(Peru, Neb.) – Central Methodist (CMU) avoided a fifth set on Saturday as they scored three straight points in the fourth set to topple the visiting Peru State Bobcats.
 
The Eagles won 24-26, 25-19, 25-18, 26-24 in Fayette, Mo., to improve to 20-10 overall and 11-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 12-17 overall and are now 9-7 in conference play.
 
First Set Action
 
The Eagles had control during most of the first set and led by as many as five late in the set at 21-16. A kill by Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) off an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) made it 21-17. CMU got the next point before an attack error by the Eagles made it 22-18. Rudebusch would feed the ball to Raechel Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas) for a kill and then Knowles and Bowman would combine with a block to make it 22-20. CMU scored the 23^rd point before Bowman and Rudebusch hooked up again for a kill/assist to pull within two at 23-21.

 
The Eagles would then get to set point at 24-21 before the 'Cats made their improbable comeback. Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) put down a spike from Rudebusch to make it 24-22. Knowles would get a kill on an assist from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.) to pull within one at 24-23 forcing a CMU timeout. Mallory Matthies (Omaha) added a kill on an assist from Alaya Roberts (Cibolo, Texas) to tie the game at 24-24. Knowles and Janjevic combined for a block for the 25^th point and then Knowles put down the winning point off an assist from Grose.
 
Second Set Action
 
CMU never trailed in the second set and led by as many as seven at 17-10 before Peru State tried to claw their way back into the set. Late in the set, Knowles put down a kill off an assist from Rudebusch to make it 19-18 Eagles, but the Bobcats could not get over the hump as CMU went on to win.
 
Third Set Action
 
Similar to the second set, CMU never trailed although the Bobcats did keep it close early. The Eagles would jump to a 13-4 forcing Peru State to play from behind. The 'Cats did pull with five at 22-17 after Janjevic had a service ace, but again CMU went on for the win.
 
Fourth Set Action
 
As the score would indicate, the fourth set was close as there were 16 ties and four lead changes. Peru State would lead by as many as six at 13-7 after an Eagle attack error. The 'Cats would hold onto the lead until CMU would eventually tie it at 20-20. CMU would eventually go up 22-21 before Claire Cudney (Marysville, Mo.) got a kill from Rudebusch to knot it at 22-22.

 
Kira Shapiro (Omaha) would put the Bobcats ahead with a kill from Grose at 23-22. After the Eagles tied it at 23-23, Shapiro and Grose hooked up again to give the Bobcats set point at 24-23. Three straight Eagle points ended the Bobcats' hope to force a deciding set five.

CENTRAL METHODIST GAME BOOK
 
Statistics
 
Good defensive efforts kept both teams from having a high hitting percentage. CMU finished hitting .144 while the Bobcats hit .106 – well below their game goal of .200.
 
Janjevic led Peru State with 13 kills while hitting .500. Shapiro added 11 kills. Knowles finished with eight kills while Bowman added seven.
 
Rudebusch led the team with 24 assists while Grose added 21.
 
Janjevic and Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) each had two service aces with Grose adding one.
 
Viera had a match-high 33 digs with Grose adding 14. Both Rudebusch and Roberts each finished with 12.

 
Shapiro and Janjevic were each credited with a solo block while Shapiro and Bowman each had four block assists. Knowles had three block assists while Janjevic added three.
 
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State is finally home after being on the road for a little over three weeks. Tuesday night the 'Cats will host Clarke (Iowa) at 5 p.m. The Pride are presently 24-7 overall and are 11-5 in the Heart North – just ahead of the Bobcats in the divisional standings.
 
On Friday night, it will be Senior Night and the final regular-season home game for the Bobcats when they host Culver-Stockton (Mo.) at 5 p.m. The Wildcats are 8-21 overall and are 1-14 in conference action.
 
The final regular-season game for the 'Cats will be on Halloween when they face the Heart's best team, Grand View, in Des Moines, at 7 p.m. The Vikings are perfect in the conference at 16-0 and are 25-7 overall.