(Peru, Neb.) – In a non-conference match Tuesday night, the Peru State volleyball team was swept by the University of St. Mary (USM) in Leavenworth, Kan.
 
The Spires, now 19-11, swept the Bobcats 25-19, 25-19, 27-25. The 'Cats fell to 9-17 on the season.
 
First Set Action
 
Peru State took an early 2-0 lead after an attack error by USM was followed by a kill by Cami Ruiz (Bogota, Columbia). The Spires then tied it at 2-2 and later after having it tied at 4-4, St. Mary went ahead and led the rest of the first set.

 
In the middle of the set, the Bobcats had pulled back to within two at 13-11 after a kill by Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) off an assist from Taylor Thompson (Norfolk). Three straight points by the Spires allowed them to jump out to a five-point advantage.
 
The Bobcats did get back within three at 21-18 after a service ace by Hannah Burianek (Lincoln), but the 'Cats would only score one more point the rest of the way.
 
Second Set Action
 
Peru State had the control early in the first set as they started with back-to-back points with the first coming on a kill by Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) off an assist from Mallory Matthies (Omaha). The second point came on a double block by Mollhoff and Thompson.
 
The Bobcats would have their largest lead of four at 9-5 after Matthies put down a kill off an assist from Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro). The 'Cats would see that lead evaporate as the Spires came back to tie it at 10-10.
 
USM would eventually lead 19-16 before Janjevic put down a kill from Burianek and then Burianek would feed Ruiz for a kill to make it 19-18. That would be as close as the 'Cats would get as the Spires would finish on a 6-1 run.
 
Third Set Action
 
The 'Cats would lead throughout most of the third set before falling. Peru State would have a 10-5 lead after Thompson got a kill from Burianek. The 'Cats would still lead later 16-12 after Burianek had a service ace.
 
The Spires eventually knotted the score at 18-18 and then it was back and forth the rest of the set. USM did have three match points that the Bobcats fought off after leading 24-21. A block by Thompson and Kira Shapiro (Omaha) made it 24-22 and then USM had an attack error to make it 24-23. The Spires then called a timeout, but Janjevic and Ruiz combined for a block to tie the set at 24-24.

 
USM scored the 25^th point before a Spire service error knotted the set once more. Back-to-back kills by USM gave them the set and match.

UNIVERSITY OF ST. MARY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Spires outhit Peru State .189 to .132 and doubled up the 'Cats with four service aces.
 
The defense was close as USM had 73 digs compared to 70 for the Bobcats. Peru State did win the blocking battle as they finished with six total blocks compared to four for USM.
 
Individual Statistics
 
No Bobcat finished in double digits in kills as Thompson led the team with eight. Matthies added seven with Janjevic and Shapiro finishing with six. Ruiz would add five.
 
Burianek led the team with 15 assists while Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.) added 13.
 
Burianek had the team's only service aces as she finished with two.
 
Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) had a game-high 18 digs while Burianek and Alexis Cox (Brighton, Colo.) each finished with ten. Quinonez Holguin added eight.
 
Shapiro led the team with four block assists while Janjevic added three. Thompson and Mollhoff were each credited with two while Ruiz added one.

 
Upcoming Contests.
 
Peru State faces a tough weekend as they will play three matches on the road with two of them being against ranked teams.
 
On Friday night, the Bobcats will be in Olathe, Kan., to take on MidAmerica Nazarene at 7 p.m. The Pioneers are 8-23 overall and are 4-9 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart).
 
Saturday is when the 'Cats take on the two ranked foes in Fayette, Mo. First, Peru State will face the hosts Central Methodist at 3:30 p.m. The Eagles, 21^st-ranked in the latest poll, are now 23-3 and 11-2 in the Heart. They have swept their last five opponents since dropping a contest.
 
At 5:30 p.m., the Bobcats will face fourth-ranked Columbia (Mo.). The Cougars are 27-2 overall and also are working on a five-game winning streak.