(Peru, Neb.)- The Peru State Volleyball team opened their 2024 season in York, Nebraska to take on the York Panthers. The Bobcats fell in a hard fought 5-set match against the Panthers on Saturday, August 17^th.
 
The Bobcats started out the first set hot with a kill and ace by Erison VonderSchmidt (So., Falls City, NE). The Bobcats went back and forth with the Panthers with the help of kills from Kennedy Miller (Sr., Plattsmouth, NE), Eden Moore (Fr., Eagle, NE), and Allie Schneider (Sr., Humphrey, NE). Kills by Miller and Erison Vonderschmidt and a final ace by Kalolaine Pasikala (Jr., Lahaina, HI) finished the set for the Bobcats 25-20.
 
In the second set, the Bobcats had a slow start, finding themselves in a 3-9 deficit. As the team tried to close the gap, Hana Deticek (Sr., Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenia) had back-to-back aces against the Panthers. Kalolaine Pasikala had multiple kills for the Bobcats, but the Panthers took the set 15-25.
 
Multiple panther errors and kills by Kalyssa Fox (Sr., Casa Grande, AZ) started out the third set. Kills by Erison Vonderschmidt and Eden Moore helped the Bobcats stay point for point with the Panthers as the teams were tied at 15-15. Strong serves by Samantha Chesley helped the Bobcats take an 18-15 lead. Addison Schneider (Jr., Humphrey, NE) had a final kill for the Bobcats as they took set three 25-18.
 
Allie Schneider and Erison Vonderschmidt started out the fourth set with strong serving. The Panthers took a quick lead. With big kills from Eden Moore and Erison Vonderschmidt and back to back service aces by Hana Deticek, the Bobcats closed the gap to only one point. The panthers pulled away and took the set 21-25.
 
The Bobcats came out fighting hard in the fifth set keeping the score close. Erison Vonderschmidt had some big kills as the Bobcats fought throughout the set. Even though the Bobcats never gave up their fight, the Panthers took the set and the win 8-15.
 
Erison Vonderschmidt (FR., Falls City, NE) led the Bobcats with 15 kills adding 10 digs on the day. Eden Moore had eight kills and three digs in the match. Kennedy Miller tallied seven kills, also having two assisted blocks. Addison Schneider had six kills with two assisted blocks against the Panthers. Kalolaine Pasikala also tallied six kills with 24 digs and three service aces.
 
Sami Chesley (Fr., Lincoln, NE) had 20 assists, 10 digs and two aces. Allie Schneider had 18 assists and six digs against the Panthers. Ryan White (Fr., Phoenix, AZ) had eight digs in the match.
 
Next: The Bobcats take on the Southwestern Jinx on Friday, August 23^rd in their first home game of the season. First serve is at 5:00 p.m.