(Peru, Neb.) – The 13^th-ranked Grand View volleyball team was pushed throughout the match, but went home with a four-set win over Peru State Tuesday night in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.
 
The Vikings won 28-26, 25-16, 17-25, 25-23 to improve to 8-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) and 14-6 overall. The Bobcats fell to 6-10 overall and 4-3 in conference action.
 
First Set Action
 
Grand View jumped out to a 4-0 lead early forcing the Bobcats to take a timeout. Peru State did get on the board with a Kira Shapiro (Omaha) kill off an assist from Taylor Hogan (Pueblo, Colo.) only to see the Vikings score the next three points to lead 7-1. At that point, and for most the first part of the set, it appeared it would be an early evening for the fans.

 
But, the 'Cats slowly turned it around. Eventually, a kill by Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) off an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) tied the set at 11-11. The rest of the set was close as it was tied at 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17 before the Vikings went up 20-18. Peru State would rally which started with a kill by Mallory Matthies (Omaha) on an assist from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.) and then Shapiro tied it with a kill from Rudebusch. A double block by Cudney and Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) put the 'Cats ahead 21-20.
 
The Vikings tied it at 21 and then went ahead 23-21. Shapiro and Rudebusch combined for point 22 and then Grand View had an attack error and it was tied at 23. The 'Cats did take the next point on a kill by Hannah Sexton (Beatrice) from Rudebusch to have set point. A Viking kill, followed by a Grand View block, gave the Vikings set point. A block by Bowman and Shapiro knotted it at 25-25. Peru State would take the lead with a Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) service ace. A kill by Grand View was followed by two Peru State attack errors giving the Vikings a 28-26.
 
Second Set Action
 
The second set started the same way as the first as Grand View went up 4-0. This set did not have the same excitement as the first as Peru State was never able to get close in the set. The Vikings went on to win 25-16.
 
Third Set Action
 
After Grand View scored the first point, the Vikings had four straight attack errors to put Peru State up 4-1. The 'Cats never trailed and led by six at 12-6 after Matthies put down a kill. The Bobcats later led again by six at 18-12 after a Grand View attack error. The Vikings did pull within three at 18-15, but Shapiro and Rudebusch hooked up for point 19.
 
Peru State's largest lead came at 24-16 after a Cudney kill on an assist from Viera. After Grand View scored, a Viking attack was wide giving Peru State the third set win.

 
Fourth Set Action
 
Back-to-back attack errors by Grand View gave Peru State an early 2-0 lead. Later, a block by Shapiro and Janjevic put the 'Cats up 4-1 before Grand View would come back to tie it at 4-4.
 
The set would be close early until Grand View went up 12-9. A Cudney kill from Rudebusch made it 12-10 and then four consecutive Viking errors gave Peru State a 14-12 advantage. The Vikings would pull within one at 16-15 before Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) drilled a spike from Rudebusch to make it 17-15.
 
Peru State would still lead until Grand View tied it at 19-19. A Matthies kill from Grose allowed the Bobcat to regain the lead at 20-19. The Vikings would tie it, but Peru State would regain the lead on a Grand View hitting error. Raechel Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas) would put down a kill from Rudebusch and the Bobcats lead 22-20. A solo block by Bowman gave Peru State 23-20 advantage. While things looked good for the 'Cats, Grand View had other plans as they stormed back for five straight points to take the set and match.

GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK
 
Statistics
 
Peru State actually outhit the #13-ranked team, but neither team hit well. The Bobcats hit .121 while holding the Vikings to a .088 hitting average.
 
No Bobcat was in double figures in kills. Cudney led the efforts with nine kills while Shapiro, Janjevic, and Knowles each had eight kills. Janjevic hit an outstanding .583 in the match. Matthies had a season-high seven kills.

 
Rudebusch led the team with 22 assists while Grose added 13.
 
Viera had two service aces while Hogan and Grose each added one.
 
Viera set another personal best in digs as she had 40 in four sets which is one of the best in the NAIA this season. Roberts added 12 digs while both setters – Rudebusch and Grose – added eight apiece.
 
Bowman was credited with two solo blocks while Janjevic and Matthies each added one. Shapiro and Bowman each had three block assists while Cudney and Janjevic each had one.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will host two more contests this week before going on a 24-day road trip. Peru State will host Avila (Mo.) at 7 p.m. on Friday night. The Eagles are struggling this year and are 3-18 overall and are 1-7 in Heart play. Avila has dropped 12 straight contests.
 
Then on Saturday, Peru State will host Baker (Kan.) at 2 p.m. The Wildcats are 8-12 on the year and are 1-7 in conference play. Baker has dropped six of their last seven matches.
 
Peru State's road trip starts next Tuesday when they travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to face William Penn at 7 p.m. The Statesmen are 6-13 overall and are 2-6 in the Heart. The Bobcats took the first one this year in four sets.