GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Elmhurst volleyball team closed out its trip to Calvin College's Midwest Invitational by dropping matches to the second-ranked tournament host and Ithaca College.
 
Elmhurst slid to 8-18 overall after falling in three sets in both contests.
 
CALVIN 3, ELMHURST 0 – Elmhurst fell 25-11, 25-17, 25-19 to second-ranked Calvin to open the second-day of play at the tournament.
 
Calvin built an 11-6 lead early in the first set before coasting to the 25-11 victory. The second set was even at 7-7 before Calvin used a 10-3 run to open up a 17-10 lead. Elmhurst closed to within three points at 18-15 but came no closer as Calvin closed out the set at 25-17. The Knights built a 21-16 lead in the third before closing out the set and the match.
 
Elmhurst hit .155 for the match with 22 kills and 11 errors in 71 attempts. Payton Foats led Elmhusrt with six kills in the loss. Bailey Brouwer and Emily Duis finished with five ills apiece. Valerie Thomas led the squad in digs with seven while Emily Finkbeiner totaled 11 assists.
 
Calvin finished the contest hitting .457 with 48 kills and 11 errors in 81 attempts. Kelsey Smith powered the Knights with 15 kills while Sarah DeVries totaled 13 kills.
 
ITHACA 3, ELMHURST 0 – The Bluejays came away emptyhanded at the Invitational after falling 25-23, 25-14, 25-22 to Ithaca College.
 
Ithaca opened up a 19-13 lead in the opening set only to have Elmhurst rattle off six straight points and pull even at 19-19. Ithaca used a 5-2 run to take a 24-21 lead before Elmhurst fought off two straight set points to pull to within one. An Ithaca block sealed the set at 25-23.
 
Ithaca quickly jumped out to a lead in the second, winning 10 of the first 15 points to build a quick five-point lead. Elmhurst came no closer than three points for the remainder of the set as Ithaca pulled away for the 25-14 win.
 
Elmhurst started strong in the third, building a 14-6 lead after the first 20 points. Ithaca stormed back to pull even at 19-all. Elmhurst moved in front at 21-20, but Ithaca finished the set and the match with a 5-1 run.
 
Elmhurst finished the match hitting .130 with 35 kills and 21 errors in 108 swings. Kayla Mast led the way with nine kills while Emily Duis, Payton Froats and Alexandra Tyggum totaled six kills apiece. Valerie Thomas led the squad in digs with 11 while Emily Finkbeiner totaled 12 assists.
 
Reagan Stone led Ithaca with 15 kills while Allison Lipton chipped in with seven.
 
Elmhurst plays at Carroll University on October 23.