Blair each recording two kills.

Isabel Vargas led the team with seven digs and Meyers was the leading server with four points and one ace on 8-for-8 serving.

Round 5

Mankato Loyola was BEA’s opponent in the fifth round and they defeated the Maroon and Gold in two sets, 25-16 and 25-20.

Ripley led the Bucs in set assists with nine and Amundson was the leader in digs with seven.

Blair had three kills and two ace blocks to lead BEA at the net.

Madie Redepenning and Kyannah Brandt each served for four points. Redepenning was 5-for-8 at the service line while Brandt was 5-for-5. Redepenning had one ace.

Round 6

BEA’s final match of the day was against Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman.

The Bucs made it close in the first set before the Jaguars held on for a 25-22 victory. ML/GHEC/T then claimed a 25-19 victory in the second set.

Hanson led the team in kills with three while Eitzmann was the leader for BEA in ace blocks with two.

Leading the Bucs with six set assists was Ripley and Wright led the team in digs with six.

Meyers had four service points with one ace on 7-for-8 serving.