(Peru, Neb.) – The #11 Midland Warriors proved why they had their ranking as they swept Peru State in Fremont Wednesday night. The Warriors won 25-17, 25-15, 25-18.
 
For the Bobcats, it was their season opener while Midland improved to 3-1.
 
Set One Action
 
The first set was tight through about the first half of the set. After Midland scored the first point of the match, Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) put down a kill off an assist from Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) to tie it. The Warriors did rattle off four straight points, but the Bobcats did fight back and eventually took the lead at 6-5 after back-to-back attack errors by Midland. Cami Ruiz (Bogota, Columbia) gave the 'Cats a 7-5 lead with a kill.

 
Midland then went on a 4-0 run and never trailed after that point, but he Bobcats were within one at 12-11 after a ball-handling error by the Warriors. Midland eventually jumped to a 20-12 lead and went on to win 25-17.
 
Set Two Action
 
The Warriors never trailed in the second set after the game was tied very early at 1-1 following a Claire Cudney (Marysville, Mo.) kill off an assist from Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.). Midland led 11-4 before Peru State did pull back to within two at 14-12 when Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) put down a kill off an assist from Mollhoff. The Warriors eventually pulled away for at 25-15 win.
 
Set Three Action
 
The third set started in a similar fashion as the first as the 'Cats were close throughout the early part and maintained an 8-7 lead after a Janjevic kill from Quinonez Holguin. The Warriors rattled off eight straight points to lead 15-8. The Bobcats did fight back to pull within two at 20-18 after Kira Shapiro (Omaha) landed a kill off an assist from Taylor Thompson (Norfolk). But, that would be the last point that Peru State would score as Midland rattled off the final five points.

MIDLAND BOX SCORE
 
Team Statistics
 
Midland hit .247 while holding the 'Cats to .022. The Warriors served up nine aces with Peru State managing three. Blocking went the Warriors' way as they finished with eight total blocks compared to six for the Bobcats.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Cudney led Peru State with eight kills while Shapiro and Jaspe finished with six and five respectively.
 
Thompson led the team with 11 assists while Quinonez Holguin added ten.

 
Thompson, Holguin, and Janjevic each had one service ace.
 
Jaspe led the team with nine digs with Cudney contributing seven. Cheyenne Birkle (Holden, Mo.) finished with five.
 
Janjevic was credited with the team's lone solo block and added three block assists. Cudney finished with four block assists while Ruiz added two.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will next play on Aug. 28 when they travel to Orange City, Iowa, to face another Great Plains Athletic Conference foe in Northwestern. The Red Raiders open their season against Corban (Ore.) on Aug. 23 and will play four additional matches before facing the 'Cats.
 
Peru State will then participate in the GoSarpy.com Labor Day Tournament hosted by Bellevue University on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The Bobcats will face Ottawa (Kan.) and Montana State Northern on Friday. Then, on Saturday, the 'Cats will take on Montana Tech and the University of Providence (Mont.).