(Peru, Neb.) – When it looked like the match would last less than an hour and that Peru State fans would leave disappointed, there was a sudden turnaround. And a turnaround it was.
 
The Bobcat volleyball team, after trailing two set to nil (losing 25-13 and 25-19), pulled out a 26-24 win in the third set to force a fourth set. The fourth was close throughout with Peru State winning 25-21 to force a deciding fifth set with the visiting Mount Mercy Mustangs.
 
In the final set, the Mustangs led most of the way and had match point at 14-12 before the Bobcats pulled off four straight points to pull out the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) win at 16-14.
 
With the win, Peru State improved to 3-4 overall and more importantly, are 2-0 in the Heart. The Mustangs fell to 3-3 and 0-1 in conference play.

 
First Set Action
 
Mount Mercy only trailed once in the first set at 6-5 after a service ace by Cristina Viera (Montevideo, Uruguay). The Mustangs reeled off three points and the 'Cats would only get within one the rest of the set.
 
Second Set Action
 
An Alex Bowman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) block early in the second set gave Peru State its only lead at 2-1. Mount Mercy would score the next five points and built the lead to as many as ten at 16-6 before the 'Cats would slowly start to eat away at the lead. However, the closest the Bobcats would get would be at 23-19 after a Mustang attack error.
 
Third Set Action
 
A kill by Hannah Sexton (Beatrice) off an assist from Brooke Rudebusch (Moorpark, Calif.) would give Peru State an early 3-1 lead. Later, back-to-back attack errors by Mount Mercy would put the Bobcats up 7-4. The Mustangs would get a spark after that point and it looked bleak for Peru State as Mount Mercy scored ten straight points to lead 14-7.
 
After that point, it was Peru State's turn to go on a run. The 'Cats would outscore Mount Mercy 11-2 to go up 18-16 on a kill by Sexton. The Mustangs would then go up 19-18 before an attack error by Mount Mercy knotted it at 19-19.
 
The Mustangs would score two forcing a timeout by Peru State. A setting error on the Bobcats made it 22-19 before Bowman got another block to pull the 'Cats within two.
 
Mount Mercy would get a kill to lead 23-20 before Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) put down a spike off an assist from Rudebusch. An attack error by the Mustangs made it 23-22, but Mount Mercy responded with a kill to get to match point.
 
Peru State would stave off four straight match points which started with a Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) kill from Rudebusch. A double block by Cudney and Janjevic tied the score at 24-24. Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) put Peru State on top off an assist from Alaya Roberts (Cibolo, Texas). A Mustang attack error gave the Bobcats new life.

 
Fourth Set Action
 
Peru State would jump out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth set, but the Mustangs kept it close throughout. It was tied 13 times in the set with the last tie coming at 20-20. A Cudney kill off an assist from Meg Grose (Peoria, Ariz.) made it 21-20 and forced a Mount Mercy timeout.
 
Cudney and Grose combined for another point and then Mount Mercy had an attack error to make it 23-20. Grose followed with a service ace before the Mustangs put down a kill to make it 24-21. A service error by Mount Mercy gave Peru State a 25-21 win forcing a deciding set.
 
Fifth Set Action
 
In a set which only has to go to 15, there were seven ties. But when Mount Mercy gained a lead, they would go out by four on a couple of occasions.
 
After leading 8-4, the Mustangs maintained the lead through the rest of the set until they had match point at 14-12. A kill by Shapiro from Rudebusch was the first match point the Bobcats fought off. Then a Cudney/Rudebusch combo tied it at 14-14. Bowman provided point 14 with a solo block and then Cudney put down the final kill off an assist from Rudebusch for the 16-14 win.
 
Statistics
 
It was definitely more of a defensive battle for both teams as neither team's hitting percentage was very good. In fact, the Mustangs led in almost every statistical category including hitting where they hit .114 compared to .060 for Peru State. The Bobcats had .000 hitting percentage in each of the first three sets.
 
Janjevic and Shapiro led the 'Cats with 11 kills each with Janjevic hitting at an outstanding .450 clip. Cudney added nine kills while Sexton finished with six. Bowman added five kills.
 
Rudebusch led the team with 25 assists while Grose added 16.
 
Janjevic had a match-high three service aces while Grose and Viera each had two. Rudebusch added one service ace.
 
Viera had a match high 27 digs with Roberts added 18. Taylor Hogan (Pueblo, Colo.) finished with 13 digs while Rudebusch finished with a double-double on the night as she had 12 digs.
 
Janjevic and Bowman were each credited with three solo blocks while Bowman also had two block assists. Cudney, Janjevic, Raechel Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas), and Shapiro each had one block assist.

 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play in the Evangel University Tournament in Springfield, Mo., this Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the 'Cats will face John Brown (Ark.) at 1 p.m. and Oklahoma Wesleyan at 7 p.m. John Brown is presently undefeated at 6-0 on the season while Oklahoma Wesleyan is 2-4.
 
On Saturday, the Bobcats will face teams they played last weekend in the Bellevue Tournament. At 10 a.m., Peru State will face Bellevue. The Bruins are 6-3. Then, the 'Cats will finish the tournament taking on Tabor (Kan.) at 2 p.m. The Bluejays are 3-3 on the year.