GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Elmhurst volleyball team upended 18th-ranked Clarkson University 25-15, 25-27, 25-21, 25-22 at Calvin College's Midwest Invitational.

Elmhurst, ranked 16th in the latest AVCA Division III poll, improved to 19-7 overall while Clarkson slipped to 20-4. 

The Bluejays broke an 8-8 tie in the opening set with a 5-0 run to grab a 13-8 lead. Elmhurst continued to pull away, finishing the set on a 12-7 run to take the first set.

Elmhurst started strong in the second, building an 8-2 lead after the first 10 points. The lead did not last as Clarkson answered back with an 8-1 run to pull in front 10-9. The two squads traded points until the score was even at 18-18. Elmhurst rattled off four straight points to go in front 22-18 forcing Clarkson to burn a timeout. The Bluejays earned multiple set points at 24-21, but Clarkson fought off three straight to even the score at 24-24. A kill from Mel Lundin gave the Bluejays another set points, but Clarkson rattled off three straight points to take the set at 27-25. 

The Bluejays raced out to a 15-10 lead in the third set before Clarkson mounted a rally and pulled to within a point at 21-20. Elmhurst finished on a 4-1 run to win the third set. 

The two squads traded points for almost the entire fourth set with neither team leading by more than two points. With the score even at 22-22, Elmhurst went in front on a kill by Mary Lawrence. Back-to-back kills from Hannah Nimrick and Alli Rogers put the set and the match away for the Bluejays.

Elmhurst finished the contest hitting .214 with 54 kills and 20 errors in 159 attempts. Rogers powered the Bluejays' attack, finishing with 15 kills. Nimrick, Lawrence, Lundin and Shannon Burns finished with eight kills apiece. Nimrick added 34 assists, three aces and 13 digs in the win while Lawrence added four blocks. Hannah Davis chipped in with seven kills and a team-leading six blocks. Amy Schryer totaled a team-best 20 digs while Peggy Clemens and Kerry Swain added 10 digs apiece.

Clarkson hit .109 for the match with 46 kills and 27 errors in 174 attempts. Aishvina Arasu led the squad in the loss with 19 kills while Jillian Saenz totaled 40 assists.

Elmhurst takes on Bluffton University and Wittenberg University in the tournament's second day on Saturday.