(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State volleyball team snapped a three-match losing streak with a much needed win over the visiting Missouri Valley Vikings Friday night in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.
 
The Bobcats won 25-23, 25-15, 22-25, 25-21 to improve to 6-14 on the year and more importantly bettered their record to 2-6 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart).
 
Missouri Valley fell to 12-10 on the season and are at 5-4 in conference play.
 
First Set Action
 
A kill by Taylor Thompson (Norfolk) off an assist from Hannah Burianek (Lincoln) scored the first point for the Bobcats. After the Vikings tied it, Burianek fed Nadja Janjevic (Podgorica, Montenegro) the set and Janjevic put down a kill to give the Bobcats the lead for what would be the rest of the set. A solo block by Janjevic, followed by a Viking attack error, and then a solo block by Hannah Sexton (Beatrice) put the 'Cats up 5-1. The Bobcats led by as many as seven at 15-8 after another block by Janjevic.  
But, the Vikings would not give up. Mo Valley would come back to tie it at 22-22 after which Janjevic broke the tie with a kill, this time off an assist from Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Las Cruces, N.M.). A Peru State service error knotted the game again at 23-23, but back-to-back attack errors by the Vikings game the Bobcats the first set win.
 
Second Set Action
 
After the Vikings scored the first point, Kira Shapiro (Omaha) got a kill from Quinonez Holguin. Burianek then served up an ace which was followed by a kill from Sexton. The Bobcats would extend their lead to 10-5 after Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln) put down a kill on the assist from Quinonez Holguin. Peru State would later lead 15-8 after Janjevic and Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) doubled blocked a Viking attack.
 
Later the 'Cats led 20-11 after an attack error by Mo Valley. Peru State's final point would come on another Janjevic block.

 
Third Set Action
 
The third set was the tightest of the first three as there were 13 set ties and seven lead changes. Peru State actually led 9-7 after Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) had a service ace. Mo Valley had its largest lead of five later at 20-15, before the 'Cats would eventually come back to tie it at 22-22 after Shapiro/Quinonez Holguin combined for a kill/assist. The Vikings would claim the final three points for the set win and forced a fourth set.
 
Fourth Set Action
 
The early part of the fourth set was close as the teams traded leads several times. Missouri Valley had its largest lead at 6-4 before Shapiro and Cami Ruiz (Bogota, Columbia) combined for a block. After an attack error by the Vikings, Thompson put down a kill off an assist from Quinonez Holguin to give the 'Cats the lead for the first time.
 
Peru State would jump out to a 17-12 lead after another Mo Valley error forcing the Vikings to take a timeout. Mo Valley would come back to pull within one at 18-17, but Shapiro kept it from being tied as she put down a kill from Quinonez Holguin to keep the 'Cats in front. Mallory Matthies (Omaha) sealed the final point with block.

MISSOURI VALLEY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State outhit the Vikings .179 to .102 as both teams finished with 50 kills, but Mo Valley had 13 more attack errors.
 
The Bobcats had five more service aces than Missouri Valley as they finished with six. Peru State had 78 digs while the Vikings finished with 76. The biggest difference in the game was in the blocking as the 'Cats finished with 12 total blocks compared to just two for the Vikings.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Jaspe finished with 15 kills to lead the 'Cats. Thompson and Shapiro each added nine kills while Janjevic finished with eight while hitting .368.
 
Quinonez Holguin and Burianek led the team with 22 and 20 assists respectively.
 
Janjevic led the team with a game-high three service aces. Thompson, Burianek, and Cudney each added one ace.
 
Cudney had a game- and career-high 36 digs on the night. Thompson added 15 while Jaspe finished with 14.

 
Janjevic had an outstanding night at the net as she finished with six solo block and one block assist. Jaspe, Sexton, Matthies, and Shapiro each added one solo block. Jaspe, Ruiz, and Shapiro were each credited with a block assist.
 
Upcoming Matches
 
Peru State is hosting Evangel (Mo.) on Saturday at 2 p.m. After winning three in a row, the Crusaders fell to Graceland (Iowa) Friday night in a sweep. Evangel is now 13-11 overall and is 5-4 in the Heart.
 
Next Tuesday, the Bobcats will play their lone match of the week as they will head to Canton, Mo., to take on Culver-Stockton at 7 p.m. The Wildcats are 7-10 on the year and are 1-6 in conference action.