Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. - The Elmhurst College volleyball team's rally fell just short as the Bluejays were upended in five sets by Carthage College in the CCIW Tournament Championship.

Carthage captured the five-set win 25-17, 25-21, 22-25, 22-25, 17-15. The Lady Reds earned the CCIW's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with the victory.

Carthage raced out to a quick 2-0 lead by taking the opening two sets (25-17 and 25-21), but Elmhurst rallied back to send the match into a decisive fifth set. The Bluejays stopped the Lady Reds 25-22 in both the third and fourth sets to set up a fifth set.

Elmhurst (30-5) jumped out a quick 7-4 lead in the fifth set, and led 8-6 at the side change. The Bluejays opened up a 12-9 lead, but Carthage rattled of four straight points to take 13-12 lead. An Elmhurst kill evened the set at 13-13. Elmhurst fought off match points by Carthage at 13-14, and 14-15 to even the match at 15-15. An Elmhurst attack error gave Carthage a 16-15 lead and Michelle Madeja put the final point away to give the Lady Reds the five-set victory.

Antonéya Veasy Smith led Elmhurst in the loss with 26 kills and 19 digs. Megan Reynolds added 14 kills and three blocks while Sam Szarmach totaled 12 kills and 18 digs. Kaitlyn Wilks added 10 kills for the Bluejays. Perrie Morgan finished with a career-high 43 digs while Marci Novak totaled 24. Erin Thill (33) and Katie Rueffer (31) combined for 64 assists.

Carthage was led by Lauren Dembkowski's 18 kills and 21 digs. Madeja added 18 kills and 24 digs for the Lady Reds. Drewann Pancratz finished with 53 assists and 25 digs.

With a 30-5 overall record and a number two ranking in the NCAA Midwest Region, the Bluejays appear to be in good shape to receive an at-large bid to the the NCAA Tournament. The Tournament field will be announced Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. on www.ncaa.com