(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State volleyball team was able to give the visitors a tough second set, but that was all Tuesday night in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.
 
The Grand View (Iowa) Vikings, ranked second in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, held off the second set challenge and swept the 'Cats 25-14, 25-23, 25-11.
 
With the win, Grand View improved to 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 3-9 on the year and 0-1.
 
First Set Action
 
The Vikings jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Claire Cudney (Maryville, Mo.) scored the first point for the Bobcats off an assist from Taylor Thompson (Norfolk). Grand View would score the next six points and the 'Cats were never able to mount any type of formidable comeback in the set.
Second Set Action
 
A kill by Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) started the second set for Peru State. The Vikings stormed back with four straight points. Grand View would maintain its lead with the Bobcats pulling within two at 11-9 after a service error. The Vikings would extend their lead to 15-9, before the 'Cats would score three straight points. A solo block by Janjevic cut the lead to 15-12 at that point.
 
Grand View would keep the lead throughout with the 'Cats nipping at their heels. Peru State did tie it at 20-20 on a kill by Kira Shapiro (Omaha) from an assist from Thompson. The Vikings would then score the next three points before a service error, followed by a setting error on Grand View made it 23-22. The Vikings would get the 24^th point before another error on their part pulled the Bobcats within one. A Viking kill would end the second set.
 
Third Set Action
 
The start of the third set was close early with the Bobcats within one at 5-4. However, after that, the Vikings rolled up eight straight points and Peru State was never able to contend from that point on.

GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
While the Vikings only hit .181, the Bobcats hit negative at .069 due to only getting 20 kills while having 26 errors on 87 attempts.
 
Grand View had 14 more digs than the 'Cats as they finished with 39.
 
The lone team category that Peru State fared better in was in total block as the Bobcats had eight compared to seven for the Vikings.
Individual Statistics
 
No player on either team finished in double-digit kills. Peru State was led by Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) who had six kills. Shapiro finished with five and managed to hit .417.
 
Thompson led the team with six assists while Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.) added four.
 
Thompson was credited with the only serving ace for Peru State in the match.
 
Arianna Waschowski (Bellevue), seeing her most extensive time on the court, led the team with seven digs while Alexis Cox (Brighton, Colo.) adding four.
 
Janjevic had three solo block and one block assist to lead the team in that category. Cami Ruiz (Bogota, Columbia) and Shapiro each added one solo block and two block assists.
 
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State will play one conference match and a non-conference match Friday night in Dubuque, Iowa. At 5 p.m. they will take on Heart foe Clarke at then will play Dakota State (S.D.) at 7 p.m. Clarke is presently 12-2 on the year and 2-0 in the Heart. Dakota State is 4-3 and will face Bellevue before heading to Iowa for the weekend.
 
On Saturday, the 'Cats will face Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Mustangs are off to an 11-3 start to the season and are 1-1 in conference action.
 
Next Tuesday night, the Bobcats will be back in the AWAC to host Graceland (Iowa) at 7 p.m. At this time, the Yellowjackets are 9-8 overall and 0-1 in the Heart.