BEA’s Madie Redepenning (12) stretches her arms while trying to block a kill shot during a recent Buccaneer volleyball match.

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneers volleyball team struggled when they went on the road to face the Pipestone Area Arrows on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The Arrows swept the Bucs in three straight sets 25-17, 25-11, 25-12.

Unforced errors certainly played a part in BEA’s struggles. They also let Pipestone Area put together too many large runs which made it hard for the Bucs to recover.

BEA and Pipestone Area were tied at 6-6 in the first set before the Arrows put seven consecutive points on the board to take a 13-6 lead and the Bucs were unable to overcome the deficit.

The closest BEA came was when they scored three straight points to cut Pipestone Area’s lead to five points at 19-14. However, the Arrows regained control and went on to win the first set 25-17.

The second set was tied at 2-2 when Pipestone Area went on a five-point scoring run to increase their lead to 7-2.

Trailing 12-5, the Bucs got kills from Madie Redepenning and Caitlin Eitzmann to cut the Arrows’ lead back to five points at 12-7.

BEA was still within five points with Pipestone Area holding a 15-10 lead when the Arrows put together a three-point run to increase their advantage to 18-10. The Bucs got a side out to make the score 18-11, but then the Arrows rattled off the next seven points to win the second set 25-11.

Pipestone Area completed the sweep by winning the final set 25-12.

Taylynn Amundson led the team on defense with nine digs followed by Hailey Hanson with seven, Cassandra Hagedorn with five and Ayla Warmka with three.

Caitlin Eitzmann finished with four assisted blocks while Samantha Meyers, Hagedorn and Hanson each recorded one.

Hagedorn led the team in set assists with 17.

Eitzmann and Redepenning each had five kills. Warmka finished with three while Hanson and Makayla Grant each had two.

The Bucs played at Jackson County Central on Sept. 24 and took part in the Rebel Invite hosted by United South Central on Sept. 26.

BEA will return to Big South Conference action on Tuesday, Sept. 29 when they host Redwood Valley. They will also be home on Thursday, Oct. 1, when the Waseca Bluejays come to town to take on the Bucs.