(Peru, Neb.) – In a battle of teams either ranked or receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the Bellevue Bruins swept the Bobcats of Peru State on Tuesday night in non-conference action in Peru.
 
Bellevue, now 20-8, defeated the 'Cats 25-19, 25-16, 25-21. Peru State falls to 30-7 with the non-conference loss. In reviewing the all-time records between the former rivals, this was the 22^nd time in a row that the Bruins have defeated the Bobcats dating back to 2004.
 
First Set Action
 
Peru State scored the first point of the match on a service error by the Bruins. The teams battled back-and-forth early with the teams being tied 6-6 before Bellevue scored the next two points. The Bruins never trailed after that point. A kill by Jhessica Martins (Uberlandia, Brazil) on an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) pulled Peru State within two at 18-16, but never could get closer.
 
Second Set Action
 
The Bruins never trailed in the second set and led by as many as ten at 23-13 before eventually winning 25-16.
 
Third Set Action
 
The third set was much more competitive as it was tied 14 different times with neither team leading by more than four. Peru State led late 20-16 after Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) put down a kill off an assist from Samantha Hinrichs (Ankeny, Iowa). The Bruins would storm back to tie it at 20-20 before a Bellevue hitting error would give Peru State its last point of the match. Bellevue would score the next five points to take the 25-21 set win.

BELLEVUE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Bellevue outhit Peru State .294 to .128 on their way to the sweep.
 
The Bobcats did not have anyone with double-digit kills. Kira Shapiro (Omaha) had nine kills to lead Peru State while Jaspe and Martins each had seven kills. Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) and Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) each finished with five kills.
 
Rudebusch had 18 assists to lead the team while Hinrichs finished with six. Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.) added five assists.
 
Gianna Gangi (Simi Valley, Calif.) had the lone service ace for Peru State.
 
Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) had a match-high 16 digs. Gangi added eight digs while Rudebusch finished with seven.
 
Jaspe and Martins were each credited with one solo block. Bowman added four block assists while Shapiro had three and Jaspe added two block assists.
 
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State gets back into Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) action on Thursday night as they travel to Olathe, Kan., to take on the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers. The Pioneers, who are ranked 13^th in the coaches' poll, are now 20-6 overall and 7-1 in the Heart after sweeping Evangel (Mo.) Tuesday night. Game time is 7 p.m.
 
Next Tuesday will be Senior Night for the 'Cats when they host Missouri Valley in Heart action at 6 p.m. The Vikings are 25-7 overall and 7-3 in the Heart. Cross country seniors will also be recognized Tuesday night.
 
The Bobcats final regular-season match will be on Tuesday, Nov. 1, when they travel to face Graceland in Lamoni, Iowa. Presently, the Yellowjackets are 12-13 overall and are 1-6 in the Heart. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.