(Peru, Neb.) – If you would add up the total scores, Peru State would have lost their volleyball game in Atchison, Kan., on Tuesday night.  However, as long as you win three sets by two points each, you win the game.  And that was exactly what the Bobcats did Tuesday night as they defeated Benedictine College 29-27, 21-25, 11-25, 27-25, 15-13.
 
With the win, the 'Cats matched their season win total of 2013 as they improved to 21-11 overall.  In Heart of America Athletic Conference play, Peru State is now 3-4 and in a three-way tie for sixth, just one game behind fourth place.  The Ravens fell to 15-12 overall and are also 3-4 in the conference.
 
The 21^st win matches the 2013 total and also is the most wins since the 2002 season.
Game Action
 
The first set was as close as the final score as there were 30 ties during the course of action.  Peru State had its largest lead at 7-4 after Lea Boras (Makarska, Croatia) put down a kill on an assist from Bre Brandt (Papillion).  The 'Cats maintained the three-point advantage at 8-5 after Rian Kirby (Gretna) got a kill off an assist from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.).  The Ravens came back to take a 10-9 lead and later had their largest lead at 16-14.  The rest of the set was back and forth until Jennifer Ostrowski (Kankakee, Ill.) had a service ace to make it 28-27 and then Brandt put down a kill on an assist from Grose to give the Bobcats the first set win.
 
Benedictine never trailed in the second set even though the 'Cats tied it on five occasions.  The Ravens had their largest lead at 15-10 and then went on to win 25-21.
 
The third set was similar to the first in that Peru State never led and this time the Ravens went on big runs to win the second set 25-11.
 
The fourth set looked like the Bobcats would run away with it as they had built a 16-8 lead.  However, the Ravens would not fly away as they eventually came back to tie it at 20-20 and then took a 22-20 lead.  Brandt landed a kill on an assist by Courtney Jurek (Bellevue) to make it 22-21.  Then Rachael West (El Dorado, Kan.) got a kill on an assist from Grose to knot it at 22-22.  It was tied at 23-23, 24-24, and 25-25. Another Brandt and Jurek combination made it 26-25 and then a ball-handling error on Benedictine gave Peru State the 27-25 fourth set win.
 
The fifth set was as close as it could get with neither team leading by more than two throughout.  Benedictine led 6-4 and the 'Cats biggest lead came when they won it at 15-13.  The set was tied at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, and 13-13 before West put down a kill on an assist from Grose to make it 14-13.  Then, following a Raven timeout, a Benedictine hitting error gave the set and game to the Bobcats.
Statistics
 
Brandt finished with a game-high 21 kills, hit .241 having had 58 attacks.  Kirby added 13 kills with West and Boras adding nine and five kills respectively.
 
Jurek finished with 29 assists while Grose contributing 20.
 
Ostrowski, Jurek, Grose, and Kirby each had one service ace.
 
Mallory Hull (Morse Bluff) led the defensive efforts for both teams as she had 28 digs.  Three other Bobcats finished in double-digit digs.  Brandt had 11 while Shannon Liewer (Imperial) and Kirby each finished with ten.
 
Nicole Soifua (West Point, Utah) finished with one solo block and three block assists.  Boras had four block assists while Ostrowski, Brandt and Kirby each finished with two block assists.  West added one block assist.
BENEDICTINE BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will be playing two games this weekend in McPherson, Kan.  At noon, Peru State will take on Central Baptist University (Ark.) and then at 4 p.m., they will face the hosts, Central Christian College.  Central Baptist is currently 2-17 and on a six-game losing streak.  Central Christian is presently 8-16 having dropped their last two games.
 
The following week, the 'Cats will play conference opponent Graceland University on Thursday, Oct. 30, in Lamoni, Iowa.  Game time with the Yellowjackets, who are 20-7 overall and 4-3 in the conference, is 7 p.m.  The 'Jackets are just one game ahead of the Bobcats in conference play, so this is a key match.
 
On Halloween, Peru State will have its Senior Night recognition when they host Grace University from Omaha.  The Royals are 9-17 on the season and lost to the 'Cats earlier in the season.  Peru State's Student Athlete Advisory Council will host a costume contest for students and fans.