Box Score WHEATON, Ill. - The Elmhurst volleyball team remained unbeaten in CCIW play by sweeping Wheaton College in three sets.
Elmhurst, ranked sixth in the latest AVCA Division III poll, dispatched Wheaton (19-7, 1-2 CCIW) 25-20, 25-14, 25-19. The Bluejays improved to 24-4 overall and 4-0 in league play.
The Bluejays grabbed a quick 2-1 lead in the opening set and never trailed the rest of the way. Elmhurst built a six-point lead at 12-6. Wheaton pulled to within two points at 20-18 and again at 22-20, but a Thunder error and kills from
Hannah Nimrick and
Megan Reynolds gave Elmhurst the opening set.
Trailing 6-3 in the second set, Elmhurst grabbed an 11-10 lead with an 8-4 run. Leading 12-11, the Bluejays ripped off eight straight points behind the serve of
Kaitlyn Wilks to take a commanding 20-11 lead. Wilks served up four aces in the run. The Bluejays cruised to the finish line with the 25-14 win in the set.
Elmhurst stepped on the gas to open the third set, rattling off the first seven points behind
Marci Novak's serve. Novak totaled three aces in the seven-point run. Wheaton fought their way back into the set, pulling to withing a point at 13-12, but the Bluejays won seven of the next 10 points to build a 20-15 lead before finishing off the set and the match.
Elmhurst hit .337 as a team with 46 kills and just 13 errors in 98 attacks.
Sam Szarmach powered the Bluejays' offense with 11 kills while hitting .320. Wilks added 10 kills, four aces and two blocks while Novak totaled 10 kills, five aces and nine digs.
Megan Reynolds hit a team-best .500 with six kills and two blocks. Nimrick finished with a team-leading 22 assists to go along with five kills.
Lauren Lorenz added 14 assists while
Hannah Lessen totaled a team-high 13 digs.
Dana Loncar finished with 11 digs for the Bluejays.
Jackie Pavilonis finished with four kills and four blocks for Elmhurst.
Shelby Knowles paced Wheaton in the loss with 12 kills and 10 digs. Ashley Torok totaled 18 assists for the Thunder.
Elmhurst has a week off before hosting North Park University on October 22.
