(Peru, Neb.) – Playing one of their most-efficient matches of the season, the Peru State volleyball team swept the visiting Avila Eagles in 56 minutes Friday night.
 
The Bobcats won 25-9, 25-8, 25-11 to improve to 7-10 on the season and 5-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Avila fell to 3-19 overall and are now 1-8 in conference play.
 
First Set Action
 
Avila scored the first point of the set with a kill, but the 'Cats came right back with an Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) kill off an assist from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.). That would start a run of ten straight points for Peru State which included three service aces by Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.).

 
The Eagles would pull as close as 14-9, but a kill from Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) made it 15-9. Freshman Taylor Hogan (Pueblo, Colo.) would serve out the set while Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) would put down three kills in that stretch, as well as, participate in a block.
 
Second Set Action
 
A service ace by Rudebusch started the second set which then saw back-to-back hitting errors on Avila. Peru State would score its fourth point on a block by Bowman and Kira Shapiro (Omaha) before the Eagles would score.
 
The 'Cats would move out to a 16-3 advantage in which the stretch of points saw one service ace by Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay) and three service aces from Grose. Avila would pull to within 11 at 18-7 before Cudney put down a kill.
 
Peru State would get its 25^th point on a kill from Raechel Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas) on an assist from Rudebusch.
 
Third Set Action
 
After Mallory Matthies (Omaha) started the third set on a kill from Grose, Avila did tie it. But, that would be as close as the Eagles would be as a Shapiro kill from Rudebusch would start a 3-0 run that put the 'Cats up for good.
 
A Janjevic kill from Grose made it 10-3 before Avila called a timeout. Peru State scored five more points after the Eagle timeout before Avila would break the run. The Eagles would get within seven at 18-11, but would not score after that time. A series of Eagle errors and Peru State blocks helped push Peru State to the end. A Bowman/Rudebusch combination finished off the match.

AVILA GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics

 
Peru State had one of its best hitting percentages of the season as they finished hitting .286 getting 33 kills out of 84 swings with only nine errors. Contrarily, Avila hit negative at -.094 as they had only 17 kills and 26 errors. In addition, the Bobcats had 12 service aces with only one error and were not aced themselves in the match.
 
No Bobcat was in double figures in kills, but Cudney and Shapiro each finished with seven to lead the team. Cudney finished with one of her best hitting nights at .385. Matthies, Janjevic, and Bowman each added five kills. Bowman hit .625 while Janjevic hit .455.
 
Grose led the team with 15 assists while Rudebusch added 12.
 
Grose had an amazing night serving as she finished with seven service aces. This puts her tied with three others in the Heart for the most in a match this season. Rudebusch added four service aces with Viera adding to her team-leading total with one.
 
Viera continued to play sound defense as she put up 24 digs for a match-high. Cudney and Rudebusch each added five digs.
 
Janjevic, Bowman, Emily Meyer (Sabetha, Kan.), and Viera each had a solo block. Shapiro was credited with three block assists while Janjevic and Bowman each had two block assists.
 
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State is hosting Baker (Kan.) Saturday at 2 p.m. The Wildcats come into the match having won two of their last three including stopping Graceland Friday night in Lamoni, Iowa. Baker is now 9-12 on the season and are 2-7 in the Heart.
 
The Bobcats then start a stretch of playing on the road for 24 days before being home again. Its starts Tuesday night in Oskaloosa, Iowa, when they take on William Penn at 7 p.m. The Statesmen are now 6-14 on the year and are 2-7 in conference play. Peru State took the first match of the season 3-1.