DECATUR, Ill. - The Elmhurst College volleyball team secured its spot in the CCIW Tournament championship match with a three-set sweep of Wheaton College in the tournament's opening match.

Elmhurst (22-11), ranked 18th in the latest AVCA Division III poll, moved into the final with a 26-24, 25-16, 25-18 win over Wheaton (13-16).

Elmhurst overcame a late deficit to score a come-from-behind victory in the opening set. Wheaton build a six-point cushion at 21-15, but the Bluejays stormed back behind isx straight points behind Molly Brennan's serve. Wheaton reclaimed the lead and earned a pair of match points at 24-22, but a kill from Ali Rogers and a block from Mary Lawrence brought the Bluejays even at 24-24. Kills from Amy Schryver and Hannah Nimrick ended the set for the Bluejays at 26-24.

The Bluejays built an early lead in the second set at 7-2 before Wheaton pulled even at 12-12. Elmhurst responded with an 8-2 run over the next 10 points to take a 20-14 lead. Wheaton came as close as five points at 21-16, but the Bluejays won the final four points to take the second set. 

Elmhurst broke open a 4-4 tie in the third set with an 8-0 run to take control at 12-4. Wheaton pulled to within four points at 19-15 but came no closer as Elmhurst put the set away at 25-18 with a kill from Rogers.

Elmhurst hit .245 for the contest with 41 kills and 17 errors in 98 swings. Rogers led the Bluejays' offense with a match-high 12 kills. Lawrence, Melissa Nava and Hannah Davis added six kills apiece while Nimrick and Mel Lundin finished with five kills apiece. Nimrick totaled a team-leading 28 assists and four aces while Schryver totaled a team-leading 10 digs in the victory. The Bluejays served up nine aces and totaled 10 blocks in the victory. Lawrence led the squad in blocks with five while Nava finished with four.

Wheaton hit .082 with 27 kills and 19 errors in 98 attacks. Meghan Lacey led the Thunder with eight kills while Ashley Torok totaled 13 assists. 

Elmhurst will face the winner of the Carthage vs. Millikin match in the CCIW Tournament Final tomorrow, at 2:00 p.m. The CCIW Tournament winner earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.