ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst volleyball team vaulted to the top of the CCIW standings following a four-set victory over Millikin.
 
Elmhurst, ranked 18th in the latest AVCA poll, improved to 20-10 overall and 6-1 in the CCIW with a 25-23, 25-20, 13-25, 25-18 victory. Millikin slipped to 22-9 overall and 5-1 in league play.  With the victory, the Bluejays moved a half-game in front of Millikin for the top spot in the CCIW and earned the tiebreaker to host the CCIW Tournament in case of a tie between the Bluejays and the Big Blue.
 
Elmhurst trailed much of the first set and trailed by four at 19-15. The Bluejays chipped away at the lead before pulling even at 22-22 following a 7-3 run. Millikin went in front at 23-22 but a Big Blue error followed by a kill from Melissa Nava and an ace from Mary Lawrence gave the Bluejays the opening set at 25-23.
 
The second set was similar to the first as Elmhurst fell behind 19-16, but the Bluejays closed the set with a 9-1 run, including six points behind the serve of Amy Schryver. Schryver ripped off three straight aces in the Bluejays' run.
 
Millikin bounced back in the third, jumping out to a 6-1 lead and never looking back. The Big Blue led by as many as 13 before putting the set away at 25-13.
 
Elmhurst scored the first point of the first set and never looked. The Bluejays grabbed a 9-5 lead and pushed it up to 17-10 forcing Millikin to call a timeout. The Big Blue came no closer than four points for the rest of the set before Elmhurst put the set and the match away at 25-18.
 
Elmhurst finished the contest hitting .211 with 47 kills and 17 errors in 142 swings. Alli Rogers led the way for the Bluejays with 11 kills and nine digs. Melissa Nava added 10 kills while Mel Lundin and Hannah Davis added eight kills apiece. Mary Lawrence totaled six kills, six blocks and 11 digs in the win. Schryver totaled a match-high 24 digs and five aces while Hannah Nimrick tallied 36 assists, 18 digs and four kills.
 
Millikin finished the contest hitting .199 with 53 kills and 22 errors in 156 attacks. Erin Syverson led the Big Blue with a match-high 19 kills and a team-best 18 digs. Alora Goodey added 13 kills while Emily Mihalkanin added 43 assists.
 
Elmhurst plays at Benedictine University on Friday, October 28.