ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst volleyball team scored its 22nd victory of the season with a 26-24, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21 win over eighth-ranked Washington University in St. Louis.
Elmhurst improved to 22-3 on the season while Washington slipped to 20-4 overall.
All four sets featured back-and-forth action that came down to the wire. Elmhurst opened up an early 10-6 lead in the opening set, but Washington responded with a 12-4 run to build an 18-14 cushion. Elmhurst slowly pulled even at 21-all, but a service error on Elmhurst and a kill from Caroline Dupont put Washington in front 23-21. Kills from
Sam Szarmach and
Jackie Pavilonis sandwiched between a Washington attack error gave Elmhurst a 24-23 lead. Washington fought off one set point to even the score at 24-all, but a kill from Szarmach and a ball-handling error on Washington gave the Bluejays the opening set 26-24.
With the score even at 21-21 in the second set, A kill by Washington's Jackie Nelligan put the Bears up 22-23, but a kill from
Melissa Nava and an error on Washington gave Elmhurst a 23-22 lead.
Amy Schryver tallied a kill for the Bluejays to set up a set point for Elmhurst. Washington fought off one set point, but Nava blocked Caroline Dupont at the net to seal the second set for the Bluejays.
Elmhurst built a 21-17 lead in the third set, but Washington ripped off four straight poitns to pull even at 21-all. The two teams traded the next four points to make the score 23-23. A kill and a block from Washington's Allison Zastrow gave the Bears the third set at 25-23.
With the score event at 12 in the fourth set, the Bluejays took control, using a 6-2 run to build an 18-14 advantage. Elmhurst extended its lead to 22-17 before Washington rattled off three straight points to pull to within two at 22-20. A kill by Szarmach and a Washington error gave Elmhurst a 24-20 lead. Washington fought off one match point, but a diving save from
Hannah Nimrick dropped over the net and in to seal the match for the Bluejays at 25-21.
Elmhurst hit .188 for the match with 51 kills and 22 errors in 154 swings. Washington hit .151 for the match with 52 kills and 28 errors in 159 attempts. The Bluejays overcame 11 service errors to earn the victory. Washington struggled with its setting, as the Bears committed nine ball-handling errors. Szarmach led Elmhurst's attack with 14 kills and 14 digs. Nava added 10 kills and four blocks while
Jackie Pavilonis totaled nine kills and four blocks. Nimrick finished with a match-high 38 assists to go with 13 digs, seven kills and four blocks.
Alli Rogers added six kills and
Peggy Clemens chipped in with 13 digs.
Nkiru Udenze led Washington in the loss with 13 kills and seven digs. Dupont totaled 11 kills while Zastrow finished with 10. Cassie Wang totaled 26 assists and eight digs while Kalehua Katagiri finished with a match-high 20 digs.
Elmhurst takes on 12th-ranked University of St. Thomas at 8:00 p.m.
