(Peru, Neb.) – The brooms were out on Saturday in Mitchell, S.D., and it was not sweep up some corn in the city of the "Corn Palace." The Peru State volleyball team had their brooms out as they swept Mayville State (N.D.) and the tri-match hosts Dakota Wesleyan (DWU).
 
The 'Cats topped the Comets of Mayville 25-15, 25-18, 25-21 and then followed it up with a 25-22, 25-9, 25-18 sweep of the Tigers.

With the two non-conference wins, Peru State improved to 17-10 overall on the season.
  
First Set Highlights
 
As the score indicated, the first set was close throughout as it was tied 11 times. The last tie came at 21-21 as the Bobcats had scored consecutive points on kills by Nohely Perez (Caracas, Venezuela) and Jhessica Martins (Uberlandia, Brazil) on assists from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.). Peru State would score the next three points on a kill by Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) and two kills by Martins – all three coming off assists from Grose. The Tigers forced a second set point as they stopped the run before Janjevic put down a kill from Grose to take the first set.

 
Second Set Highlights
 
After being tied at 1-1, the Bobcats rattled off nine points before DWU was able to get on the board again. Gianna Gangi (Simi Valley, Calif.) had two service aces during that nine-point run. Rian Kirby (Gretna) had the final point on the set with a kill coming on an assist from Gangi.
 
Third Set Highlights
 
The early part of the third set was close as the Tigers were within one at 10-9 before Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) got a kill on an assist from Grose. That started a run of four more points to make it 15-9 when Bowman had a solo block. DWU did close the gap to four at 18-14 before the Tigers committed back-to-back errors to make it 20-14. With Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) serving on match point, Martins had a stuff block to give the 'Cats the sweep.
 
Statistics
 
While the Bobcats did not have an outstanding hitting percentage at .179, Peru State held the Tigers to a negative hitting percentage due to their great night of blocking at the net. Peru State finished with 15 blocks – nine of which were solo.
 
Perez had a game-high ten kills while hitting .318. Kirby and Martins each added eight kills.
 

Rudebusch had 18 assists while Grose added nine, most of which came in the first set.
 
Gangi served up two service aces with Rudebusch adding one.
 
Shannon Liewer (Imperial) had a match-high 21 digs with Perez finishing with a double-double as she added 14. Rudebusch was one shy of having a double-double as she added nine digs.
 
Bowman had three solo blocks and two block assists to lead Peru State in blocking. Kirby and Janjevic each had two solo blocks with Martins and Perez each adding one. Kirby had two block assists with Lea Boras (Makarska, Croatia) and Janjevic each had one block assist.
 
Mayville State Statistics
 
Peru State had an excellent game hitting-wise as they finished with an outstanding .352 for the match.
 
Martins and Perez each finished with ten kills against the Comets while hitting .588 and .304 respectively – both excellent percentages. Kirby added nine kills with Janjevic and Boras each adding seven.
 
Rudebusch and Grose led the setting with 24 and 17 assists respectively.
 
Liewer had 17 digs while Rudebusch added ten to finish the game with a double-double.

 
Janjevic and Bowman each had one solo block with Boras and Bowman each adding three block assists. Martins added two block assists with Janjevic adding one.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats have three games this week with all three being on the road. On Tuesday, Peru State will be in Fayette, Mo., for a key Heart of America Athletic Conference match-up with Central Methodist at 6 p.m. Currently, the Eagles and Bobcats are tied for fourth in conference play with 4-2 marks. Overall, Central Methodist is 20-5 and is on a ten-game winning streak.
 
Then, on Saturday, Peru State will be in Omaha for a non-conference tri-match hosted by Grace University. At 3:30 p.m., the Bobcats will face Morningside College. Presently, the Mustangs are 6-14 and have won their last two contests. Later, at 5:30, the 'Cats will face host Royals. Grace is 9-17 and has lost nine in a row.
 
Peru State's next home action with be on Oct. 20 when the Bobcats host conference opponent Baker University a 7 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.