(Peru, Neb.) – On October 13, the Bobcat volleyball team would snap an eight-game skid when they earned a 3-0 sweep against the Yellowjackets in Lamoni, Iowa. With the win the 'Cats swept the season series against Graceland.
Peru State improved to 4-21 overall and 2-9 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Graceland fell to 1-17 overall and 0-10 in conference play.
The Yellowjackets would score the first two points of set one to take a 2-0 lead. The 'Cats would come right back with a kill from
Paige Crouch (Holton, Kan.) off the set from
Hannia Rios (Toa Baja P.R.) to get back within one of Graceland at 2-1.
Graceland would have the lead for most of first part of the set leading by six points at 13-7. Peru State would start their comeback starting with an error on the Yellowjackets, a kill by
Alexandra Chavarria (Hollister, Calif.) off the assist from
Cassie Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo.), and another error on Graceland to bring the 'Cats within four points at 14-10.
Peru State would tie the game at 19 off an error on Graceland. Another error on the Yellowjackets would give the 'Cats their first lead in the set at 20-19. A kill by Chavarria would extend the lead to 21-19 off the set from Davis.
Peru State would go on to win a tight set one 25-22 as they would take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-five match.
Just like the first set, in the second set Peru State would find themselves in a 2-0 hole at the beginning. The 'Cats would get on the board in set off a kill by Chavarria off the assist from Davis as the Bobcats would still trail 2-1.
Peru State would be able to tie it up at four, seven, eight and nine. The 'Cats would have the lead off a kill from
Michelle Beer (Salem) at 10-9. Peru State would get back-to-back kills from Haley VanLeuvan
(Elgin, Ore.) off the set from Davis and from Beer to extend the lead to 12-9.
The 'Cats would not trail once they extended the lead to three as they would go on to win the second set 25-17 and would have a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Bobcats would get on the board first in the third set off a kill by VanLeuvan off an assist from
Cheyenne Birkle (Holden, Mo.) as Peru State would lead 1-0. Graceland would tie the game up at one and at two before Peru State would rally off five straight points to lead 7-2.
Later, Peru State would extend the lead to six off a kill from Chavarria off the set from Davis as the 'Cats would lead 13-8.
The 'Cats would use a 12-7 run to win the third set 25-15 as they would sweep Graceland 3-0 in a best-of-five match.
Stats
Beer would lead the team with three service aces while Birkle was second on the team with one.
Jaddy Duarte (Brasilia, Brazil) led the team with seven kills while
Dawson Sharman (Sidney) was second with six kills. Chavarria added five kills.
Davis led the team with 14 assists while Rios added eight assists in the game as well.
Birkle added 15 digs while Davis contributed eight digs.
Beer and VanLeuvan would each have one block assist.
Upcoming Games
After a long road stretch the 'Cats will finally be playing in front of the Bobcat faithful on Friday and Saturday. Friday afternoon the volleyball team will play Mount Mercy University (10-11, 6-6). On Saturday, Clarke University (10-13, 7-5) will come to town. Both games will start at 3:30 p.m. Saturday's game will follow Peru State's football contest, also against Clarke. There will be no admission for Saturday's volleyball game.
