Graceland Defeats Peru State in Conference Opener

PERU, NEB. - The Graceland volleyball team went on the road to and won their 2019 Heart conference opener in four sets last night.

In the first set, the Yellowjackets trailed early 12-9 but a kill from Maja Barringer on an assist from Sam Schell sparked a scoring run. Soon after, Schell would then assist Emma Runyan on a kill to force a Peru State timeout. The Graceland scoring continued after the timeout as they were able to extend their lead to 5 before the end of the set. Graceland would take set one, 25-21.

Schell was able to get the second set started off with an ace, her 27th already of the season. After a kill from Runyan to go up 4-1 early, the Bobcats would answer back quickly. Peru State would score the next 6 points of the set and eventually stretch that lead to make it 15-7. Late in the set, the Yellowjackets made a run to get the deficit back to four after a kill from Shianne Cook but Peru State would win the set 25-18.

In the thrid set, it was back and forth for both sides. Peru State would lead 13-8 early but a Bobcat service error seemed to change momentum for the remainder of the set. Down just one late, Beth Presler would get a kill off a Peru State overpass to tie it at 19. Jasmine Fonoti would get two kills at the end off of assists from Abby Karlis to help Graceland take set three 25-21.

Graceland would head to set four leading 2-1, and looked the best they had all night. The Yellowjackets never surrendered the lead the entire set and had a .378 attacking percentage. Runyan would get two big kills off of assists from Schell late in the set, followed by Barringer who ended the match with another kill of her own. Graceland would take set four 25-19 and win the match.

The Yellowjackets had a more balanced attack of scoring as Runyan and Cook both ended with double-digit kills. Annalise Ince added 6, and three others ended with 4 each. Kacie Miyama led the team in digs with 24 and Runyan had 15. The leader in assists was Schell with 21 and Karlis added in 15 of her own. In addition, Schell, Karlis, Cook, and Miyama all had service aces in the match.

Graceland, now 5-9 overall and 1-0 in Heart play, will host their home opener this Friday night against Central Methodist University as they look to get their second conference win on the season. The match will start at 7 pm and will be the annual Dig Purple match.

For more updates on women's volleyball and all our teams follow @GUjackets on Twitter and like us at Facebook.com/GUjackets.

-Yellowjackets-