(Peru, Neb.) – Peru State's volleyball team won its second and third matches of the week on Saturday as they swept Morningside (Iowa) and Grace in a tri-match hosted by Grace in Omaha.
 
The Bobcats first defeated Morningside 25-19, 25-18, 25-22 and then followed with a sweep over the host Royals 25-21, 25-16, 25-12. With the two non-conference wins, Peru State improves to 20-10 overall for the season. The Mustangs fell to 7-16 while Grace dropped to 10-20.
  
First Set
 
The first set was close early with Morningside trailing 9-8 before Peru State went on a 6-1 run to go up 15-9 after an attack error by the Mustangs. Morningside did get within three at 17-14, but a kill by Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) off an assist from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.) made it 18-14. An attack error by Morningside gave the 'Cats the first set at 25-19.
 
Second Set
 
Similar to the first set, it was close early with Morningside leading 10-9 before Lea Boras (Makarska, Croatia) put down a kill off the hands of Grose to tie it. Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) then gave the Bobcats the lead for good with a service ace. Peru State went on to win the set with Jhessica Martins (Uberlandia, Brazil) getting the set point kill on an assist from Rudebusch.
 
Third Set
 
The Mustangs led for most of the third set with the 'Cats eventually tying it at 21-21 on a Morningside attack error. The Mustangs went back up 22-21 before another attack error knotted the score again. Nohely Perez (Caracas, Venezuela) put the Bobcats in front for only the third time of the set off an assist from Rudebusch. A Morningside attack error made it set and match point. Janjevic came up with the kill on an assist from Rudebusch to get the win.

MORNINGSIDE BOX SCORE
 
Statistics
 
Peru State held Morningside to a hitting percentage of just .049 while hitting .207.
 
Martins and Perez both had ten kills to lead Peru State. Boras finished with eight while hitting .412 while Rian Kirby (Gretna) added seven.
 
Rudebusch finished with 25 assists while Grose added 15.
 
Shannon Liewer (Imperial) had two service aces with Rudebusch adding one.
 
Liewer had a game-high 20 digs with Gianna Gangi (Simi Valley, Calif.) finishing with 11.
 
Peru State did not have any solo blocks but finished with ten block assists. Kirby and Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) each had three while Martins and Janjevic each added two.
 
Grace Game Comments
 
First Set
 
While Peru State led most all of the first set, the Royals did fight back to tie the set at 17-17. A Grace attack error gave the Bobcats the lead and another Royal attack error ended the first set with Peru State winning 25-21.
 
Second Set
 
The Royals led 3-2 before Kirby tied it with a kill on an assist from Rudebusch. Grace was within two at 11-9, but a service error by the Royals extended their deficit to three at 12-9. Peru State continued to stretch the lead and eventually won the set when Grace had another attacking miscue.
 
Third Set
 
The 'Cats took the lead at the beginning of the third set and never looked back. The closest Grace would be was early at 4-3 before Cristal Quinonez (Anthony, N.M.) put down a kill from Rudebusch. Peru State would string five more points to lead 10-3 after Kirby got a kill on an assist from Grose. The Bobcats would then cruise to an easy 25-12 set and match win which ironically ended on a Royals' attack error.

GRACE BOX SCORE
 
Statistics
 
Again the Bobcats held their opponents to hitting less than .100 as Grace almost finished in the negative as they hit .009. Peru State finished the match hitting .218.
 
Quinonez led Peru State with 15 kills while Kirby adding 13 and hit .387. Janjevic added seven while hitting .333.
 
Rudebusch and Grose handled the setting duties with 24 and 15 assists respectively.
 
Liewer continued her good defensive efforts while having 29 digs in the win.
 
Janjevic had three block assist to lead the team while Kirby and Quinonez each had two. Rudebusch was credited with one block assist.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats have two key Heart of America Athletic Conference matches this week.
 
On Tuesday, Peru State host Baker at 7 p.m. The Wildcats are currently one game behind the Bobcats in the conference standings with a 4-3 mark and are 13-11 overall. Baker's record is somewhat deceiving as they upset the top-ranked team in the NAIA – Viterbo (Wis.) on Friday night before falling to an unranked opponent.
 
The 'Cats will travel to Des Moines on Saturday to take on the 25^th-ranked Grand View Vikings. Overall, the Vikings are 17-11, but are 6-1 in the Heart. Grand View lost its last three matches, but all were to ranked opponents.