Graceland Volleyball Battles Hard in Four-Set Loss to Peru State

LAMONI, Iowa –Graceland University's women's volleyball team put up a competitive effort but ultimately fell to Peru State in four sets (17-25, 25-16, 23-25, 24-26) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) match on Tuesday night at the Morden Center. The Yellowjackets fought hard throughout the match, showing resilience and determination, but were unable to secure the win, dropping to 1-16 overall and 0-8 in conference play.

Graceland's attack was led by Brenna Crabtree, who registered a team-high 21 kills with a .325 hitting percentage. Grace Jensen also contributed significantly with 15 kills on 43 attempts, finishing with a .186 hitting percentage. Kaylee Baker added five kills, while Shelby Jabour and Marlis Aviles led the team from the service line, combining for six service aces.

The match started with Peru State taking control early in the first set, building a 4-0 lead on a service ace and several blocks. Despite a late push from Graceland, Peru State capitalized on their efficient attack and took the opening set 25-17. Graceland responded strongly in the second set, rallying to a 25-16 victory behind strong attacking from Crabtree and Jensen. The Yellowjackets posted a .250 hitting percentage in the second set, their highest of the match.

The third set proved to be a back-and-forth affair with both teams exchanging points. Graceland held a late 22-21 lead, but Peru State regained momentum to take the set 25-23, putting the Bobcats ahead 2-1 in the match. The fourth set was another tightly contested battle, with Graceland erasing a four-point deficit to tie the set at 24-24. However, Peru State closed out the match with a kill from Raevyn Russell, taking the final set 26-24.

Head Coach Stew McDole remained positive about his team's performance despite the loss, stating, "I believe in what we're doing and I believe in this team. We continue to make improvements and grow with each match. We play hard, we are always competitive, and we fight until the end. This team is a group of winners in my book."

Defensively, Graceland put up a strong effort with Kylee Dixon recording three blocks and Crabtree adding two. Aviles led the team with seven digs, while setter Hailey Kauweloa distributed 17 assists to keep the Yellowjacket offense running smoothly.

For Peru State, Raevyn Russell led the charge with 13 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, while Kennedy Miller added seven kills and a team-high seven blocks. The Bobcats finished the match with a .187 hitting percentage and recorded eight service aces.

With this loss, Graceland remains winless in conference play but showed continued improvement, particularly in their defensive and serving games. The Yellowjackets will next compete in the annual Yellowjacket alumni game on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Morden Center. Graceland will then return to HAAC action a week from tonight when they travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to face William Penn University at 7 p.m.

For more updates on Graceland volleyball, visit www.gujackets.com.