DECATUR, Ill. - The Elmhurst volleyball team could not overcome a two-set deficit, falling to Millikin University 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 20-25. 

Elmhurst (9-15, 2-5 CCIW) jumped out to an early lead in the first set but Millikin (11-14, 3-3 CCIW) answered back pulling even at 15-15 and then taking an 18-15 lead. Elmhurst responded with a 7-4 run to knot the score at 22-22, but Millikin won the next two points to take a set point. the Bluejays fought off one set point, but a kill from Emily Seegmiller wrapped up the set for the Big Blue at 25-23. 

Millikin grabbed an early 7-4 lead in the second, but Elmhurst slowly chipped away and pulled even at 15-all. The score was knotted at 19-19, but a 5-0 run from Millikin helped the Big Blue pull away for the 25-20 win. 

Elmhurst raced out to an early lead in the third, building a 10-4 cushion. Millikin pulled to within a point at 13-12, but Elmhurst quickly pushed its lead back up to five at 21-16 before putting the set away at 25-21. 

Millikin scored the opening points in the fourth set and never trailed. The Bluejays pulled even at 8-8, but four straight points gave the Big Blue a 12-8 cushion. Elmhurst closed to within two points at 17-15 and again at 21-19, but the Big Blue used a 4-1 run to put the set and the match away. 

Elmhurst hit .194 for the match with 52 kills and 21 errors in 160 swings. Three Bluejays reached double figures in kills in the loss. Taylor Zurliene and Payton Froats finished with 12 kills apiece while Bailey Brouwer added 10. Kayla Mast chipped in with eight kills while Emily Duis finished with six kills and five blocks. Valerie Thomas led the squad in digs with 23 while Kelly Townsend totaled a team-best 29 assists. 

Seegmiller led Millikin with 18 kills while Mariss McElroy finished with 13. Peyton Jackson tallied 12 kils while Rose Syverson finished with 46 assists and 16 digs. 

The Bluejays host the Elmhurst College Invitational this weekend October 19-20.