Mallory Hull

 Five Peru State Bobcats were named to the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) All-Conference Volleyball Teams on Tuesday.

Earning second team recognition were Bre Brandt (Papillion) and Mallory Hull (Morse Bluff). Gaining honorable mention recognition were Courtney Jurek (Bellevue), Carrie Lierz (Holton, Kan.), and Brittany Peterson (Orem, Utah).

For Jurek, it was her second year earning honorable mention recognition while the rest earned their first HAAC honors.

Brandt, a 6-0 junior outside hitter, led Peru State with 349 kills and averaged 2.81 kills per set. In addition, Brandt added 321 digs, 11 solo blocks, and 39 block assists. Brandt was named the HAAC Hitter of the Week once during the season.

In all matches played for HAAC stats leaders, Brandt finished third in total kills (349), eighth in kills per set (2.8), 13th in total digs (321), 19th in assists per set (0.5), tied for 19th in digs per set (2.6), and 20th in total assists (61). In HAAC only competition, Brandt finished tenth in total kills (89), 13th in kills per set (2.6), 15th in total digs (101), and 18th in digs per set (3.0).

The other second team honoree, Hull led the Bobcats will 611 digs, averaging 4.89 digs per set. Hull, th3 5-6 sophomore, averaged nearly one assist per set from her libero position. Hull was the only other Bobcat to earn HAAC weekly honors as she earned the Libero of the Week early in the season.

In all matches played for HAAC stats leaders, Hull finished first in total digs (611), third in digs per set (4.9), 15th in assists per set (0.9), and 17th in total assists (117). In HAAC only competition, Hull finished fifth in digs per set (4.7), seventh in total digs (149), 16th in assists per game (1.1), and 17th in total assists (34).

A 5-6 junior, Jurek shared setting duties this season and led the team with 556 assists while averaging 4.34 assists per set. Jurek added 39 service aces and added 278 digs during the season. In HAAC only competition, Jurek finished tied for first in total service aces (13), third in service aces per set (0.4), eighth in total assists (139), and 11th in assists per set (4.0).

In all matches played for HAAC stats leaders, Jurek finished fourth in total service aces (39), tied for eighth in aces per set (0.3), ninth in total assists (556), and tenth in assists per set (4.3)

Lierz, a 5-8 junior outside hitter, was second on the team with 261 kills and averaged 2.10 kills per set. In addition, Lierz added 89 digs, three solo blocks, and 41 block assists.

In all matches played for HAAC stats leaders, Lierz finished tied for 14th in total kills (261) and 16th in hitting percentage (0.210). In just HAAC competition, Lierz finished tied for 17th in hitting percentage (0.175), and tied for 19th in total blocks (21).

Despite playing in 11 fewer games due to a preseason injury, Peterson, a 6-1 senior, led the team in blocking statistics with 13 solo blocks and 76 block assists. Peterson added 127 kills and hit a team-high .274 during the year.

Peterson did not qualify for consideration for overall stats leaders, but in HAAC play only, Peterson led the conference in blocks per set (1.5) and total blocks (52). 

The Bobcats finished a five-way tie for fourth in the HAAC with a 4-5 conference mark. Overall, Peru State finished 21-14 for the season, the most wins since the 2002 season.