(Peru, Neb.) – The Bobcat volleyball team had an opportunity to extend their match with the Pioneers on Saturday in Olathe, Kan., but could not take the second set. As a result, MidAmerica Nazarene (MNU) swept Peru State 25-18, 25-23, 25-21.
 
The Pioneers improved to 14-8 on the year and are now 9-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 9-12 overall and 7-5 in conference action.
 
First Set Action
 
Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.) was able to find Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) for a Bobcat kill to start the match. The Pioneers would go on a 3-0 run and then never trailed in the first set. MNU would go out to a 15-8 lead before a Kira Shapiro (Omaha) kill from Taylor Hogan (Pueblo, Colo.) would stop the Pioneer run. Later, Peru State would pull within four at 16-12 after Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) put down a kill on an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.). MidAmerica Nazarene would then pull away for the 25-18 win.

 
Second Set Action
 
It didn't look good for the 'Cats as to the way the second started as they quickly found themselves down 6-1. Back-to-back errors by MNU made it 6-3 before Shapiro and Rudebusch hooked up to make it 6-4. They would hook up again after an error by the Pioneers to tie it at 6-6. Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) would had a service ace to put Peru State up 7-6 forcing an MNU timeout.
 
Peru State would extend their lead to 11-6 with a kill by Janjevic and two kills from Shapiro and another ace from Viera. The Bobcats would hold onto their lead, but the Pioneers would close it to 22-21 before Cudney put a spike down from Grose to give the 'Cats a two-point advantage at 23-21. MNU would then put together a four-point run to take the second set.
 
Third Set Action
 
MNU jumped to a 3-0 lead before Mallory Matthies (Omaha) had a kill from Grose to stop the run. The Pioneers never trailed in the third set even though Peru State fought back to within one at 7-6 and later at 11-10. After that MidAmerica Nazarene went out to a 19-12 advantage which was too much for the 'Cats to overcome.

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GAME BOOK
 
Statistics
 
Peru State hit well below its match goal of .200 as they finished at .115. MNU hit .215 for the match.
 
Shapiro tied for match-high honors with 11 kills while hitting .276. Cudney and Raechel Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas) each finished with eight kills.
 
Rudebusch led the team with 19 assists while Grose added 13.
 
Janjevic and Viera each had two service aces.
 
Viera had a match-high 23 digs while Grose finished with a double-double as she added 11 digs. Rudebusch added six digs.
 
Peru State did not have any solo blocks in the match, but were led by Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) who had five block assists. Shapiro was credited with four block assists.

 
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State will continue on its road stretch for the next two weeks. On Tuesday, the Bobcats will be on a long trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they will take on Mount Mercy at 6 p.m. The Mustangs are presenting 10-11 overall and are 5-7 in the Heart having lost three in a row.
 
Then, on Friday and Saturday, the Bobcats will participate in the Grand View Invitational in Des Moines. On Friday, Peru State will take on face two of the better teams in the NAIA. At 3 p.m., the 'Cats will the top-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) team who is 16-0. Then, at 6 p.m., Peru State will face the team just sitting one spot out of the Top 25 – Rocky Mountain (Mont.). Rocky Mountain is presently 15-6 on the year.
 
Peru State will start Saturday with a match against Saint Francis of Indiana. The Cougars are 7-15 on the year. To finish the tournament at 3 p.m., the Bobcats will face the 15^th-ranked Montana Tech team which is 13-5 on the season.