(Peru, Neb.) – The broom was out in Lamoni, Iowa, as the Peru State volleyball team swept Graceland Tuesday night in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.
 
The Bobcats defeated the Yellowjackets 25-17, 27-25, 25-19 to improve to 12-15 overall and 9-5 in the Heart. Graceland fell to 10-14 overall and 4-10 in conference play.
 
First Set Action
 
The 'Cats got a kill from an unlikely source, their libero Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) on an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) to start the first set. A kill by Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) followed off an assist from Taylor Hogan (Pueblo, Colo.) made it 2-0 and Peru State never trailed in the first set.

 
The Bobcats built their lead to as many as nine at 22-13 after a Yellowjacket attack error. A Graceland ball-handling error gave Peru State its 25^th point to win the set.
 
Second Set Action
 
Graceland jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set before a service error gave Peru State its first point. The Yellowjackets would lead 5-1 before the 'Cats would eventually tie it with a Rudebusch service ace at 6-6.
 
The Bobcats would eventually lead by as many as five at 19-14 after Raechel Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas) put down a spike off an assist from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.). Graceland would go on a 9-1 run to lead 23-20 before the 'Cats would fight off set points. A Yellowjacket attack error followed by a Rudebusch service ace made it 23-22, but a Peru State error gave Graceland the opportunity to win the set. Rudebusch would get a kill to bring the 'Cats back within one forcing a Yellowjacket timeout. Graceland would come out of the timeout and have an attack error which knotted the game at 24-24.
 
Once again, the 'Jackets would go back on top 25-24 with a kill. Grose would tie the game with a kill on an assist from Rudebusch and then Cudney put Peru State ahead with a kill to make it 26-25. A block by Cudney and Mallory Matthies (Omaha) gave the Bobcats the 27-25 second set win.
 
Third Set Action

 
Peru State never trailed in the third set as they jumped out to a 4-0 advantage. But, Graceland would make it close as they would fight back to tie it at 16-16. A Kira Shapiro (Omaha) kill from Grose broke the tie and the Bobcats would go on to pull away for the win.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Statistics
 
Peru State met its season goal of hitting above .200 as they finished at .211 while holding Graceland to a .110 hitting percentage.
 
No Bobcat was in double figures in kills and were led by Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) who finished with eight kills while hitting an outstanding .500. Cudney added seven kills while Knowles and Shapiro each had six kills.
 
Grose led the team with 15 assists while Rudebusch contributed 12.
 
Hogan had a match-high three service aces while Rudebusch and Viera each had two service aces.
 
Viera had a match-high 19 digs while Alaya Roberts (Cibolo, Texas) added eight and Grose finished with five.

 
Peru State was not credited with any solo blocks but had 24 block assists. Matthies and Janjevic each finished with seven block assists with Knowles adding four. Cudney and Shapiro each were credited with three block assists.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats have two more road conference games this week before finally returning home after being on the road for almost a month.
 
On Friday, Peru State will be in Marshall, Mo., where they will face Missouri Valley at 7 p.m. The 22^nd-ranked Vikings suffered just their fifth loss overall and second Heart loss Tuesday night when they fell to Benedictine (Kan.). Missouri Valley is 25-5 overall and 11-2 in the Heart.
 
Central Methodist of Fayette, Mo., will be the hosts for Peru State on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Eagles are presently 18-10 overall and 9-4 in conference play.
 
Finally, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, the 'Cats will be back home to host Clarke (Iowa) at 5 p.m. After starting the season with a 23-4 and 10-2 conference mark, the Pride have dropped three of their last four matches – all conference games to fall to 23-7 and 10-5 in the Heart.
 
With just five conference matches remaining in the regular season, all are key to every team's spot in the upcoming post-season championship tournament. Grand View (Iowa) has a strangle-hold on the top seed at this point in the north division while Peru State and Clarke are battling for the second seed.