(Peru, Neb.) – After having to make multiple changes in the line-up due to Covid-19, the Peru State volleyball team struggled to get in sync Friday night. The visiting Mount Mercy Mustangs swept the Bobcats 25-19, 25-14, 25-13 in the Al Wheeler Activity Center on Peru State's campus.
With the win, the Mustangs improved to 3-1 overall and they have the same identical mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division.
Peru State fell to 1-7 on the season and are winless in the Heart North at 0-5.
First Set Action
Mount Mercy scored the first three points before
Jaddy Duarte (Brasilia, Brazil) put down a kill off an assist from
Hannah Burianek (Lincoln). Peru State kept it close in the early part and trailed 9-7 after a
Hannia Rios (Toa Baja, P.R.) setter dump. The Mustangs would go on a 14-6 run to lead 23-13 before the 'Cats pulled within five at 24-19 before Mount Mercy finished it off.
Hannia Rios goes for the serve and did have one service ace in the contest.
Second Set Action
The Mustangs took a 2-0 advantage before Duarte again scored the first point of a set on an assist from Burianek. Peru State would take its only lead at 5-4 on a service ace by Rios. Later, after being tied at 8-8, Mount Mercy scored the next seven points before Rios had a setter dump to stop the run. The 'Cats would get within four at 15-11, but never could get any closer.
Third Set Action
A kill by
Sidney Peck (Manitoba, Canada) put down a kill from Burianek to start the third set. An attack error, followed by a block by Duarte and
Paige Crouch (Holton, Kan.) made it 3-0 Peru State. The Mustangs would eventually score five straight and never trailed the rest of the way.
MOUNT MERCY BOX SCORE
Team Statistics
Mount Mercy finished with a .224 hitting percentage and held the Bobcats to a negative .009 attack percentage.
The Mustangs had five service aces with Peru State finishing with three. Mount Mercy had 65 digs on the night as the 'Cats had 54.
Mount Mercy had five total blocks while the 'Cats could not get its blocking game going as they finished with just one total block.
Pyper Roseberry goes for a kill for Peru State. Also in the photo #19- Arianna
Waschowski, in pink - Cheyenne Birkle, #31 - Cheyenne Birkle, and #9 -
Tyra Mollhoff.
Peru State Individual Statistics
Duarte led the team with five kills while McKenzie Brockhoff
(Dearborn, Mo.) added four.
Burianek led the team with 14 assists.
Burianek, Rios, and Arianna Waschowski
(Bellevue) each had one service ace.
Cheyenne Birkle (Holden, Mo.) had a game-high 22 digs on the night.
Mattie Nichols (Auburn) added eight with Burianek finishing with six.
Duarte and Crouch were each credited with one block assist.
Upcoming Contests
Peru State was scheduled to host Clarke (Iowa) on Saturday with the varsity competition to begin at 11 a.m. and a junior varsity to follow.
In another schedule revision, the Bobcats will now travel to Lamoni, Iowa, on Tuesday, October 20, to face Graceland with a junior varsity contest to begin at 5 p.m. and the varsity to follow. The Yellowjackets defeated Peru State earlier in the season 3-2 and are presently 2-8 overall on the season and 1-7 in the Heart North.
Then, on Friday, Oct. 23, it will be the battle of the 'Cats as Peru State will be in Canton, Mo., to face the Wildcats of Culver-Stockton. The varsity match will begin at 7 p.m. Culver-Stockton is currently 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the Heart North.
