CHICAGO, Ill. – The Elmhurst volleyball team, ranked 15^th in the latest AVCA Division III poll split a pair of matches at the University of Chicago.

Elmhurst (15-6) opened the day with a five-set win over the host Marrons before falling in four sets against 11th-ranked Juniata.
 
ELMHURST 3, CHICAGO 2 – Elmhurst needed five sets to tip Chicago 25-23, 14-25, 25-16, 20-25, 16-14.
 
Elmhurst fell behind early in the opening set, trailing 5-1 to start the match. Down by four points at 11-7, the Bluejays used a 7-1 run to take a 14-12 lead. The two teams traded points with Chicago closing to within a point on six occasions before pulling even at 23-23. A kill from Alli Rogers and a block from Melissa Nava and Hannah Davis gave the Bluejays the set at 25-23.
 
Chicago (11-6) broke open up a 7-7 tie with a 3-0 run in the second set. Leading 10-7, the Maroons closed the set with a 15-7 run to pull even in the match.
 
Elmhurst seized control of the third set right from the start, opening with a 5-1 run. The Bluejays ran their lead to as many as 10 points at 20-10 before pulling away for the 25-16 win after a kill from Davis ended the set.
 
Momentum changed hands multiple times in the fourth set. Chicago raced out to an early 6-2 lead, but the Bluejays countered with a 5-1 run to pull even at seven. With the score knotted at seven, Elmhurst ripped off eight straight points behind Hannah Nimrick's serve to take command at 15-7. Chicago stormed back with an 8-2 run to close to within two points at 17-15. The Maroons finished the set with an 10-3 run to force a fifth set.
 
Neither team led by more than two points in the fifth set. Elmhurst built an 8-6 lead at the side change, but Chicago rattled off the next three points to pull in front 9-9. Chicago led at 12-11 and again at 13-12, but a Chicago error helped Elmhurst pull even at 13-13. The Maroons served for the match following a kill from Frances McDonald, but an Alli Rogers kill pulled Elmhurst even at 14-14. A block from Lawrence and an ace from Hannah Nimrick ended the set at 16-14 and gave Elmhurst the match.
 
Elmhurst hit .141 for the match with 57 kills and 29 errors in 199 swings. Davis gave Elmhurst a spark off the bench, finishing with a team-leading 14 kills to go along with five blocks. Lawrence added 11 kills and seven blocks while Melissa Nava totaled 10 kills and seven digs. Rogers added eight kills and 19 digs while Nimrick tallied six kills, 18 digs and 43 assists. Amy Schryver led the Bluejays in digs with 23 while Ani Agbabian added 11.

Chicago hit .154 in the loss, finishing with 58 kills and 28 errors in 195 attacks. Madison Pearson led the Maroons with 16 kills while Anabella Pinton added 15 kills and 13 digs. Sarah Muisenga totaled 12 kills while McDonald also reached double figures in kills with 10. Erin Risk totaled a match-high 52 assists and Mary Claire Tuohy totaled a match-high 31 assists.
 
JUNIATA 3, ELMHURST 2 – Elmhurst came up short in four sets to 11th-ranked Juniata, falling 22-25, 26-28 21-25, 20-25.
 
Elmhurst and Juniata traded leads for much of the first set. Elmhurst built an early 11-7 forcing Juniata to burn a timeout, but the Eagles rattled off the next four points to pull even. The two teams traded points for the next 12 points with the score even at 17-all. The Eagles ripped off three straight points to build a three-point cushion at 20-17. Elmhurst came as close as two points at 24-22 but a kill from Nikita Gearhart gave the Eagles the set at 25-22.
 
Juniata led for much of the second set, building a quick 5-1 lead. The Bluejays closed to within a point at 7-6 but a 7-2 run by Juniata gave the Eagles a 14-8 cushion and forced Elmhurst to burn a timeout. Elmhurst slowly whittled away at the lead, closing to within a point on three occasions before evening the score at 22-22 and forcing Juniata to burn a timeout. Elmhurst pulled in front at 24-23 but Juniata fought off three set points to keep the score even at 26-26. A service error on Juniata gave Elmhurst its fourth set point and a kill from Mel Lundin ended the set at 28-26 in favor of the Bluejays.
 
Juniata built an early lead again at the start of the third set. The Eagles grabbed a 9-4 cushion before Elmhurst pulled to within two points at 12-10. Four straight points from Juniata forced Elmhurst to burn a timeout down by six at 16-10. The Bluejays battled back, pulling to within a point at 21-20, but a 5-1 run by Juniata closed out the set at 25-21.
 
Elmhurst continued to play from behind in the fourth set as Juniata built early leads of 5-1, and 15-7. The Bluejays made a late run, pulling to within three points on three occasions, but came no closer before falling 25-20.
 
Elmhurst it .170 for the contest with 46 kills and 21 errors in 147 attempts. Nava led the way with 13 kills while Rogers finished with 11. Lawrence totaled 10 kills and five blocks in the loss while Nimrick tallied 39 assists and nine digs. Schryver totaled a team-best 16 digs in the loss.