KENOSHA, Wis. - The Elmhurst volleyball team rallied, but came up just short in a five-set loss to fifth-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point at the Carthage College Tournament.

Elmhurst, ranked 14th in the latest AVCA Division III poll, dropped to 9-3 on the season after suffering a 27-26, 18-25, 15-25, 25-14, 11-15 loss to the Pointers.

Elmhurst grabbed an early 16-11 lead in the first set and held a 24-20 advantage, but Stevens Point fought off five set points before a kill from Alli Rogers and an error on the Pointers gave the Bluejays the opening set 27-25. 

Stevens Point bounced back from the opening set by breaking a 10-10 tie in the second with a 10-2 run en route to the 25-18 victory. The Poitnters led 10-9 early in the third, before a 10-4 run gave Stevens Point a 20-13 lead en route to the 11-point victory.

Elmhurst turned the tables in the fourth set to even the match. The Bluejays raced out to an 11-4 lead before Stevens Point closed to within two points at 14-12. Elmhurst responded by closing the set with an 11-2 run to pull even at two sets apiece.

Stevens Point scored the first point of the fifth set and never trailed. The Pointers led 6-5 and extended their lead to 12-8. Elmhurst closed to within a point at 12-11 after back-to-back kills from Mary Lawrence and a block from Lawrence and Shannon Burns. Two straight kills and a service error gave the next three points to Stevens Point to seal the win at 15-11.

Elmhurst hit .198 for the match with 57 kills and 21 errors in 182 attacks. Rogers powered the Bluejays in the loss with 17 kills and 12 digs. Lawrence reached double figures in kills with 10 while adding a team-best six blocks. Burns and Hannah Nimrick tallied nine kills apiece. Nimrick added 13 digs and 43 assists in the loss while Mel Lundin registered eight kills and three aces. Amy Schryver led Elmhurst's defense, registering a match-high 29 digs. Peggy Clemens added 14 digs in the loss. 

Stevens Point finished the contest with a .164 attacking percentage on 58 kills and 27 errors in 189 attempts. Emma Brunkhorst led the charge for the Pointers with 20 kills. Kelly Cefalu added 15 kills while Brittany Laffin tallied 47 assists and five aces.

Elmhurst closes out the Carthage tournament by taking on Wisconsin-Eau Claire.