(Peru, Neb.) – After making quick work of their opponent Friday night, it took a little longer on Saturday afternoon for a win. But that is what happened as the Peru State volleyball team defeated the visiting Baker (Kan.) Wildcats in four sets.
 
In the battle of the 'Cats, the Bobcats won 25-16, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19 to improve to 8-10 overall and 6-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Baker fell to 9-13 on the season and 2-8 in conference action.
 
First Set Action
 
A Bobcat attack error gave Baker the first point of the set and that would be the only lead of the set for the Wildcats. A kill by Mallory Matthies (Omaha) on an assist from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.) tied the game. A kill by Kira Shapiro (Omaha) from an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) put the Bobcats in front. Peru State would extend its lead to 7-3 before the Wildcats called a timeout.

 
Baker would later pull within three at 11-8 before a service error stopped their run. Peru State would move to a 19-11 advantage and later 22-14 on a kill by Claire Cudney (Marysville, Mo.) from Grose. A Wildcat attack error gave Peru State the 25^th point of the set.
 
Second Set Action
 
While it looked like the Bobcats had control of the second set, Baker had other plans. Peru State led throughout most of the set and had a 21-17 lead after a kill from Shapiro from an assist from Taylor Hogan (Pueblo, Colo.). The Wildcats would score six straight points to go up by two at 23-21 before Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) put down a spike from Rudebusch. Raechel Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas) would get a kill on an overpass and the Bobcats had tied it at 23-23. But, the Wildcats would get the next two points to win the set and tie the match.
 
Third Set Action
 
After being tied at 1-1, Bowman and Rudebusch hooked up for a kill/assist to give Peru State an early lead which they would not relinquish. A service ace by Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) later would make it 7-2 forcing a Wildcat timeout. Viera would get another service ace after the timeout to make it 8-2.
 
Baker would eventually pull within two at several points in the set with the latest point coming at 16-14, by a Shapiro kill from Rudebusch would spark a four-point run for Peru State. A kill by Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) would end the set with a kill from Grose.
 
Fourth Set Action
 
Peru State went on a 4-0 run to start the fourth set and led the entire way, but the Wildcats kept it close. Baker was within two at 15-13 before the combination of Shapiro/Rudebusch gave Peru State a three-point cushion.
 

Baker would fight off four-straight match points before they had a service error to give Peru State the set and match win.

BAKER GAME BOOK
 
Statistics
 
Peru State almost reached their match goal of hitting .200 as they finished at .195 while hold Baker to a .113 hitting percentage.
 
Janjevic led the balanced hitting attack with ten kills while hitting an outstanding .563 on the match. Cudney and Shapiro each added nine kills while Hannah Sexton (Beatrice) had eight kills. Bowman finished with seven kills and Matthies added five.
 
Rudebusch led the team with 24 assists while Grose finished with 18.
 
Viera had a match-high five service aces – more than Baker had as a team – while Rudebusch contributed three. A night after having seven service aces, Grose came back with two more while Alaya Roberts (Cibolo, Texas) added one.
 
Continuing a torrid week on defense, Viera finished with 32 digs while Roberts added 13. Rudebusch was one short of a double-double as she had nine digs. Hogan and Grose each had eight digs.
 
Janjevic had four solo blocks while Bowman added two solo blocks.
 
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State will be on the road for 24 straight days which will include conference matches and one tournament.
 
The road begins Tuesday night when they head to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to take on William Penn at 7 p.m. The Statesmen are 7-15 on the season and 2-8 in conference play.
 
On Friday night, the Bobcats will be in Atchison, Kan., to face Benedictine at 7 p.m. The Ravens have won three in a row in sweeps including a big win over Clarke (Iowa) Saturday afternoon. Benedictine is now 12-5 on the year and are 5-4 in the Heart.
 
Saturday, Peru State will travel to Olathe, Kan., to face MidAmerica Nazarene at 1 p.m. The Pioneers are 11-8 overall and are 6-4 in the Heart.