(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State volleyball team secured a much-needed win for its possible post-season play and they got it Friday night. The Bobcats topped the home team – MidAmerica Nazarene (MNU) Pioneers – in a 2 hour and 17 minute match 20-25, 25-22, 25-18, 19-25, and 16-14 in Olathe, Kan.
 
With the win, the 'Cats improved to 10-17 overall and 6-8 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Pioneers fell to 8-24 on the season and 4-10 in conference play.
 
First Set Action
 
Peru State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first set as Cami Ruiz (Bogota, Columbia) put down a kill off an assist from Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) to start things off. Part of the opening run was fueled by two service aces from Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.). The Bobcats would maintain the five-point lead at 15-10 after a Pioneer attack error.

 
It would be at that point that MNU would start its run. The Pioneers would eventually tie it up at 18-18 and did score three more to make it 21-18. The Bobcats pulled back within two after Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) had a solo block. That would be as close as the 'Cats would be as MNU would go on for the 25-20 set win.
 
Second Set Action
 
MNU started with a 2-0 lead in the second set before giving the 'Cats a point with a service error. The Pioneers would extend their lead to 4-1 before Taylor Thompson (Norfolk) got a kill off an assist from Quinonez Holguin. Eventually the Bobcats would tie it at 6-6 on a setter dump from Hannah Burianek (Lincoln) coming on an assist from Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.). An attack error by MNU was followed by back-to-back blocks for points by Janjevic and Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) and Janjevic and Ruiz. Janjevic would put down a kill off an assist from Ruiz to make it 10-6.
 
Peru State would extend its lead to eight at 17-9 when Jaspe drilled a kill off an assist from Quinonez Holguin. The Pioneers would not be out of it as they were within two at 21-19 before Jaspe and Burianek hooked up for a kill/assist. Burianek would score the final point with a kill coming off an assist from Ruiz.
 
Third Set Action
 
The third set was close early until the 'Cats broke a 3-3 tie with the aid of several attacking errors by MNU. The Bobcats would have an 11-point lead at 17-6 after a kill by Jaspe off an assist from Quinonez Holguin. The Pioneers would pull back within five at 23-18 before Jaspe scored the 24^th point with a kill from Burianek. Kira Shapiro (Omaha) scored the winning 25^th point with a kill from Quinonez Holguin.

 
Fourth Set Action
 
There were seven ties early in the fourth set before the Pioneers would take a lead after being tied at 10-10. MNU kept the lead with the 'Cats being within three at 20-17 after a Pioneer attack error. However, MidAmerica Nazarene would outscore the Bobcats 5-2 to win 25-19.
 
Fifth Set Action
 
As the final score would indicate, the fifth set was as close as it could be as there were eight ties in it and the largest lead was three by MNU which came early in the set.
 
The Pioneers took a 3-0 lead before back-to-back attack errors by MNU made it 3-2. Thompson tied the set at 3-3 with a kill off an assist from Quinonez Holguin. Arianna Waschowski (Bellevue) gave the 'Cats a 4-3 lead with a service ace.
 
MNU would come back and regain the lead and led later in the set 10-8 before Jaspe put down a kill from Burianek. Jaspe would get another kill, this time from Quinonez Holguin to tie it at 10-10. Mollhoff put the Bobcats up by one with a kill on an assist from Shapiro which forced a Pioneer timeout.
 
The Pioneers would come back to tie it at 12-12, but Thompson got a kill from Quinonez Holguin and then Thompson combined with Janjevic to give the 'Cats match point. A kill and block by MNU tied it back at 14-14.

 
Shapiro scored the 15^th point with a kill off an assist from Quinonez Holguin and then Janjevic got the match point with a kill from Burianek.

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State did outhit the Pioneers as they finished with a .153 hitting percentage compared to .116 for MNU.
 
The Pioneers had ten service aces and eight errors while the 'Cats finished with seven aces and seven errors.
 
The 'Cats finished with 96 digs, ten more than MNU. One of the biggest factors in the game was that Peru State finished with 17 total blocks, more than double that of the Pioneers who finished with eight.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Just two Bobcats finished in double digits in kills as Jaspe had a game-high 14 kills with Shapiro adding ten. Ruiz added eight with Thompson finishing with seven. Janjevic added six.
 
Quinonez Holguin led the team with 23 assists while Burianek added 21.
 
Janjevic, Quinonez Holguin, and Cudney each finished with two service aces while Waschowski added one.

 
Cudney finished with a match-high 35 digs while Thompson added 16. Quinonez Holguin had ten with Jaspe finishing with eight. Burianek and Shapiro each added seven digs.
 
Janjevic had a big night blocking as she had three solo and 12 block assists. Shapiro was credited with one solo block. Ruiz added six block assists with Jaspe adding three block assists.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State is in Missouri Saturday facing two ranked opponents in Fayette, Mo. At 3:30 p.m., the Bobcats are taking on the 21^st-ranked Central Methodist Eagles in conference play. The Eagles are 24-3 overall and are 12-2 in the Heart having won six matches in a row.
 
At 5:30 p.m., the 'Cats will face third-ranked Columbia (Mo.). The Cougars are 28-3 overall.
 
The Bobcats will host two home matches next Thursday and Friday. On Thursday at 7 p.m., the 'Cats will play Culver-Stockton (Mo.). The Wildcats are 8-18 on the year and are 1-14 in conference play.
 
On Friday, William Penn (Iowa) will be the foe at 7 p.m. for senior night. The Statesmen are 19-11 overall and are 6-8 in the Heart.