Peru State College Athletics

INDUCTED OCT. 16, 2021

The 1993 Peru State College volleyball team was the first-ever volleyball squad to qualify for a national tournament which was not expected by most prognosticators. The season’s schedule was a tough one and included several NCAA DII opponents, as well as many top NAIA teams.
 
The Bobcats started the season with five straight wins including taking the Southwest State/NAIA Classic title. After struggling in the next 15 matches, Peru State had a stretch where they went 20-1 to improve to 31-10. At the end of the regular season, the squad was 39-14.
 
Peru State would host the NAIA District 11 Tournament and topped Dana and Doane to move onto the NAIA Bi-District 11/12 playoff. The Bobcats would host Carroll (Mont.) and swept the Fighting Saints in straight sets to earn the NAIA National Tournament berth.
 
At the National Tournament in San Diego, Peru State started pool play with a win over West Virginia Wesleyan. The Bobcats then fell to Hawaii-Hilo and Western Oregon State. Peru State finished the tournament with a straight-set win over Huntington (Ind.).
 
The team, coached by Jim Callender, finished the season with a 44-16 record. The 44 wins were the most at the time and still stands today as the top mark.
 
One of the team members was named an All-American – the first-ever for a Bobcat volleyball team. Another Bobcat made the all-tournament second team. In addition, several players are listed among the single-season and career statistical leaders to this day.