(Peru, Neb.) – A Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) foe and two future Heart members, all from Iowa, got the best of the Peru State volleyball team this weekend in Peru.
 
The Graceland Yellowjackets won all three of their matches while future conference members Clarke and Mount Mercy went 2-1 and 1-2 respectively.
 
Graceland Game Highlights
 
In Peru State's only game on Friday night, the visiting Graceland (Iowa) Yellowjackets claimed a Heart of America Athletic Conference win. The 'Jackets defeated the Bobcats 25-16, 25-22, 19-25, 25-15. With the win, Graceland improved to 7-8 on the season and 2-0 in the Heart. Peru State fell to 9-6 and 1-1 in conference play.

 
The Bobcats jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first set and actually led 4-1 before Graceland ran off five straight points to take the lead for good. The 'Cats were still within two at 10-8, but that was as close as they would be during the rest of the set.
 
During the second set, there were ten different ties. The Bobcats led as late as at 15-12 on a kill by Rian Kirby (Gretna). Again, the Yellowjackets were able to put together a string of points as they did in the first set as they scored eight straight which was aided by several Peru State hitting and setting errors. Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) ended the run on an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) to cut the lead to 20-16. Kirby added a kill on an assist from Shannon Liewer (Imperial) and then a service by Gianna Gangi (Simi Valley, Calif.) made it 20-18 Graceland. The Yellowjackets were able to get back-to-back kills before having a service error. Peru State did get within one at 23-22 on a kill by Lea Boras (Makarska, Croatia). However, a service error by the 'Cats and a kill by Graceland gave them the second set win.
 
The teams traded the lead early in the third set with the Bobcats actually taking the lead for good in the third set at 6-5 on a Kirby service ace. A kill by Jhessica Martins (Uberlandia, Brazil) put the 'Cats up 14-8. Peru State had its largest lead at 18-11 on a Graceland error. The Yellowjackets did fight back to get within four at 18-14 and later at 21-17 before Boras put down another kill. Peru State claimed the third set win on a Graceland error.
 
Graceland jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the fourth set before Peru State fought back to eventually tie it at 11-11. The 'Cats took the lead at 12-11 on a Rudebusch service ace. The Yellowjackets then went ahead 16-14 before Kirby landed a kill on an assist from Rudebusch to cut the deficit to one at 16-15. However, the 'Jackets caught fire and scored nine straight points to take the set and match.
 
The big difference in the game was that Graceland held the Bobcats to a .067 hitting percentage, well below their season average. The Yellowjackets finished the match hitting .236.

 
Kirby and Martins each finished with 12 kills to lead the Bobcats.
 
Rudebusch led the team with 26 set assists and added two service aces. Gangi and Martins also finished with two service aces while Kirby had one.
 
Liewer had 16 digs while Kirby added 12 to finish with a double-double on the night.
 
Janjevic had four solo blocks while Boras added one solo. Janjevic added two block assists while Rudebusch and Martins were credited with one block assist each.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Clarke Game Highlights
 
The Crusaders came into Saturday's match with unblemished record at 10-0 and improved its mark by squeaking out a five-set win 25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11.
 
Clarke jumped to an early 8-2 lead in the first set before the Bobcats slowly fought back. Peru State had cut it to two on several occasions late and eventually got within one at 24-23 as Martins put down a kill on an assist from Rudebusch. But a Crusader kill ended the first set.
 

The second set was tight throughout, but Peru State jumped to a 16-10 lead and never trailed after that. A kill by Cristal Quinonez (Anthony, N.M.) on a Rudebusch assist finished the set.
 
There were 12 ties in the third set which featured several different runs of points by both teams. The Bobcats held a 23-22 lead only to see Clarke score the final three points.
 
After being down 8-4 in the fourth set, while Gangi was at the service line, the 'Cats rolled off eight straight points which was helped by numerous Crusader errors. The set was tied late at 20-20, 21-21, and 22-22 before the Bobcats finished it off with three straight points.
 
In the deciding set, after being tied at 4-4, three points by Clarke gave them the lead that they would not relinquish. Peru State did close it to 11-9 but the Crusaders went on for the eventual 15-11 win.
 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures in kills and were led by Martins with 18. Kirby and Quinonez each had 12 while Janjevic added 11.
 
Rudebusch had a game-high 50 assists.
 
Martins had two service aces while Rudebusch and Gangi each had one.
 
Rudebusch finished with a double-double as she led the team in digs with 23 while Liewer and Gangi added 19 and 12 respectively.

 
Janjevic had two solo blocks while Rudebusch and Martins each had one solo. Boras had five block assists while Kirby and Janjevic each had three. Martins and Quinonez each finished with two block assists while Rudebusch had one.

CLARKE GAME BOOK
 
Mt. Mercy Game Highlights
 
Other than the second set, the other three sets were tight throughout as the Mustangs won 25-21, 14-25, 27-25, 26-24.
 
The first set was another one that featured runs by both teams. The teams traded leads early with the Bobcats last lead coming at 12-11 when Kirby put down a kill off an assist from Rudebusch. A six-point run by Mt. Mercy allowed them to regain the lead and they never relinquished it the rest of the set.
 
After the early part of the second set found the teams tied at 11-11, Peru State outscored the Mustangs 14-3 to easily take the second set.
 
Mt. Mercy had a six-point lead early in the third set at 9-3 before the Bobcats slowly fought their way back into the match. Peru State's only lead came at 24-23 on a block by Rudebusch and Janjevic. The set was tied later at 25-25 before the Mustangs finished the set with back-to-back kills.
 
The Mustangs were up 19-12 with their largest lead of the set before the 'Cats battled back to eventually tie it at 24-24 on a kill by Martins. Mt. Mercy finished the fourth set in the same fashion as the third with back-to-back kills.
 

Martins led the team with 11 kills while Kirby and Quinonez each added ten.
 
Rudebusch had a game-high 35 assists.
 
Kirby, Liewer, and Martins each had two service aces while Janjevic had one.
 
Liewer led the team with 19 digs while Kirby and Gangi each had 15.
 
Boras, Janjevic, and Martins each had one solo block. Janjevic also had seven block assists with Kirby adding six. Boras also contributed three block assists.

MT MERCY GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The 9-8 Bobcats will host Heart opponent Culver-Stockton (Mo.) on Tuesday night. The Wildcats are 4-9 overall with both teams currently being 1-1 in conference play. The game is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.
 
Peru State will travel this weekend to Marshall, Mo., to participate in the Missouri Valley Tri-Match. The Bobcats will first face conference opponent Missouri Valley at 6 p.m. and then will face York College at 8 p.m. The Vikings are 15-4 overall and are 2-0 in conference action. The Panthers are presently 7-11 on the season.
 
The 'Cats will be back home on Monday, Sept. 28, when they host another conference opponent, Avila (Mo.), at 7 p.m. The Eagles are presently 7-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play.