ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst volleyball team dropped to 3-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and suffering a 23-25, 25-18, 12-25, 22-25 loss to Millikin University at R.A. Faganel Hall.
 
Elmhurst (8-15/3-2 CCIW) and Millikin (13-9/5-1 CCIW) slugged it out  in the opening set with neither team leading by more than three points at any point in the set. The score was tied up 11 times in the opening set before Elmhurst opened up a 22-20 lead. Millikin battled back to score three straight points and take a 23-22 lead. Elmhurst puled back even at 23-all, but a kill from Marissa McElroy and an Elmhurst error gave the opening set to the Big Blue.
 
Elmhurst battled back in the second, opening up a 10-7 lead and never looking back. The Bluejays led by as many as nine points at 22-13 before closing out the set at 25-18. Millikin swung the momentum back in its favor in the third, racing out to a 7-3 lead after the first 10 points. The Bluejays came no close than four points for the duration of the set as Millikin pulled away for the 13-point win.
 
In the fourth, it was Elmhurst grabbing an early 14-9 lead and holding a 19-15 edge before Millikin roared back, closing the set on a 10-3  run to finish the match.
 
Elmhurst hit .129 in the match with 41 kills and 21 errors in 155 swings. Emily Duis led the Bluejays with 11 kills and four blocks while Taylor Zurliene, Kayla Mast and Ellie Burzlaff totaled eight kills apiece. Emily Finkbeiner finished with 28 assists and 21 digs while Mast added 17 digs. Zurliene finished with 13 digs while Valerie Thomas totaled 15 digs for the Bluejays.
 
Milikin hit .219 in the contest with 54 kills and 19 errors. The Big Blue was led by Lauren Brummel's 18 kills. Marissa McElroy finished with 16 kills while Jessi Kreder totaled 11. Skylar Harris and Julianna Vassallo tallied 18 digs apiece for the Big Blue.
 
Elmhurst plays at Calvin College's Midwest Invitational this weekend (October 18-19).