DECATUR, Ill. – The Elmhurst volleyball team secured a spot in the CCIW Tournament despite suffering a three-set loss to 12th-ranked Millikin University.
 
Elmhurst (9-15, 5-2 CCIW) had its four-game conference winning streak snapped in a 25-19, 25-15, 25-21 loss to Millikin. The Big Blue upped its record to 7-0 in the CCIW (23-6 overall) while clinching the CCIW Championship and the top seed in the CCIW Tournament. Despite the loss, Elmhurst secured a spot into the CCIW Tournament, moving into a three-way tie for second-place in the league standings and opening up a two-game cushion over North Central with just one CCIW game remaining. 
 
Elmhurst grabbed an early 10-5 lead in the opening set, but Millikin responded with an 18-3 run over the next 21 points to blow past the Bluejays en route to taking the opening set.
 
The second set was even at 7-7 before Millikin used a 9-2 run to take control with a 16-9 lead. Elmhurst came no closer than four points for the rest of the set as the Big Blue cruised to the 10-point win.
 
The Big Blue grabbed an early lead in the third, but Elmhurst battled its way back, pulling even at 20-20 after an Alli Rogers ace. An Elmhurst followed by a Millikin ace put the Big Blue in front at 22-20. The Bluejays closed to within a point at 22-21 but Millikin scored the final three points to put the set and the match away.
 
Elmhurst struggled to get rolling on offense, hitting just .093 for the match with 23 kills and 13 errors in 107 swings. Rogers, Hannah Davis and Allie Skowron paced Elmhurst with five kills apiece. Skowron added a team-best three blocks. Taylor Nirchi led the squad in assists with six while Amy Schryver recorded a team-leading 13 digs.
 
The Big Blue finished the match with a .276 attack percentage with 44 kills and 15 errors in 105 swings. Emily Eegmiller and Alora Goodey totaled 13 kills apiece to lead the Big Blue. Erin Syversen added 11 kills. Emily Mihalkanin totaled a team-best 35 assists while Meredith Artime led the squad in digs with 23.
 
Elmhurst hosts Wittenberg University on Friday, September 27.