NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Talyor Zurliene pounded down 18 kills to power the Elmhurst University volleyball team to a thrilling five-set road victory at North Central College. 

Elmhurst (13-10, 6-2 CCIW) scored a 25-14, 24-26, 25-21, 17-25, 15-10 win over North Central (7-9/2-5 CCIW). 

The Bluejays never trailed in the opening set, racing out to a quick 10-3 lead before coasting to the 11-point win. The second set featured nine ties and four lead changes. Elmhurst led 22-20 but North Central battled back with a 4-1 run to serve for the set. Elmhurst fought off a set point to pull even at 24-all, but a ball handling error and a service ace gave the Cardinals the set at 26-24. 

Elmhurst never trailed in the third set, breaking an 8-8 tie with a 7-1 run to open up a six-point advantage. North Central pulled to within two at 19-17, but the Bluejays closed with a 6-4 run to go in front two sets to one. 

North Central started the fourth set with six straight points and the Cardinals never looked back, coasting to the 25-17 win to set up a decisive fifth set. 

Elmhurst grabbed an early 4-2 lead in the fifth and never relinquished it. The Bluejays built a six-point cushion at 12-6, only to have North Central score four straight to pull to within two. Kills from Zurliene and Katelyn Bower sandwiched around a North Central error gave the Bluejays the set and the match. 

Elmhurst hit .185 for the contest with 55 kills and 24 errors. The Bluejays totaled nine blocks and served up 12 aces. 

Zurliene powered the Bluejays with a match-high 18 kills to go along with 14 digs and four aces. Jada Wiley added 11 kills while Emily Duis finished with nine kills and six blocks. Elise Rossing added eight kills and two blocks while Bower tallied five kills and three blocks. Kellyn Kennedy totaled 30 assists while Erin Murray finished with 17. Emily Finkbeiner led the squad in digs with 17 while Valerie Thomas added 11. 

North Central was led by Abbi Barickman's 13-kill, 12-dig performances. Katie Little, Amber Vande Hei and Kaitlyn Boelter-Eberhardt finished with seven kills apiece. 

Elmhurst takes on Grinnell College and the University of Chicago tomorrow (October 23) in Chicago.