(Peru, Neb.) – In one of the longer matches of the season for Peru State volleyball, they found themselves on the losing end for the first time in the Al Wheeler Activity Center (AWAC) this fall.
 
The visiting Evangel (Mo.) Crusaders went home with a 14-25, 25-20, 25-23, 19-25, 15-13 hard-fought, five-set win.
 
With the win, the Crusaders improved to 6-14 overall and 2-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 6-9 on the season and are now 4-2 in conference play having lost both matches this week.
 
First Set Action
 
After being close early in the first set and tied at 4-4, a kill by Kira Shapiro (Omaha) on an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) gave Peru State its first lead in the set. The 'Cats would not look back as they jumped out to a 13-6 lead with Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) getting a service ace for the 13^th point.
 
After a Crusader timeout, Janjevic served up another ace and the Bobcats would stretch the lead to 16-6. Evangel would close within seven at 17-10, before the Shapiro/Rudebusch combination stopped the mini-run. Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) would put down a kill off an assist from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.) for the 25^th point.

 
Second Set Action
 
Peru State only led once in the second set and that came after a Grose service ace to make it 8-7. While the set was tied several times later, Evangel would keep going out to take three- or four-point leads forcing the Bobcats to play from behind. The 'Cats were within two at 22-20 after Grose was able to get a kill, but errors by Peru State, combined with an Evangel kill gave the Crusaders the second set win.
 
Third Set Action
 
Evangel would jump out to a 3-1 lead before a Shapiro kill from Rudebusch made it 3-2. Back-to-back service aces by Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) put the 'Cats on top 5-4. The set would continue to be close throughout and was tied at 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, and 16 before Evangel would gain a slight advantage. The Crusaders would go up 23-19 before Shapiro found pay dirt to make it 23-20. A Peru State service ace made it 24-20, but the 'Cats were not done fighting. Again, a Shapiro/Rudebusch combo put the score at 24-21 and then Bowman and Grose hooked up for a kill/assist for the 22^nd point. A service ace by Grose pulled Peru State within one at 24-23 forcing an Evangel timeout. A Bobcat hitting error would eventually give the Crusaders the third set win.
 
Fourth Set Action
 
A kill by Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) on an assist from Grose started a 4-0 run for Peru State to start the fourth set. The Crusaders would fight their way back and eventually tied it at 9-9 before a ball handling error was called on Evangel to make it 10-9. Later, Peru State would extend their lead to 16-11 after Cudney and Grose hooked up again. The Crusaders would get as close as two at 17-15, but they never would get closer. A kill by Janjevic from Grose would give the 25^th point to the Bobcats and tie the match.
 
Fifth Set Action
 
Evangel jumped out to a 7-2 advantage forcing Peru State to play from behind the entire fifth set. A kill by Bowman on an assist from Taylor Hogan (Pueblo, Colo.) pulled the Bobcats to within one at 11-10. But, Evangel came back with a kill to stop Peru State's run. Later, a Shapiro kill from Rudebusch made it 13-12, but the Crusaders countered with a kill. Another Shapiro/Rudebusch hook-up made it 14-13, but Evangel finished the match with a kill.

EVANGEL GAME BOOK
 
Statistics
 
Peru State actually outhit the Crusaders as they finished at .177 while Evangel hit .107.

 
Shapiro had a match-high 18 kills while hitting .298. Janjevic added 11 kills and hit .400. Cudney provided a spark off the bench as she finished with eight kills while hitting .412. Bowman and Hannah Sexton (Beatrice) each had five kills.
 
Rudebusch led the team with 29 assists while Grose added 16.
 
Viera had a match-high five service aces with Grose adding three. Janjevic finished with two and Hogan added one.
 
Viera also had a match-high 39 digs which is a career best as she had 37 in a match against Central Methodist (Mo.) last season. Alaya Roberts (Cibolo, Texas) added 12 digs while Hogan and Grose each finished with nine. Rudebusch contributed seven digs.
 
The Bobcats did a good job blocking and finished with 13 solo blocks and four block assists. Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) led the team with four solo blocks while Janjevic and Bowman each had three solo blocks. Raechel Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas), Shapiro, and Sexton each had one solo block. Mollhoff, Shapiro, Janjevic, and Bowman each had one block assist.
 
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State has a busy week at home and then will not play in the AWAC again for several weeks. Tuesday night, Grand View (Iowa) will be the opponent at 7 p.m. The Vikings are one of the top teams in the NAIA and are presently 13-6 overall and are 7-0 in the Heart.
 
On Friday night, Avila (Mo.) will visit the AWAC confines for a 7 p.m. contest. The Eagles have been challenged this season and are 3-17 overall and are 1-6 in conference play.
 
Saturday's opponent will be Baker (Kan.) at 2 p.m. The Wildcats are currently 8-11 on the year and are 1-6 in the Heart.