Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Elmhurst volleyball team defeated the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and ninth-ranked Washington University in St. Louis to improve to 16-1 on the season.

Elmhurst, ranked sixth in the latest AVCA Division III National Poll, opened the day with a 25-23, 25-17, 15-25, 25-18 win over UW-Eau Claire before toppling Washington 25-20, 14-25, 25-19, 19-25, 18-16 in a thrilling five-set win.

ELMHURST 3, UW-EAU CLAIRE 1 - Elmhurst scored its 15th win of the season with a four-set win over Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Marci Novak powered the Bluejays' offense with a double-double. Novak pounded down a team-high 17 kills while hitting a team-leading .343. She added 10 digs and a team-leading three aces in the victory. Sam Szarmach added nine kills and eight digs while Megan Reynolds totaled eight kills and four blocks. Kaitlyn Wilks tacked on seven kills for the Bluejays. Lauren Lorenz tallied 28 assists and eight digs while Katie Rueffer finished with eight assists. Hannah Lessen led the squad in digs with 14.

Kelly Schuh led UW-Eau Claire with 18 kills and six digs in the loss.

ELMHURST 3, WASHINGTON 2 - Elmhurst upended Washington in five sets with the Bluejays rallying from an early hole in the fifth set to stun the Bears on their home court.

Elmhurst pounded down 15 kills in the opening set to take a quick 1-0 lead with a 25-20 win in set one. Washington roared back in the second, blitzing the Bluejays with a 25-14 win to even the match. The Bluejays pulled back in front with a 25-19 win in the third set, but Washington took the fourth set 25-19 to send the match to a decisive fifth set.

In the fifth set, Washington raced out to a 5-0 before Elmhurst picked up its offense. The Bluejays trailed 10-6 and 12-9 before making a run. A pair of kills from Wilks combined with a Washington error evened the score at 12-12. The Bears ripped off consecutive points to take a 14-12 lead and set up a pair of match points, but a kill and a service ace from Wilks evened the score at 14.

An error on Washington gave the Bluejays a match-point, but Wilks' serve was narrowly long, evening the set at 15-15. Novak smashed down a kill to set up a second Bluejays' match point, but the Bears fought it off to tie the set at 16. Novak tipped a kill over the Bears' block to put Elmhurst in front 17-16 and an attack error from Washington handed the match to the Bluejays.

Szarmach led the way for Elmhurst, finishing with 17 kills and 17 digs while hitting .302. Wilks added 10 kills and two blocks while Reynolds finished with nine kills and three blocks. Jess Suarez added nine kills for the Bluejays while Lessen led the Bluejays in digs with 24. Rueffer finished with a team-leading 22 assists while Lorenz added 20 assists and 11 digs.

Szarmach and Lorenz were named to the all-tournament team for their play.

Elmhurst hosts Carthage College on Wednesday, October 2.