ELMHURST, Ill. – Mel Lundin totaled a career-high 19 kills, but it wasn't enough as the Elmhurst volleyball team fell to top-ranked Wittenberg University in four sets at R.A. Faganel Hall.
 
Facing the number one ranked team in the nation, the Bluejays fell 13-25, 20-25, 25-22, 18-25. Elmhurst fell to 9-16 overall while Wittenberg remained unbeaten, improving to 20-0.
 
Wittenberg dominated the opening set, scoring the first eight points and racing out to a quick double-digit lead. The Tigers led by as many as 14 points before coasting to the 25-13 win.
 
Wittenberg build an early 14-5 lead in the second set before Elmhurst mounted a late rally. Trailing 19-12, Elmhurst ripped of a 7-3 run to pull to within three points at 22-19. The Tigers won three of the next four points to close out the set at 25-20.
 
With the score even at nine in the third set, Elmhurst used a 7-1 run to build a 16-10 lead. Wittenberg came as close as two points at 21-19 but the Bluejays scored the next three to push their lead back to five points. A kill from Hannah Davis ended the set and sent the match into a fourth set.

Wittenberg slowly build a four-point lead at 12-8 only to see Elmhurst pull to within a point at 13-2. The Tigers pushed their lead back to four at 18-14 before Elmhurst closed to within two at 18-16. The Tigers used a 7-2 run to close out the set and take the match in four.
 
Lundin powered Elmhurst's offense in the loss, finishing with a career-high 19 kills while hitting .302 for the contest. Davis and Alli Rogers also reached double figures in kills. Davis totaled 11 kills and four blocks while Rogers powered down 10 kills. Taylor Zurliene added nine kills and 13 digs in the loss. Taylor Nirchi finished with a double-double of 36 assists and 17 digs. Amy Schryver added 11 digs and Selene Ushela totaled 16 for the Bluejays. Elmhurst hit .147 for the match with 52 kills and 26 errors in 177 swings.
 
Wittenberg hit .267 with with 51 kills and 12 errors in 146 attacks. Haley Horner paced the Tigers with 14 kills while Aubrey Cox finished with 12 and four blocks. Karen Wildemann totaled 41 assists and 11 digs while Taylor Yontz finished with a match-high 28 digs.
 
Elmhurst takes on Greenville and Benedictine tomorrow (October 28) at the Benedictine University Tournament.