(Peru, Neb.) – The Bobcat volleyball team knew they would have their hands full on Saturday when they faced the NAIA's #4 and #21 teams in Fayette, Mo.
 
Peru State fell to the hosts #21 Central Methodist (CMU) 25-23, 25-15, 25-18 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) play. Then, the 'Cats fell to the fourth-ranked Columbia Cougars 25-11, 25-18, 25-11 in non-conference play.
 
With the two losses, the Bobcats fell to 10-19 on the season and 6-9 in the Heart. Central Methodist is now 25-3 overall and 13-2 in conference play. Columbia would also defeat the Eagles Saturday and improved to 30-3 on the season.

 
Central Methodist Play
 
First Set Action
 
Peru State would give the Eagles all they could handle in the first set as there were 15 ties and four lead changes in the set. The largest lead in the first set was three points.
 
CMU would score the first three points before Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.) got a setter dump to fall off an assist from Kira Shapiro (Omaha).  A service ace from Hannah Burianek (Lincoln) would be followed by an Eagle attack error to knot the game at 3-3.
 
The 'Cats would have its largest lead at 8-6 after another CMU attack error. Central Methodist would go on a run and would lead 13-10 for their largest lead of the first set. After a Peru State timeout, Taylor Thompson (Norfolk) would get a kill from Quinonez Holguin. The Eagles would maintain their lead until a double block by Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) and Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) would tie it up at 15-15.
 
The set would be tied at 16-16 and 17-17 before the Eagles would score two to go up 19-17. A kill by Jaspe on an assist from Burianek pulled the 'Cats back within one. Quinonez Holguin would serve up an ace to knot it at 19-19.
 
Later, the 'Cats would tie it again at 22-22 on an attack error, but never could take the lead as CMU would end up winning 25-23.
 
Second Set Action

 
A block by Cami Ruiz (Bogota, Columbia) and Janjevic started the second set and gave Peru State what would be its only lead in the set, even though they would be tied in the middle part of the set.
 
The Eagles would reel off six straight points to lead 6-1, before the Bobcats would slowly chip away at the lead. The 'Cats would eventually come back to tie it a 9-9 after Thompson put down a kill from Quinonez Holguin. After the set was later tied 11-11, the Eagles would go on a 14-4 run to take the second set 25-15.
 
Third Set Action
 
Peru State would keep it tight in the early part of the third set as it was tied 7-7 after an Eagle attack error. Three straight points by CMU would give the Eagles a lead they would not relinquish.

CENTRAL METHODIST GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
After hitting .364 in the first set, the Bobcats would cool down and finish the match with a .168 average, trailing CMU's .218.
 
Central Methodist had an excellent serving night as they came up with 12 service aces compared to just four for the Bobcats.
 
The Eagles also had more digs than the 'Cats as they finished with 58 compared to 45 for Peru State. The one stat category that the Bobcats fared better than the Eagles was in blocking. Peru State finished with seven total blocks compared to six for the Eagles.
 
Individual Statistics
 
No Bobcat finished in double digits in kills. Jaspe led the way with nine kills while hitting .321 while Thompson added seven.

 
Quinonez Holguin had 14 assists with Burianek dishing out 12.
 
Quinonez Holguin, Janjevic, Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.), and Burianek each had one service ace.
 
Cudney had a match-high 17 digs with Burianek adding six. Quinonez Holguin, Thompson, and Jaspe each contributed five digs.
 
Janjevic had the team's lone solo block and added five block assists. Jaspe added three block assists with Shapiro contributing two.
 
Columbia Information
 
As this was a neutral-site contest, there was no play-by-play available.

COLUMBIA BOX SCORE
 
Team Statistics
 
The Cougars had a remarkable .523 hitting percentage while holding the Bobcats to a .143 mark. In addition, Columbia served up six aces compared to just one for the 'Cats.
 
Columbia out-dug Peru State 44 to 27 and finished with five total blocks while the 'Cats only had one total block.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Jaspe led the 'Cats will seven kills while Thompson finished with six.
 
Burianek led the team with 12 assists while Quinonez Holguin added nine. Burianek was the lone Bobcat to service up an ace.
 
Cudney finished tying for match-high honors with 11 digs.
 
Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) and Shapiro were each credited with a block assist.

 
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State is in its final stretch of the season and have just three matches remaining in the regular season. All of the remaining matches will be Heart contests and will have an impact on the Bobcats' post-season chances.
 
The 'Cats will host Culver-Stockton (Mo.) Thursday night at 7 p.m. The Wildcats are 8-18 on the season and are 1-14 in Heart play and are out of the hunt for post-season competition.
 
On Friday, it will be senior night for Peru State as they host William Penn (Iowa) at 7 p.m. Presently, the two teams are tied with 6-9 marks in conference play, but the Statesmen have a 19-12 overall record. William Penn has been up and down all season, so this will be a pivotal match for both team as it could mean hosting one match in the post-season.
 
The Bobcats' final match of the regular season will be on Oct. 29 when they travel to face the second-ranked Grand View Vikings in Des Moines at 7 p.m. Grand View is 25-0 on the season, although they have been challenged at times. They are 14-0 in the Heart.