CHICAGO, Ill. - The Elmhurst University volleyball team earned a hard-fought five-set road victory over North Park University. 

Elmhurst rallied from a set down to score the 22-25, 26-24, 25-23, 5-25, 15-13 victory. The Bluejays improved to 12-10 overall and 5-2 in the CCIW while North Park slid to 14-10 overall and 1-5 in league play. 

Elmhurst opened up a 22-17 lead in the opening set before North Park closed the set on an 8-0 run behind the serve of Kharlie Simeona-French to take the first set 25-22. 

The Bluejays jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the second set before North Park rallied with a 12-2 run to open up a 19-14 lead. Trailing 23-19, Elmhurst ripped off four straight points to pull even at 23-all. North Park had a set point at 24-23, but a kill from Emily Duis tied the score at 24-24. A North Park error and a kill from Duis gave the Bluejays the second set 26-24 to even the match. 

North Park jumped out to a 17-14 lead in the third only for Elmhurst to respond with a 6-0 run to take a 20-17 lead. The Bluejays led 23 20 before North Park pulled to within a point at 23-22. North Park fought off one set point at 24-22, but a kill from Taylor Zurliene gave the Bluejays the set at 25-23. 

North Park dominated the fourth set, scoring the first nine points and opening on a 20-1 run to cruise to the 25-5 victory to force a decisive fifth set. 

North Park opened up three-point cushion in the fifth set on four separate occasions. North Park led 10-7 before Elmhurst rattled off the next four points to take an 11-10 lead. The Vikings pulled even at 11-11, but the Bluejays scored the next three points to move in front 14-11. North Park fought off two match points before a kill from Zurliene gave the Bluejays the set and the match. 

Elmhurst hit .161 for the match with 51 kills and 23 errors in the contest. Zurliene led Elmhurst in the win with 15 kills, three aces and 17 digs. Jada Wiley added 11 kills and a pair of blocks while Elise Rossing totaled eight kills. Duis finished with seven kills and three blocks. Valerie Thomas led the squad in digs with 21 while Payton Ceh tallied 12 and Emily Finkbeiner added 13. Erin Murray led the squad in assists with 23 while Kellyn Kennedy added 15. 

North Park was led by Adriana Rodriguez's 14 kills, nine aces and 16 digs. Simeona-French added 11 kills and 16 digs while Shamyia Collier finished with 10 kills. 

Elmhurst plays at North Central College on Friday, October 22.