ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - The Elmhurst volleyball team could slipped to 2-3 in the CCIW after dropping a tightly-fought four-set battle at Augustana College.

Elmhurst fell to 9-10 overall after falling 22-25, 20-252, 25-17, 31-33 to Augustana (10-8, 1-2 CCIW). 

Elmhurst played from behind for the early portion of the first set before surging in front and building a 19-16 lead. Augustana answered back with a 7-0 run to grab a 23-20. The Bluejays pulled to within two points but the Vikings put the set away at 25-22. 

The Bluejays opened up an early 10-4 lead in the second set behind a 6-0 run. Augustana answered back with a 9-1 run to move in front at 15-11. The Bluejays closed to within a point at 16-15 before the Vikings closed the set on a 9-5 run to take a two-set lead. 

Elmhurst scored 12 of the first 20 points in the third set to build a 12-8 cushion. The Bluejays quickly pushed their lead up to eight points with a 10-6 run before cruising to the 25-17 win.

The Bluejays won seven of the first 10 points to grab a quick 7-3 lead in the fourth. The Bluejays pushed their lead up to five points at 19-14 before the Vikings made a run, pulling to within two points at 23-21. The Vikings won the next three points to set up a match point before a Vikings' service error evened the set at 25-all. Elmhurst fought off a second match point before taking a 27-26 lead. Augustana held off Elmhurst on the ensuing set point. The Bluejays totaled five different set points but could not close out the Vikings. Augustana pulled even at 31-31 and then put the set and match away with kills from Brooke Harmon and Grace Bialobok.

Elmhurst hit .186 for the match with 53 kills and 21 errors in 172 swings. Three Bluejays reached double figures in kills. Kayla Mast led the way with 15 kills and 10 digs while Taylor Zurliene tallied 14 kills and 17 digs. Bailey Brouwer chipped in with 11 kills while Kelly Townsend finished with 18 assists and 17 digs. Katie Davis led the team in assists with 19 while Valerie Thomas totaled 21 digs and 10 assists. 

Four Vikings reached double figures in kills in the win. Taryn VanEarwage led Augustana with 15 kills and 16 digs while Bialobok tallied 15 kills. Emily Uglem finished with 14 kills while Harmon recorded 10. 

Elmhurst hosts Carthage College on Tuesday, October 10.