Box Score ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst volleyball team closed out its first day at the Elmhurst Invitational with a thrilling five-set win over 17th-ranked University of Chicago.

The Bluejays defeated Chicago by a 23-25, 25-15, 25-16, 26-28, 15-12 score. Elmhurst, ranked 12th in the AVCA Division III poll, defeated Edgewood earlier in the day (recap) to finish the day with a 2-0 record.

Elmhurst led 18-14 and 22-20 in the opening set, but failed to put Chicago away, allowing the Maroons to score five of the next six points to take the opening set.

The Bluejays stepped on the gas in the second set, racing out a 9-6 lead and never trailing en route to the 25-15 win. The Bluejays led 12-10 and closed the set on a 13-5 run. The third set was a mirror image to the second as Elmhurst jumped out to a commanding 11-3 lead before cruising to the 25-16 win.
 

Chicago (0-2) took control early in the fourth set. The Maroons built a 16-10 lead before Elmhurst clawed their way back. The Bluejays used a 9-3 run to even the score at 19-all and then fought off a set-point from Chicago at 23-24. Elmhurst served for the match at 26-25, but a Morgan Barry kill evened the score for Chicago. Another kill from Barry and an error on Elmhurst gave the Maroons the fourth set at 28-26.

The two teams traded blows for much of the decisive fifth set. Elmhurst led 8-7 at the switch and a kill from Melissa Nava gave the Bluejays a 9-8 lead, but Chicago won the next two points to pull even at 9-9. Another two-point Elmhurst lead at 12-10 was erased by Chicago, but a kill from Sam Szarmach put Elmhurst in front 13-12. An attack error on Chicago and a kill from Jackie Pavilonis gave the Bluejays the 15-12 win in the fifth set.

Elmhurst hit .255 as a team with 70 kills and 30 errors in 157 attacks. Szarmach powered the Bluejays' offense with 19 kills and 20 digs. Pavilonis and Alli Rogers pounded down 12 kills apiece while Nava also reached double figures in kills with 10 and co-led the squad in block with four. Hannah Nimrick totaled nine kills while tallying 52 assists, three aces and three blocks. Shannon Burns added eight kills and four blocks while Peggy Clemens totaled a team-leading 27 digs.

Maren Loe paced Chicago in the loss with 20 kills and nine digs while Barry registered 18 kills. Ragine Graves totaled 29 assists and Stephanie Sinnappan finished with 21.

Elmhurst hosts Lake Forest College (11:00 a.m.) and Coe College (3:00 p.m.) on the tournament's second day.