(Peru, Neb.) – The outcome of the Grand View-Peru State volleyball match looked bleak for the Bobcats after the Vikings had taken the first two sets with the second set being in convincing fashion.
 
However, after the break, the 'Cats came back out with a renewed vigor and came back to win the next three sets, the third one in extended play, and the match. The final scores were 23-25, 15-25, 34-32, 25-20, 15-7.
 
With the win, Peru State, who received votes in the most recent coaches' poll, improved to 19-3 overall and 2-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Grand View, who was 11^th in Tuesday's coaches' poll, feel to 10-4 overall and 1-1 in the Heart.
First Set Action
 
Peru State jumped to an early 2-0 and 6-3 lead before the Vikings started to come back. Grand View tied it at 8-8 and then went out to a 13-9 advantage. After a kill by Jhessica Martins (Uberlandia, Brazil) on and assist from Gianna Gangi (Simi Valley, Calif.), Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) connected with three service aces to tie it at 13-13. The teams would trade the lead throughout the rest of the first set with Grand View eventually winning 25-23.

 
Second Set Action
 
After a kill by Nadia Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) on an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) started the set for Peru State, Grande View would score the next seven points. The 'Cats never really threatened in the set with the Vikings winning 25-15.
 
Third Set Action
 
What would be the longest set played by Peru State in many years, the action would see 20 ties and five lead changes. Grand View would have the largest lead of five on several occasions only to see the Bobcats fight back into the set.
 
The Vikings would lead 11-6 before a Jaspe kill from Rudebusch would pull the 'Cats a little closer. However, Peru State could still not close in as Grand View would again lead by five at 16-11 and later at 19-14. This would be when Peru State would start to make a comeback. Another Jaspe kill from Rudebusch would start it. Later, after an ace serve by Rudebusch pulled the 'Cats within one at 21-20, Grand View took a time out. Another Jaspe/Rudebusch combination would tie it at 21-21; however, the Vikings came back with the kill to regain the lead.
 
The rest of the set would be tied 11 more times with a kill by Hannah Sexton (Beatrice) from Rudebusch putting Peru State up 33-32. Gangi would be at the service line and garnered an ace serve to give the Bobcats the 34-32 set win.
 
Fourth Set Action
 

Peru State would jump out to a 4-0 fourth set lead only to see Grand View to come back and eventually tie it up at 8-8. Later, after being tied at 11-11, the Vikings would take the lead and held it until the Jaspe/Rudebusch combination tied it up at 18-18. One more Jaspe/Rudebusch kill/assist put Peru State up 19-18. Grand View would tie it at 20-20 only to see the 'Cats get the next five points for the win. A Janjevic kill from Rudebusch gave the Bobcats the 25-20 set win.
 
Fifth Set Action
 
After the set was tied early at 3-3, an Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) kill put Peru State ahead for good. Grand View would take a time out trailing 6-3 after another Bowman kill, this time from Rudebusch. A kill by Martins from Rudebusch was followed by a Viking kill. This would be followed by another Martins/Rudebusch combo and then Bowman would get a kill to make it 9-4. The Vikings would call another timeout at that point.
 
An attack error by Grand View made it 10-4 and then Gangi landed a service ace. Another Grand View attack error made it 12-4, but the Vikings came back with a kill to cut the lead to 12-5. Jaspe and Rudebusch combined again to make it 13-5. A two-hit was called on Peru State, but Jaspe responded again to make it 14-6. After a Grand View kill, the Rudebusch and Jaspe combination hit again and the 'Cats ended the big match with a 15-7 set win.
 
Peru State connected on 10 of 14 attack attempts in the final set for a .714 hitting percentage.

GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK
 
Statistics
 
Jaspe led Peru State with 19 kills, which tied for match-high honors, while hitting .371. Kira Shapiro (Omaha) quietly came up with 12 kills while Janjevic finished with 11 kills while hitting .381. Martins added nine kills with Bowman finishing with five kills – just playing in the final three sets.
 
Rudebusch had 42 assists with Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.) adding eight. Rudebusch had a match-high four service aces while Jaspe finished with three – all of which came in a row. Gangi and Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) each added two service aces.
 
Viera finished with a match-high 27 digs while Gangi added 13. Rudebusch and Jaspe finished with eight and seven digs respectively.
 
Janjevic was credited with a match-high three solo blocks while Jennifer Ostrowski (Kankakee, Ill.), Bowman, and Sexton each had one solo block. Rian Kirby (Gretna) finished with three block assists with Ostrowski adding two.
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State will be on the road for three straight Heart contests before returning home for four straight matches. On Friday, the 'Cats will be in Canton, Mo., to take on Culver-Stockton at 7 p.m. The Wildcats are presently 3-11 overall and 0-2 in the Heart, but are always tough at home.
 
Then, on Saturday, the Bobcats will be traveling to face William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa, at 5 p.m. The Statesmen are currently 3-13 overall and 0-2 in conference action.
 
The 'Cats final road trip will be next Tuesday when they head south to Atchison, Kan., to play Benedictine at 7 p.m. The Ravens are 4-9 at this time and 0-1 in the Heart but will play two matches before the Bobcats come to town.