ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst volleyball team ran its record to 3-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin after defeating Wheaton College 25-19, 25-22, 25-17 at R.A. Faganel Hall.
 
Elmhurst improved to 8-12 overall while Wheaton slid to 13-8 overall and 2-3 in the CCIW.
 
All three sets were extremely tight until late runs from Elmhurst helped the Bluejays pull away. The score was even at 14-14 in the first set before Elmhurst ripped off a 6-1 run to grab a 20-15 lead. Wheaton pulled to within a point at 20-19, but the Bluejays rattled off the final five points to take the set 25-19.

Wheaton jumped out to an 11-7 lead in the second, only for Elmhurst to score five straight points and move in front at 12-11. The Thunder pulled back even at 17-17 and leveled the score again at 22-22, but kills from Kayla Mast and Bailey Brouwer along with a Wheaton error, gave the Bluejays the set at 25-22.
 
Wheaton opened up a 12-10 lead in third and led again at 14-13, but Elmhurst fired off a 6-0 run behind Taylor Zurliene's serve to open up a 19-14 cushion. The Thunder came no closer than five points as Elmhurst cruised to the 25-17 win to seal the match.
 
The Bluejays hit .201 in the contest, finishing with 44 kills and 17 errors in 134 swings. Payton Froats led a balanced Elmhurst attack with 11 kills and a .526 attack percentage. Mast finished with 10 kills and 15 digs while Brouwer and Ellie Burzlaff totaled seven kills apiece. Zurliene finished with six kills and 12 digs. Valerie Thomas led the team in digs with 27 while Emily Finkbeiner finished with 16 assists. Sabrina Yamashita added team-high 18 assists to go with 13 digs.
 
Wheaton hit only .055 for the contest with 25 kills and 18 errors in 128 swings. Audrey Gerze led the Thunder with eight kills. Deborah Smith added seven for Wheaton.
 
The Bluejays host the Elmhurst Quadrangular tomorrow (October 12). Elmhurst will face third-ranked University of Chicago at 12:00 pm and #22 UW-Eau Claire at 4:00 p.m.