(Peru, Neb.) – Peru State opened the season in Hutchinson, Kan., as they played two games on Day 1 of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Fall Fling. The Bobcats lost to Avila (Mo.) 3-0 in game one and then lost of Bethel (Kan.) 3-1 on August 19 in game two to open their 2021 season.
 
Peru State is 0-2 overall to start off the new volleyball season.
 
Game One
 
Peru State would get on the board first with a Jaddy Duarte (Brasilia, Brazil) kill off the assist from Cassie Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo.).  The scoring would go back in forth as the no team ever had a lead bigger than one until Avila was up 12-10.
 
Peru State would fight back to take a 17-15 lead off the service error from Avila. This would be the last time the 'Cats would lead in the first set. Avila would go on to win the set 25-19.
 
Just like first set the Bobcats would take the early lead off a kill from Davis. After Avila would tie the game at 1-1, Peru State would real off three straight points to take the lead 4-1. Another big run from the 'Cats would see their lead extend to 9-4.
 
Later in the set Avila would take the lead at 15-14. The 'Cats would regain the lead again off a service ace from Duarte. Later, Peru State would have a lead of 23-20 off the service error from Avila.
 
The game would be tied at 24, 25, and 26. Avila would go on to win set two 28-26.
 
Just like the first two sets of the match Peru State would jump on Avila quick. The first point was a service error by Avila. A kill by Dawson Sharman (Sidney) off the pass from Davis would give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead. Two attacking errors on Avila would see the 2-0 reach 4-0. Then a kill by Ace Sawadogo (Omaha) would give the Bobcats a 5-2 advantage.
 
A quick 4-1 run by Avila and the game would be tied at 6-6. The 'Cats would get the very next two points in the match to retake the lead. Avila would go on another 5-1 run to take a three-point lead at 12-9. From their Avila never looked back and would win set three 25-14.
 
Alexandra Chavarria (Hollister, Calif.) led the team in kills with eight. Sharman added six kills of her own in game one.
 
Cassie Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had a team-high in assists with 12.
 
Cheyenne Birkle (Holden, Mo.) had a game-high 15 digs.
 
Game Two
 
Peru State would be looking at a 4-1 hole to open the first set of the second game. The 'Cats would get back within one as Sawadogo scored off a kill to make it 4-3 in favor of Bethel. The Threshers would see their lead extend to three to make it 7-4 early in set one.
 
The closest the 'Cats would get to Bethel would be 8-11. The score would remain mostly four for the remaindered of the first set as Bethel would take set one 25-21.
 
Set two would start off with two kills by Duarte to give a 2-1 advantage. Peru State would go on a 3-2 scoring run to extend their lead 5-2. Bethel would fight back and take the lead at 8-6.
 
Peru State would trail by as many as seven with a score of 17-10. The Bobcats would go on a 9-2 run to cut the score within one at 20-19. An attacking error on Bethel would see the game get noted up at 20 all. Michelle Beer (Salem) would give the 'Cats the lead at 21-20 after the kill.
 
The Bobcats would have a three-point advantage after Paige Crouch (Holton, Kan.) got a kill to make the score 24-21. Peru State would go on to win set number two 25-22.
 
Peru State would get the first lead in set three off a kill from Crouch to make it 1-0. The game would be tied at 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 before Bethel would take a 15-9 advantage.
 
The biggest lead for the Threshers in set number two was 18-10.  The 'Cats would make comeback as the closest the team would get would be four as Bethel takes set number three 25-21.
 
In set number four the 'Cats would tie the game up at 1-1 after a Haley VanLeuven (Elgin, Ore.) kill. Bethel would take a 7-3 advantage over the Bobcats. A service ace from Duarte cut Bethel lead to 8-5.
 
Bethel would not give up the lead the reminder of the game as they would go on to win set number four 25-21.
 
Beer led the team with nine kills. VanLeuven and Duarte added seven kills in the second game.
 
Davis and Hannia Rios (Toa Baja, P.R.) tied for team-high with 17 assists.
 
Birkle added 10 digs and Alyssa Block (Plattsmouth) added eight.