(Peru, Neb.) – It was not the result that the Peru State volleyball team wanted Tuesday night as they were swept by Graceland in Lamoni, Iowa.
 
The Yellowjackets never trailed in the first two sets winning 25-18 and 25-19. The Bobcats had a seven-point lead in the third set only to see Graceland rally for a 26-24 win.
 
Graceland improved to 12-16 on the season and 3-8 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The 'Cats felt o 8-15 overall and 4-7 in conference play.
 
First Set Action
 
The 'Jackets jumped to a 3-0 lead before Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) got a kill off an assist from Hannah Burianek (Lincoln) to stop the run. Graceland would go on to lead by as many as nine at 16-7 before Kira Shapiro (Omaha) put down a kill off an assist from Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.). Peru State would score the next three points, all on Graceland miscues to make it 16-11.

 
The 'Cats were within four at 21-17 after Shapiro and Quinonez Holguin hooked up again, but the Yellowjackets would finish off the set.
 
Second Set Action
 
In the second set, Graceland jumped to a 4-0 lead before a block by Shapiro and Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) ended the run. The Yellowjackets would lead by as many as nine at 20-11 before Janjevic got a kill from Burianek.
 
Peru State would work hard to get back within two at 20-18 after another combination of Janjevic and Burianek, but it would not be enough as the 'Jackets would go on for the 25-19 win.
 
Third Set Action
 
After Graceland scored the first point, a block by Janjevic and Mallory Matthies (Omaha) tied the set. Back-to-back attack errors by the Yellowjackets made it 3-1 before Taylor Thompson (Norfolk) served up an ace. The 'Cats would go on to lead 8-1 after Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) got a kill from Burianek.
 
Peru State would maintain its lead until Graceland would go ahead later at 18-17. A Matthies kill from Burianek tied it back up and then two attack errors by the 'Jackets put the 'Cats up 20-18. The teams would be tied at 20-20, 21-21, 22-22, 23-23, and then a service error by Graceland gave Peru State a chance to win the set, but the 'Jackets got a kill to tie it. The Yellowjackets would then go on for the 26-24 set- and match-win.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 

Neither team hit the ball well as Graceland finished with a .143 hitting percentage while holding the Bobcats to a .052 hitting average.

The Yellowjackets had four more service aces as they finished with ten. Both teams finished with 49 digs.
 
Graceland won the blocking battle as they finished with seven total blocks, one more than the 'Cats.
 
Individual Statistics
 
No Bobcat finished in double digits with kills. Jaspe had seven kills while Shapiro added six.
 
Burianek led the team with 14 assists while Quinonez Holguin added eight.
 
Thompson had a match- and career-high five service aces while Cami Ruiz (Bogota, Columbia) added one. 
 
Cudney finished tied for a match-high 13 digs. Jaspe was credited with nine digs while Thompson finished with seven. Burianek and Quinonez Holguin each finished six.
 
Tyra Mollhoff (Norfolk), Janjevic, and Ruiz each were credited with one solo block. Janjevic added three block assists with Matthies adding two with Shapiro being credited with one.

 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will host a pair of matches this weekend. On Friday, Mount Mercy (Iowa) will be the opponent at 7 p.m. The Mustangs are 16-10 on the year and are 5-8 in the Heart after picking up a win over William Penn (Iowa) Tuesday night.
 
At 11 a.m. on Saturday, the Bobcats will host Clarke (Iowa). The Crusaders improved to 20-6 overall and are now 8-4 in the conference after winning their last two matches.
 
Saturday's contest will be the "Community Peru Day" as Peru State and the athletic department are inviting all residents of Peru and their families to attend either the volleyball game and/or the football game for free. The Peru State football team will be hosting Grand View (Iowa) at 2:30 p.m.