DECATUR, Ill. - The Elmhurst College volleyball team closed its 2017 season after falling in four sets in the CCIW Tournament Semifinals to eighth-ranked Millikin.

Elmhurst (10-19) fell in four sets by a score of 25-22, 15-25, 17-25, 17-25. 

Elmhurst started strong, taking the opening set 25-22 after hitting .323. Elmhurst fell behind 8-3 and trailed 17-13 before fighting its way back into the set. A 6-1 run allowed the Bluejays to pull even at 19-19. Millikin went back in front at 21-20, but the Bluejays ripped off the next four straight points to take a 24-21 lead. Millikin fought off one set point but a Big Blue service error gave the set to the Bluejays. 

Millikin (28-6) answered back in the second set as Elmhurst struggled with just seven kills in the set. Leading by a point at 10-9, the Big Blue used an 11-5 run to open up a 21-14 lead before closing out the set at 25-15. 

The Big Blue continued their momentum in the the start of the third, taking nine of the first 12 points to take a six-point lead. Elmhurst chipped the lead down to two points at 13-11, but the Big Blue pushed their lead back to five points at 18-13 before pulling away for the 25-17 win. 

Millikin raced out to a quick start again in the fourth, winning seven of the first 10 points to build a quick four-point lead. The Big Blue quickly built a seven point advantage at 15-8 and Elmhurst came no closer than six points as Millikin closed out the set and the match. 

Elmhurst finished the contest hitting .157 with 36 kills and 16 errors in 127 attempts. Alli Rogers led the way for the Bluejays with 12 kills while Hannah Davis tallied nine kills and four blocks. Taylor Zurliene, Allie Skowron and Taylor Nirchi finished with four kills apiece. Nirchi led the squad in assists with 26 while Zurliene finished with a team-best 12 digs. Amy Schryver added eight digs for the Bluejays. 

Millikin hit .254 for the match with 56 kills and 23 errors in 130 attempts. Erin Syverson powered the Big Blue with 20 kills and nine digs. Alora Goodey totaled 15 kills and seven digs while Emily Seegmiller added eight kills. Emily Mihalkanin added 44 assists for the Big Blue.