STEVENS POINT, Wis. - The Elmhurst volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to stun 11th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in five sets at the CCIW/WIAC Crossover. 

The Bluejays toppled the Pointers 19-25, 13-25, 26-24, 26-24, 15-11 to earn the five-set win. The win also avenged a first-round loss to the Pointers in last year's NCAA Tournament.

Elmhurst, ranked 23rd in the latest AVCA Division III poll, improved to 8-4 overall and scored a win over top-15 opponent for the first-time this season. UW-Stevens Point slipped to 16-2 on the year with the loss. 

Elmhurst dug themselves an early hole after dropping the first two sets. With the score even at 19-19 in the opening set, Stevens Point ripped off six straight points behind Marie Krengel's serve to score the 25-19 win. Stevens Point dominated the second set, using a 17-5 run to take a 21-9 lead en route to the 25-13 victory.

The Bluejays fell behind 12-7 early in the third before fighting their way back into the set. Elmhurst pulled even at 15-15 and then built a three-point cushion at 21-18. The Bluejays went in front 24-22 following a kill from Mary Lawrence, but Stevens Point fought off two set points to even the score at 24-all. A kill from Lawrence and an attack error on the Pointers gave Elmhurst the third set at 26-24.

Elmhurst trailed 5-1 to open the fourth set, but the Bluejays roared back with an 11-4 run to build a 12-9 lead after an Alli Rogers' kill. Stevens Point leveled the score at 16-all and then used a 6-4 run to take a 22-20 lead. Back-to-back errors on Stevens Point led Elmhurst pull level at 22-22 and a kill from Hannah Davis gave the Bluejays a set point at 24-23. The Pointers fought off a set point to even the score at 24-all, but a kill from Davis and a block from Lawrence and Davis gave Elmhurst the 26-24 win and forced a decisive fifth set. 

Stevens Point grabbed a 7-5 lead to start the fifth set, but Elmhurst ripped off five straight points to take a 10-7. The Pointers struggled in the run, committing three unforced errors to fuel the Bluejays.Stevens Point closed to within two points on three occasions, but Elmhurst answered back each time, pushing its lead back to three. Leading 13-11 a kill from Rogers gave Elmhurst a match point. A block from Rogers and Lawrence sealed the comeback victory for the Bluejays.

Elmhurst finished the match hitting .133 with 46 kills and 24 errors in 165 attacks. Lawrence led the way for the Bluejays, totaling 13 kills and eight blocks. Rogers added nine kills and nine digs while Melissa Nava added seven kills and six digs. Hannah Nimrick totaled seven kills, 34 assists, 20 digs and five blocks in the victory while Amy Schryver registered 10 digs for the Bluejays. Elmhurst totaled 11 blocks as a team in the victory.

Stevens Point finished the match hitting .150 with 64 kills in 187 swings, but the Pointers committed 36 errors in the contest. Kelly Cefalu registered a match-high 25 kills and 11 errors in 59 swings. April Gehl added 13 kills and 10 errors while Abby Majercik tallied 55 assists. 

With the win, Elmhurst head coach Julie Hall recorded her 598th career victory. Hall can reach the 600-win milestone if the Bluejays can win both their matches tomorrow. Elmhurst faces Wisconsin-Stout and Wisconsin-Eau Claire on the tournament's second day.