Box Score ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst volleyball team moved one step closer to securing a spot in the CCIW Tournament by erasing a two-set deficit to defeat North Central College in five sets. 

After dropping the first two sets by a combined four points, the Bluejays stormed back, dominating the final three sets to earn the 23-25, 28-30, 25-15, 25-16, 15-9 win over the Cardinals.

Elmhurst upped its record to 9-14 overall but secured a winning CCIW record by improving to 5-1 in league play. North Central slid to 11-5 overall and 2-3 in the CCIW with the loss. 

North Central led for nearly the entire first set, building up a 24-21 lead. Elmhurst fought off two set points before the Cardinals put the set away on a kill from Julie Laugel. 

The Cardinals led by as many as five points in the second set and led 24-21 late before Elmhurst rattled off three straight points to pull even at 24-24. The Bluejays fought off two additional set points and took a set point at 28-27, but a service error allowed North Central to pull even at 28-all. The Cardinals scored the final two points to take the set 30-28. 

Elmhurst raced out to an early 13-7 lead after the first 20 points of the third set. The Bluejays led by as many as 10 points while coasting to the 25-15 win. 

With the score tied at six early in the fourth set, the Bluejays ripped off a 9-1 run to open up a 15-7 lead. North Central came no closer than six points for the rest of the set as Elmhurst pulled even at two sets apiece.

North Central grabbed a quick 2-1 lead in the fifth set, but Elmhurst scored the next six points to open up a 7-2 lead and forced North Central to burn both of their timeouts. Elmhurst led eight points at 12-4 before North Central scored four straight to pull to within four. The Cardinals came no closer though as Elmhurst won three of the final four points to take the set and the match. 

Elmhurst hit .185 for the match with 56 kills and 22 errors in 184 attacks. Hannah Davis paced the Bluejays' attack, hitting .325 with 17 kills. Taylor Zurliene finished with a double-double of 11 kills and 22 digs to go along with four aces while Alli Rogers totaled nine kills. Allie Skowron finished with eight kills while Mel Lundin totaled four blocks and five kills. Taylor Nirchi tallied a team-high 35 assists while Amy Schryver led the squad in digs with 35. 

North Central was led by Laugel's 15 kills and 15 digs. Anna Billman added 10 kills while Olivia Hanley tallied 28 digs for the Cardinals. 

Elmhurst plays at Millikin University next Tuesday, October 24.