MINNEAPOLIS — Playing for a team trophy on Wednesday at the Class A girls state tennis tournament, the Blue Earth Area Bucs fell short in a 4-3 loss to the Minnewaska Area Lakers in the consolation championship match at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center.

While it was a disappointing end to an outstanding season, Bucs coach Konny Wolff wasn’t disappointed in her team’s effort.

“I’m happy with the effort today,” said Wolff. “I thought we played well. It came down to a tiebreaker. It’s too bad that it came down to that.”

The Bucs finished the season with a 21-3 record

“At the beginning of the season, we were ranked No. 6 in the (Class A) preseason rankings,” Wolff said, “and that’s where we finished. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

With the teams tied 3-3, the match was decided by a third-set tiebreaker in the final match.

At No. 4 singles, sophomore Addy Randt held off Bucs sophomore Marissa Benz, 7-6 (7), 2-6, 10-8, to give the Lakers the victory. In the tiebreaker, Benz trailed 3-0 and 5-2 before pulling within 9-8.

The Bucs got victories from senior Macie Stevermer at No. 2 singles (6-3, 6-4) and junior Arika Howard at No. 3 singles (6-1, 6-0).

“We’re going to miss Macie, she has had a lot of wins for us,” Wolff said. “And Arika played really well today.”

The Lakers earned victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, but the Bucs’ No. 3 doubles team of eighth-grader Addison Armstrong and sophomore Kylie Rosenau continued their solid state tournament play with a 6-4, 6-2 victory to tie the overall match 3-3.

Arika Howard and junior Te’a Armstrong continue state action today when they face Khloe Lund and Isabela Nelson of Thief River Falls in the 10 a.m. first round of the doubles tournament.

“Arika feels great, especially after how she played today,” Wolff said. “Te’a didn’t think she had played well the last two days, but she’ll be OK. They’ll both be OK.”

Armstrong is competing in the individual portion of the tournament for the third consecutive year. In 2017, she and partner Julia Hanson competed in doubles. Last year, Armstrong reached the state tournament in singles.

In the individual singles at 8 a.m. today, Fairmont sophomore Claire Nemmers will face Rochester Lourdes senior Clare Palen in the first round. Palen, who teamed with Natalie Allison to win the doubles championship at the last two Class A state tournaments, is ranked No. 2 in the Class A singles poll.

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Class A State Team Tennis

Consolation Championship

Minnewaska Area 4,

Blue Earth Area 3

Singles: Danielle Thorfinnson, MA, def. Te’a Armstrong, 6-2, 6-0; Macie Stevermer, BEA, def. Alissa Thorfinnson, 6-3, 6-4; Arika Howard, BEA, def. Karra Hanson, 6-1, 6-0; Addy Randt, MA, def. Marissa Benz, 7-6 (7), 2-6, 10-8.

Doubles: Greta Reichmann/Annika Randt, MA, def. McKenna Dutton-Britt Howard, 6-2, 6-4; Maddie Thorfinnson/Olivia Richards, MA, def. Cali Beyer/Lyndsey Borris, 6-3, 6-1; Addison Armstrong/Kylie Rosenau, BEA, def. Maddi Kluver-Leah Hagen, 6-4, 6-2.