(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State volleyball team is still looking for its first win in Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) action as they were swept Saturday by the Mount Mercy Mustangs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
 
The Mustangs won 25-18, 25-20, 25-14 to improve to 13-3 overall on the year and 3-1 in the Heart. Peru State fell to 4-11 and are 0-3 in conference action.

 
First Set Action
 
Mount Mercy scored the first two points of the match before Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) put down a kill off an assist from Taylor Thompson (Norfolk). The first part of the set was close as the Bobcats as it was tied at 8-8 after a Mustang service error. Mount Mercy would score four straight points to lead 12-8 before Kira Shapiro (Omaha) was able to get a kill on an assist from Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.). The Mustangs would then slowly pull away for the 25-18 first set win.
 
Second Set Action
 
Shapiro and Quinonez Holguin hooked up to score the first point of the second set. Mallory Matthies (Omaha) got a kill from Thompson for the Bobcats' second point. After the Mustangs tied it at 2-2, Matthies added another kill, this time on an assist from Sexton to give Peru State what would be their final lead of the set. The closest the 'Cats would be later in the set was after a service ace by Thompson made it 12-10.
 
Third Set Action
 
Mount Mercy jumped out to a 3-0 lead before a service error gave the Bobcats their first point of the game. Peru State would later be within two at 6-4 after a setting error on the Mustangs, but would never be any closer in the set.

MOUNT MERCY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Mustangs hit .272 for the match while the 'Cats only managed to hit .064. Mount Mercy had one more service ace than Peru State as they finished with six.
 
Mount Mercy also led the Bobcats in digs as they finished with 59 compared to 57 for the 'Cats.
 
Individual Statistics
 
No Bobcat finished in double digits with kills. Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) led Peru State with eight while Janjevic and Shapiro each added six.
 
Thompson and Quinonez Holguin had 13 and ten assists respectively.
 
Janjevic was credited with three service aces while Thompson and Quinonez Holguin each added one.
 
Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) led the Bobcats with a game-high 22 digs. Arianna Waschowski (Bellevue) finished with nine while Thompson added eight. Jaspe contributed seven digs.
 
Peru State had no solo blocks, but Janjevic was credited with three block assists. Jaspe, Rylee Pieper (Western), and Shapiro each had one block assist.

 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will be playing three Heart matches this week – one at home and two more on the road.
 
Graceland (Iowa) will be the home opponent Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The Yellowjackets are 9-11 overall and are also looking for their first conference win. Graceland has dropped their last three contests, including one to Dakota State (S.D.) – a team that the 'Cats beat Friday night.
 
Friday night, the Bobcats will be in Atchison, Kan., to face Benedictine at 7 p.m. The Ravens are 7-7 on the year and are 2-2 in the Heart.
 
Then, on Saturday, Peru State will face Baker in Baldwin City, Kan., at 2 p.m. The Wildcats are 6-11 presently and are 1-3 in the Heart.