ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst University volleyball team celebrated Senior Day at R.A. Faganel Hall with a three-set sweep (25-19, 25-12, 25-16) over Carroll University.
 
Elmhurst, ranked eighth in the latest AVCA Division III National Poll, improved to 4-0 on the season with the victory while Carroll slid to 0-5.
 
After falling behind 6-4 in the opening set, the Bluejays rattled off a 10-0 run behind the serve of Kayla Mast to take a 14-6 lead. Carroll cut the deficit down to four point at 14-10, but the Bluejays responded with a 5-3 run to extend their lead to 19-13 before putting away the first set at 25-19 on a Payton Froats kill.
 
Elmhurst raced out to an early 9-3 lead in the second set and never looked back. The Bluejays led by as many as 10 points at 20-10 before another kill from Froats sealed the set at 25-12.
 
Carroll hung with Elmhurst at the start of the third, trailing by only a point at 10-9 and again at 14-13. The Bluejays rattled off a 10-1 run to open up a 24-14 lead and finished the set at 25-16 on a Taylor Zurliene kill.
 
Elmhurst hit .213 for the match with 42 kills and 16 errors in 122 attempts. Carroll finished the match hitting just .044 with 24 kills and 19 errors in 114 attempts. The Bluejays outblocked Carroll 6-2 at the net.
 
Froats led the way for the Bluejays with 12 kills, seven digs and five blocks while hitting .400 for the match. Taylor Zurliene and Kayla Mast finished with eight kills apiece. Mast added 10 digs and five aces while Zurliene led the squad in digs with 13. Bailey Joachim totaled six kills while Emily Duis finished with five. Erin Murray tallied 24 assists while Valerie Thomas added 11 digs for the Bluejays.
 
Sam Penzkowski led Carroll in the loss with eight kills and six digs. Emily Konop added 13 digs for the Pioneers.
 
The Bluejays' celebrated Senior Day today before the match, recognizing the contributions to the team by Froats, Zurliene and student assistants Alexandra Tyggum and Mallorie Berriman.
 
Elmhurst hosts North Park University next Tuesday, March 30, at 5:00 p.m.