(Peru, Neb.) – Playing its first of two days in Kansas found the Bobcat volleyball team on the short end of a possible win as they dropped a five-set contest to Benedictine Friday night in Atchison.
 
The Ravens topped Peru State 25-20, 20-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-10 to improve to 8-8 overall on the year and 2-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The 'Cats fell to 5-12 on the season and are now 1-4 in conference play.
 
First Set Action
 
The early part of the first set was tight as it was tied at every point until the Ravens took their first lead at 6-5. Benedictine eventually extended its lead to 11 at 21-10 before a kill by Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) stopped that run. The Bobcats would string together seven more points which ended with an ace serve by Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) which made it 22-18. The Ravens would eventually go on for the 25-20 set win.

 
Second Set Action
 
A kill by Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) started the second set for Peru State. After it was tied at 1-1, a service error by Benedictine gave the 'Cats what would be a lead they would not relinquish. Later in the set, Peru State had a 9-4 lead after a double block by Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) and Taylor Thompson (Norfolk). While the Ravens would pull back within one late at 18-17, a kill by Thompson on an assist from Kira Shapiro (Omaha) put the 'Cats up 19-17. A kill by Jaspe ended the second set giving the Bobcats the win.
 
Third Set Action
 
The Bobcats took the early lead with a kill by Jaspe off an assist from Cudney and then Hannah Burianek (Lincoln) served an ace to put Peru State up 2-0. Peru State would jump to a 10-5 lead after Jaspe got another kill, this time on an assist from Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.). The Bobcats maintained the lead, but the Ravens would eventually rally and tie it at 22-22. Benedictine then went up 23-22 before serving up an error to knot the score at 23-23. A block by Janjevic and Thompson gave Peru State its 24^th point and then a kill by Janjevic from Burianek gave the 'Cats the 25-23 third set win.
 
Fourth Set Action
 
The fourth set went back and forth with the lead changing several times. Peru State led 7-6 only to see the Ravens score four to go up 10-7. Benedictine extended its lead to four at 16-12 before Jaspe and Burianek hooked up to make it 16-13. This started a five-point run for the 'Cats which saw Benedictine have several attack errors and the Bobcats suddenly led 17-16. Peru State would eventually lead 20-18 after a kill by Jaspe from Quinonez Holguin, only to see the Ravens outscore the Bobcats 7-1 to take the fourth set.
 
Fifth Set Action
 

The deciding set was tied at 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3 before Benedictine scored the fourth point and would hold onto the lead the rest of the set. The closest the Bobcats would be late in the set was at 12-9 after Jaspe got a kill from Burianek. But, the Ravens closed out the set on a 3-1 run to win the match.

BENEDICTINE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
As the scores would indicate, the team statistics were pretty even. Benedictine hit .242 on the match while the Bobcats finished at .233.
 
Both teams had five service aces and each had seven service errors.
 
The Ravens had six more digs than the 'Cats as they finished with 79. Peru State did finish with 12 total blocks compared to nine for Benedictine.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Jaspe finished with a match- and season-high 25 kills and hit a very respectable .367. Janjevic was the only other Bobcat hitter to have double-digit kills as she finished with 14 kills with a remarkable .522 hitting percentage. Mollhoff added six kills while Thompson finished with five.
 
Burianek led the team with 28 assists while Quinonez Holguin added 17.
 
Burianek also led the team with three service aces while Quinonez Holguin and Cudney each had one.

 
Cudney had a game-high 25 digs while Thompson added 15. Burianek finished with 12 while Quinonez Holguin added eight.
 
Peru State did not have any solo blocks, but finished with 24 block assists. Mollhoff and Janjevic were each credited with six block assists while Jaspe had five and Shapiro added four. Thompson provided the final three block assists.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats are back in Kansas on Saturday when they travel to Baldwin City to face Baker at 2 p.m. The Wildcats are 7-12 on the year and 2-4 in the Heart. The Wildcats topped Graceland (Iowa) Friday night in four sets. Peru State had defeated Graceland Tuesday night in a similar fashion.
 
Peru State will have one its long road trips on Tuesday when they head to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to take on William Penn at 7 p.m. The Statesmen are much improved from last year and currently are 13-5 overall and 2-2 in the Heart.