(Peru, Neb.) – It was sixth match of the year for the NAIA's #7 Northwestern and the Red Raiders improved to 5-1 with a 25-21, 25-16, 25-18 sweep of the visiting Peru State Bobcat volleyball team. The game was played in Orange City, Iowa.
 
With the loss, Peru State fell to 0-2 after its non-conference loss.
 
First Set Action
 
A kill by Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) off an assist from Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) put the 'Cats in the lead early. Taylor Thompson (Norfolk) followed with a service ace to make it 2-0 Peru State. After a point by the Red Raiders, a service error gave the Bobcats a 3-1 lead. The teams would later be tied at 6-6, but a 3-0 run by Northwestern gave them the lead for good. The closest the Bobcats would be the rest of the set would be at 10-9 after Jaspe put down a kill off an assist from Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.).
 
Second Set Action
 
Northwestern jumped to a 5-0 lead in the second set before Jaspe had another kill on an assist from Mollhoff. The Red Raiders would extend their lead to 11-1 before Kira Shapiro (Omaha) had a kill off an assist from Hannah Burianek (Lincoln). Unfortunately for Peru State, the 'Cats were never really able to put together any run in the second set to make it competitive.
 
Third Set Action
 
A block by Jaspe and Hannah Sexton (Beatrice) gave Peru State one of its two leads in the third set. The Red Raiders would go on a 3-0 run and held the lead until Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) had a solo block to put the 'Cats ahead at 13-12. The Bobcats would be tied at 13, 14, and 15 with Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) putting down a spike from Quinonez Holguin to tie it for the final time. Northwestern would slowly pull away for the 25-18 set and match win.

NORTHWESTERN GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Northwestern outhit the 'Cats .250 to .146 and had six ace serves in the win. The Bobcats managed just two service aces while committing eight service errors.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Jaspe tied for game-high honors with 11 kills while hitting an outstanding .409. Shapiro added five kills in the loss.
 
Quinonez Holguin led the team with ten assists while Burianek added five.
 
Thompson and Cheyenne Birkle (Holden, Mo.) each had one service ace.
 
Cudney and Jaspe both were in double figures with digs with 11 and ten respectively. Alexis Cox (Brighton, Colo.) added six.
 
Janjevic had one solo block on the night while Jaspe was credited with three block assists. Mollhoff also added two block assists.
 
Upcoming Matches
 
The Bobcats will face more ranked NAIA teams this Friday and Saturday when they participate in the GOSARPY.COM Labor Day Tournament hosted by Bellevue University. On Friday, the 'Cats will face Ottawa (Kan.) at 11 a.m. and then take on Montana State Northern at 5 p.m. Ottawa is presently ranked 23^rd and are 3-1 on the season. The Skylights started their season 0-4 in a tough tournament in California.
 
On Saturday, the Bobcats will face Montana Tech and the University of Providence (Mont.) at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Montana Tech is 4-3 on the year and were ranked 12^th in the first volleyball poll. Providence began their season with a 3-1 mark.
 
On Wednesday, Sept. 5, the Bobcats will still be on the road and will return to Bellevue to face the Bruins at 7 p.m. Bellevue started the year with a 2-2 mark and are ranked 21^st.