Box Score ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst volleyball team claimed its first outright CCIW Championship since the 2003 season with a 25-16, 25-22, 25-12 win over North Central College.

Elmhrust, ranked ninth in the latest AVCA poll, finished the CCIW season with a perfect 7-0 season, marking the Bluejays first undefeated conference season since 2002. With the victory, the Bluejays secured the top-seed for the upcoming CCIW Tournament Play-in match.

Elmhurst (26-7 overall) jumped on the Cardinals quickly in the opening set, racing out to a 10-5 lead. North Central (22-7, 5-2 CCIW) pulled to within four points, but the Bluejays quickly pulled away to a 21-13 advantage and put away the opening set 25-16

North Central started strong in the second set, building a 13-9 advantage. Elmhurst pulled to within a point on three occasions, only to see the Cardinals extend their lead. Trailing 20-18, Elmhurst ripped of six straight points behind Sam Szarmach's serve to open up a 24-20 lead. North Central fought off two set points before a Cardinal error handed the Bluejays the second set at 25-22.

Elmhurst dominated the third set, sprinting out to a 17-9 lead an pulling away to take the set (25-12) and the match.

Kaitlyn Wilks powered the Bluejays' attack in the middle, smashing 13 kills and hitting a whopping .722. Wilks added four blocks in the victory. Megan Reynolds and Antonéya Veasy Smith added seven kills apiece for the Bluejays. Reynolds added a team-leading four blocks in the victory. Marci Novak finished with three kills and seven digs while Erin Thill totaled 17 assists and six digs. Katie Rueffer added 15 assists and three kills while Szarmach totaled four kills and three aces. Elmhurst committed only nine errors in the contest.

North Central struggled with its hitting, committing 25 errors and hitting .033 for the match. Jenae Harner led the Cardinals with eight kills.

Elmhurst will host North Park University in next Tuesday's (October 30) CCIW Tournament Play-in Match.