ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst University volleyball team, ranked eighth in the latest AVCA Division III poll, remained unbeaten on the season, improving to 5-0 with a 25-20, 25-19, 25-14 win over North Park University.
 
Elmhurst opened up a quick 10-5 lead in the first set before North Park fought back to within two points at 12-10. The Bluejays used an 8-3 run to open up a 20-13 cushion. The Vikings closed to within four points at 23-19 but Elmhurst put the set away at 25-20 on a kill from Emily Duis.
 
The Bluejays grabbed a 9-4 lead early in the second, but North Park rattled off a 6-1 run to pull even at 10-10. Elmhurst slowly built a four-point lead at 18-14 only to have North Park close to within two points at 20-18. Elmhurst closed the set on a 5-1 run, finishing the set another Duis kill.
 
Elmhurst led from wire-to-wire in the third set, racing out to a 13-4 lead before coasting to the 25-14 win to finish the set and the match.
 
Elmhurst hit. 259 for the match with 45 kills and 16 errors in 112 attempts. North Park finished with 24 kills and 16 errors in 107 attempts (.075).
 
Taylor Zurliene and Kayla Mast each finished with a double-double to pace the Bluejays. Zurliene totaled a match-high 11 kills to go with 13 digs. Mast added 10 kills and 14 digs. Duis finished with eight kills and two blocks while Payton Froats and Bailey Joachim tallied six kills apiece. Erin Murray finished with 34 assists while Valerie Thomas tallied 10 digs. Emily Finkbeiner led the squad in digs with 16.
 
Taylor Guy led North Park with seven kills. Christina Gatta added five kills and 12 digs.

Elmhurst plays at Illinois Wesleyan University on April 7