(Peru, Neb.) – After playing some of their best volleyball in the final couple of weeks of the season, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat volleyball team almost pulled off another upset.  However, it was not to be. The sixth-seed Bobcats fell to the third-seeded Evangel University Crusaders in Springfield, Mo., in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) quarterfinals. 
 
The Crusaders defeated the Bobcats 25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 21-25, 15-9.  With the win, the Crusaders move on to the HAAC semifinals.  Evangel will travel to MidAmerica Nazarene University to play the second-seeded Pioneers on Nov. 9.

With the loss, Peru State finishes the season with an 11-18 record.  In their inaugural season in the HAAC, the Bobcats finished with a 4-5 conference record, good for sixth in the ten-team league. 
 
Earlier in the season, the Crusaders had swept the Bobcats in three straight at the Al Wheeler Activity Center on PSC's campus.  Saturday's game was different as it was definitely close throughout and the Bobcats even overcame the two-game deficit to come back and win the next two, forcing the fifth and final game.  The Bobcats did hold the NAIA's second-best hitter to only .029 hitting percentage during the game, forcing other Crusaders to step up.
 
Playing some of her best ball near the end of the season, Maddy Lister (North Platte) in her final game in a Bobcat uniform, led the team with 16 kills.  Lister added two digs and one assist. 

Carly Morehead (Fairbury, Neb.). Morehead had nine kills, seven digs, and six block assists.  Carrie Lierz  (Holton, Kan.) added eight kills, three digs, and one block assist. 
 
Another senior in her final game, Katlyn Donovan (Greeley) had seven kills while hitting a team-high .353.  Donovan also had five block assists, three digs, and two assists.  Tara Carstens (Lincoln) finished with five kills and one block assist.
 
Courtney Jurek (Bellevue) was the Bobcats' top setter with 23 assists.  Jurek added 11 digs and one service ace.  Amanda Gilreath (Omaha) added 13 assists and six digs.
 
As she did all season, Emily Maresh (Central City) led the team defensively with 32 digs.  Maresh also had one service ace.  Following her junior season, Maresh stands tenth in the Bobcats' career records for digs and service receptions. 
 
Becky Boshart (Wood River) and senior Kelsey Monahan (Atkinson) also finished in double digits for digs.  Boshart had 18 and Monahan added 11 and had one service ace.
 
In addition to the four seniors mentioned previously, Rachel Rippe  (Johnson) and Nyahok Duop  (Urbandale, Iowa) completed their Bobcat volleyball careers. 

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