(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State College Bobcat (PSC) volleyball team had opportunities to win their home opener, but fell in five games to the visiting Concordia University (CU) Bulldogs. The Bulldogs won the match 15-25, 25-19, 12-25, 25-21, 15-12. The Bobcats drop to 0-1 on the season while CU improves to 2-3 having played in an opening weekend tournament.
The 'Cats came out strong in the first set and took an early 12-3 lead before the Bulldogs closed the gap to 13-8. PSC continued to push to eventually take the set 25-15. Strong defense led the Bobcats to the win with some spectacular digs and saves.
The Bulldogs took an early lead in the second set before the Bobcats came back to narrow the CU lead. In the third game, it was all Peru State as the Bulldogs never got untracked. The fourth game was close throughout before Concordia pulled out the 25-21 win.
The fifth game was back and forth throughout with Peru State holding an 8-7 lead when the teams switched courts. The Bobcats scored the next point to go up 9-7 forcing the Bulldogs to take a timeout out after which they came out and took a 12-10 lead before PSC took a timeout. The CU lead went to 14-10 before the 'Cats closed it to 14-12. A Concordia hit went awkwardly off the PSC block and the Bulldogs captured the win.
Carly Morehead (Fairbury) led the Bobcats with 14 kills and three service aces to lead the 'Cats. Morehad added one solo block. Adding seven kills each were Katlyn Donovan (Greeley) and Jessie Clark (Omaha). Rachel Rippe (Johnson) and Maddy Lister (North Platte) contributed another six kills each. Rippe added two solo blocks.
Bobcat head coach Lexie Baack was disappointed with the outcome, but not necessarily with the overall play. Baack said, “It's tough to lose when you had opportunities to win. With Concordia having four games under their belt, they had just enough match experience to pull it out when it counted.” Baack concluded, “We will look to rebound and put together a good performance in the Embry-Riddle Tournament this weekend.”
The Bobcats are traveling to Daytona Beach to play in the Embry-Riddle Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The Bobcats play the University of Northwest Ohio and Oklahoma City University on Friday and will face Northwood University and Daeman College on Saturday.
Next Tuesday, Peru State will take on their first Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) foe, the Graceland University Yellow Jackets. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
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