(Peru, Neb.) – As it usually has been, the match between Peru State and visiting Graceland (Iowa) Yellowjackets was close. However, the outcome was not as Bobcat fans had hoped.
 
The Yellowjackets visited the Al Wheeler Activity Center and took home a 25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 25-21 win. This was the first Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) action for both teams.
 
Graceland improved to 5-9 overall and 1-0 in the Heart. Peru State fell to 3-11 and 0-1 in conference play.
 
First Set Action
 
Graceland scored the first point of the match before giving Peru State a point on an attack error. Later, Peru State would extend its early lead to 6-3 on a Cassidy Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) service ace. The Bobcats would maintain a small lead until Graceland would tie it at 12-12. The Yellowjackets would go on to take a lead which they would not relinquish the rest of the first set.

 
Second Set Action
 
The Yellowjackets jumped to a 3-0 lead before having a service error. After a kill by Graceland, Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) put down a kill off an assist from Darlene Quinonez Holguin (Anthony, N.M.) to cut the lead to 4-2. A solo block by Dawson Sharman (Sidney) was followed by a Sharman kill from Alexandra Chavarria (Hollister, Calif.) to tie the set at 4 apiece.
 
A Graceland mistake gave Peru State its first lead of the set after which Sharman put down another kill, this time from Alyssa Childers (Lincoln). A third kill from Sharman on an assist from Quinonez Holguin made it 7-4.
 
The Bobcats would later stretch its lead to 12-6 on a kill from Tyra Mollhoff (Lincoln). Peru State would have its largest lead of eight at 15-7 on a Sharman service ace. Graceland would pull within four at 22-18 before Chavarria put down a kill from Quinonez Holguin. Mallory Matthies (Omaha) had a kill for the 24^th point and then a Graceland attack error gave the 'Cats set two.
 
Third Set Action
 
Peru State started the set with a 3-1 lead and eventually led 13-8 after a kill from Cudney from Davis. The Yellowjackets would slowly chip away at the Bobcat lead to tie it at 19-19. A service error on Graceland gave the 'Cats a 20-19 lead, but the 'Jackets would go on a 6-1 run to take the third set.
 
Fourth Set Action
 
Graceland never trailed in the fourth set. The last tie came at 2-2 after Matthies put down a kill from Chavarria. Three straight points by the Yellowjackets was something the Bobcats could never overcome. Peru State was within three later at 15-12 after a Sarah Brown (Seward) kill from Chavarria.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Neither team had a high hitting percentage, but that was because both teams played some good defense. Graceland finished the match with a .146 hitting average while Peru State finished at .093. Both teams were pretty even with digs, but the next biggest difference was in blocking as the Yellowjackets doubled up Peru State as they finished with eight total blocks.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Cudney was the only Bobcat to finish in double digits in kills as she had ten before leaving the game. Sharman added nine with Mollhoff finishing with eight. Matthies contributed seven.
 
Quinonez Holguin was the leading setter as she finished the match with 23 assists. Davis contributed ten. Sharman and Davis each had two service aces with Hannah Burianek (Lincoln) adding one.
 
Cudney led the team with 20 digs while Alexis Cox (Brighton, Colo.) added 19. Sharman was also in double figures with 15 while Quinonez Holguin was one short of having a double-double on the night.
 
Mollhoff and Hannah Sexton (Sedalia, Colo.) each finished with one solo block. Childers, Sharman, Chavarria, and Savanna Davis (Anchorage, Alaska) each had one block assist.

 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will play five more home contests with two more being held yet this week. Friday night, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) will visit for a 7 p.m. match. The Pioneers are 8-4 on the year and won their Heart opener last night over Benedictine (Kan.).
 
On Saturday, the Bobcats will host Central Methodist (Mo.) at 11 a.m. prior to the football game. The 17^th-ranked Eagles are 12-2 on the season. Central Methodist is 2-0 in conference play having swept Baker Tuesday night. There will be no admission to the Saturday morning contest.