WHEATON, Ill. – The Elmhurst University volleyball team returned to the court for the first time in over a year, defeating Wheaton College on the road in four sets.

The Bluejays won their season opener by scores of 25-19, 24-26, 25-15, 15-12.

Elmhurst (1-0) grabbed an early lead and never trailed in the opening set. The Bluejays led by as many as 10 points at 19-8 before the Thunder closed to within three points at 21-18. Elmhurst scored the next three points to open up a 24-18 cushion. A kill from Emily Duis gave Elmhurst the opening set at 25-19.
 
The Bluejays fell behind at the start of the second, trailing the Thunder 13-9 An 8-4 run pulled Elmhurst even at 17-all. The two squads traded the next dozen points to keep the score knotted at 23-23. A Wheaton (0-1) error allowed the Bluejays to serve for the set, but an error on Elmhurst let Wheaton pull even. The Thunder scored the next two points to take the set 26-24 and pull even in the match.
 
Elmhurst led from wire-to-wire in the third. Wheaton trimmed Elmhurst's early 8-4 lead down to one at 8-7, but the Bluejays responded with a 7-1 run to open up a 15-8 advantage. Elmhurst led by as many as 11 points before putting the set away at 25-15.
 
The Bluejays scored five of the first seven points in the fourth set, forcing the Thunder to burn an early timeout. The Bluejays lengthened their lead at 14-7 resulting in Wheaton calling its final timeout of the set. Elmhurst outscored the Thunder 11-5 the rest of the way, cruising to the 25-12 victory to secure the set and the match.
 
Elmhurst finished the contest hitting .239 with 56 kills and 19 errors in 155 attempts. Taylor Zurliene led the way for the Bluejays, totaling a team-high 16 kills to go along with 17 digs. Kayla Mast added 12 kills and 13 digs while Bailey Joachim recorded nine kills. Payton Froats (eight) and Duis (seven) combined for 15 kills. Valerie Thomas led the team in both digs (22) and aces (five). Emily Finkbeiner chipped in with 11 digs while Erin Murray led the squad in assists with 33.
 
Wheaton hit .136 for the match with 39 kills and 19 errors in 147 swings. Colleen Smith and Naomi Bunker paced the Thunder with 11 kills apiece. Audrey Gerze added 10 kills and 11 digs for the Thunder. Allie High recorded a team-best 22 digs while Marlee Anderson led the squad in assists with 33.
 
Elmhurst travels to Augustana College on Sunday, February 28. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.