ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst University volleyball team remained unbeaten on the season by knocking off second-ranked Carthage College in five sets at R.A. Faganel Hall.
 
Elmhurst (3-0) won by scored of 25-22, 27-25, 19-25, 22-25, 15-10. The Bluejays jumped out to a quick two sets advantage before Carthage (2-1) fought back to even things up and force a fifth set.
 
The Bluejays fell behind 11-7 to open the first set, but answered back with a 10-3 run to open up a 17-14 cushion. Carthage pulled even at 19-19, but the Bluejays rattled off back-to-back points to move in front by two. A kill from Kayla Mast sealed the first set for the Bluejays at 25-22.
 
Elmhurst started slowly in the second, falling behind 10-5, before responding with another 10-3 run to move in front at 15-13. Carthage pulled even at 19-19, but the Bluejays opened up a pair of set points at 24-22. The Firebirds fought off the first two set points and another at 25-24 to even the score at 25-25. A kill from Emily Duis and a Carthage error gave the Bluejays the set at 27-25.
 
Carthage led from wire-to-wire in the third set, turning a 7-6 lead into a 20-12 lead before cruising to the 25-19 win. The Firebirds started quickly in the fourth as well, building a 14-10 advantage before extending their lead to seven points at 20-13. Elmhurst fought off three set points before dropping the set 25-22.
 
The Bluejays jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on a pair of Emily Finkbeiner aces to start the fifth set. Carthage moved in front at 6-4 forcing Elmhurst to use a timeout, but the Bluejays rattled off six straight points behind Erin Murray's serve to open up a 10-6 lead. Carthage came no closer than three points for the remainder of the set as the Bluejays finished off the Firebird 15-10.
 
Elmhurst hit just .067 for the contest but still came away with the victory. Elmhurst totaled 58 kills and 43 errors in 223 attempts. Meanwhile, Carthage hit .117 with 51 kills and 27 errors in 206 attempts. The Bluejays held an advantage in serving as Elmhurst finished with nine aces and only one error. The Firebirds totaled six aces but committed 11 service errors in the loss.
 
Emily Duis led the Bluejays' on the night with 17 kills and three blocks. Kayla Mast added 16 kills and 26 digs while Taylor Zurliene added 11 kills and 19 digs. Valerie Thomas led the team in digs with 31 while adding a pair of aces. Emily Finkbeiner finished with 20 digs and three aces while Erin Murray totaled 44 assists and three aces.
 
Haley Horner led Carthage with 16 kills and eight digs while Molly Skoda totaled 11 kills and 13 digs. Megan Dawrant added 19 digs for Carthage.
 
Elmhurst plays an exhibition match at North Central College on Saturday, March 13.