WHEATON, Ill. - The Elmhurst volleyball team opened the CCIW portion of its schedule by dispatching Wheaton College 25-15, 26-24, 25-19. 

Elmhurst improved to 13-5 overall and 1-0 in the CCIW with the victory. 

The Bluejays broke a 5-5 lead in the opening set with 9-4 run to open up 14-9 cushion. Leading 15-11, the Bluejays closed out the set with a 10-4 run.

The two squads traded points for the majority of the second set with the score even at 21-21. Wheaton went in front 23-22, but kills from Mary Lawrence and Alli Rogers gave the Bluejays a set point. An error on the Bluejays, allowed Wheaton to pull even at 24-all, but kills from Hannah Nimrick and Hannah Davis sealed the set at 26-24 for Elmhurst.

With the score even at five early in the third set, the Bluejays took control with an 8-2 run. Wheaton came no closer than three points for the remainder of the set as the Bluejays pulled away for the 25-19 victory.

Elmhurst hit .232 for the match with 46 kills and 17 errors in 125 swings. Lawrence and Rogers powered the attack, finishing with 11 kills apiece in the victory. Lawrence added a team-leading five blocks. Nimrick finished with five kills, 13 digs, 36 assists and four blocks. Shannon Burns added six kills and six digs while Davis and Olivia Parks chipped in with five kills apiece. Amy Schryver totaled a team-high 20 digs in the victory.

Wheaton finished the contest hitting .100 with 27 kills and 14 errors in 130 attempts. Shelby Knowles and Sydney Vischer paced the Thunder with eight kills apiece. Ashley Torok added 17 assists while Kelli Manning totaled 16 assists.

Elmhurst, ranked 15th in the latest AVCA Division III poll, travels to the Colorado College Invitational on October 2-3.