HOLLAND, Mich. - The Elmhurst volleyball team dropped their opening contest of the Midwest Invitational, falling in four sets to Ithaca College. 

Elmhurst (8-12) fell to Ithaca (14-5) 17-25, 22-25, 28-26, 18-25. 

The Bluejays scored the first four points of the opening set, but Ithaca responded with an 18-5 run to take a commanding 18-9 lead before cruising to the 25-17 victory. 

Ithaca raced out to a 6-1 lead in the second but the Bluejays closed the gap and pulled even at 18-18. Elmhurst went in front at 21-19 following a Taylor Nirchi ace, but Ithaca won six of the last seven points to close out the set at 25-22. 

Elmhurst jumped in front in the third, opening up a commanding 18-10 lead. The Bluejays led by seven at 20-13 but Ithaca rallied, ripping off a 12-4 lead to set up a pair of match points. The Bluejays fought off both match points and evened the score at 24-24. A block by Mel Lundin and Cyle Harrison followed by an ace from Lundin gave the Bluejays the third set at 28-26. 

Ithaca build a quick 10-4 lead in the fourth set and never looked back. Elmhurst came no closer than three points for the remainder of the set as the Bombers pulled away to take the set and the match. 


Elmhurst totaled 44 kills and 24 errors in the match, hitting .128 with 156 attempts. Hannah Davis paced Elmhurst in the loss with 12 kills and three blocks. Lundin added 11 kills while Alli Rogers tallied nine kills and 12 digs. Allie Skownron totaled eight kills while Harrison led the team in blocks with six. Nirchi tallied a team-high 22 assists while Amy Schryver led the squad in digs with 23. 

Ithaca hit .206 with 60 kills and 26 errors in 165 swings. Caroline Gerulskis led the Bombers with 15 kills while Katie Evans added 13. Reagan Stone added 12 kills. 

Elmhurst takes on Calvin and Ohio Wesleyan in the tournament's second day on Saturday, October 14.