BLUE EARTH — Class A, No. 6-ranked Blue Earth Area swept its way into the semifinal round of the Section 3A team tennis tournament.

The No. 1-seeded Bucs beat the No. 8-seeded River Valley Wildcats (combination of Sleepy Eye United and Springfield) 7-0 in the first round of the section tournament Monday at Hal Schroeder Courts in Blue Earth.

With the win, Blue Earth Area (15-1) moves on to face No. 4-seeded Luverne in the semifinals at 9 a.m. Thursday at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.

Luverne beat No. 5-seeded United South Central 6-1 in their quarterfinal matchup on Monday.

The winner of the Blue Earth Area–Luverne matchup will go on to the championship round later Thursday at Gustavus Adolphus.

Fourth singles netter Marissa Benz earned BEA its first team point when she sent a winner down the right sideline, then aced her final serve to take a 6-0, 6-0 win over Leyanna Lazatin.

One minute later, the BEA first doubles tandem of McKenna Dutton and Britt Howard walked off the courts with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Megan Stevens and Deniz Demirturk.

Arika Howard later used her strong first serves to beat Jasmyne Windschitl at third singles, 6-0, 6-0.

BEA took the final necessary team point four minutes after collecting its first one, when the team of Cali Beyer and Lyndsey Borris took a 6-1, 6-2 win over Kathrine Schroepfer and Presley Dockter. Borris finished the match with a backhanded volley winner.

BEA head coach Konny Wolff said she was proud of the Bucs’ performance after a long weekend.

“We came out and played very well after we had a long day Saturday,” Wolff said. “We left at 7 a.m. Saturday and we got home at about 8 p.m. so it was a long day. I think they came out and performed well, we only lost seven games all day. I’m proud of the girls, they stayed focused.”

The third doubles crew of Addison Armstrong and Kylie Rosenau earned another point for the Bucs when they beat Syde Wahl and Erika Lazano, 6-1, 6-0, before Macie Stevermer earned the Bucs their sixth team point when she walked off the Schroeder Courts with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Kaydince Thoms at second singles.

Te’a Armstrong was then playing the only match on the courts, needing to wait until last at first singles during tournament play in case the meet came down to the final match.

Te’a Armstrong battled with Brooklyn Moldan, each sending the other running all over the court, but Armstrong used a strong combination of cross-court groundstrokes and net volleys to take a 6-0 first set win before sending a forehand winner into the back left corner of the court to clinch a 6-1 second-set victory.

Wolff said the team needs to rest and focus so it is ready to play in the semifinal.

“We need rest and we need to get everybody healthy,” Wolff said. “We just need to focus and hopefully we’ll have a couple of good days of practice and be ready to go on Thursday.”

Blue Earth Area 7,

River Valley 0

Singles: Te’a Armstrong (BEA) def. Brooklyn Moldan, 6-0, 6-1. Macie Stevermer (BEA) def. Kaydince Thoms 6-0, 6-1. Arika Howard (BEA) def. Jasmyne Windschitl 6-0, 6-0. Marissa Benz (BEA) def. Lexanna Lazatin 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles: McKenna Dutton-Britt Howard (BEA) def. Megan Stevens-Deniz Demirturk 6-0, 6-1. Cali Beyer-Lyndsey Borris (BEA) def. Kathrine Schroepfer-Presley Dockter. Addison Armstrong-Kylie Rosenau (BEA) def. Syde Wahl-Erika Lazano.