BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Elmhurst University volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season after rallying from two sets down, but coming up just short in a five-set loss to Illinois Wesleyan University. 
 
Illinois Wesleyan (5-2/5-2 CCIW) hung on to take the match by scores of 25-21, 28-26, 20-25, 21-25, 15-13.
 
IWU took the opening tightly contest opening set 25-21 with a late flourish, breaking a 19-19 tie with a 6-2 run to close the set. The Titans opened up a quick 13-4 lead in the second, but Elmhurst fought back and had two chances to serve for the set. Trailing 24-21, the Bluejays scored four straight points to open up a 25-24 lead. IWU fought off one set point and another at 25-26 to knot the score at 26-all. The Titans scored the final two points to take the second set 28-26.
 
The Titans opened up a 17-12 lead in the third set only for the Bluejays to finish the set on a 13-3 run to win the third 25-22. Elmhurst grabbed a 10-7 lead in the fourth and extended its advantage to eight point at 17-9. IWU closed to within two points at 22-20 and again at 23-21, but Elmhurst scored the final two points of the set to knot the match at two sets apiece.
 
IWU opened up a 10-5 lead in the fifth set only for Elmhurst to pull to within a point three times. The Bluejays fought off a match point at 14-13 but an Elmhurst error gave the Titans the set and the match.
 
Elmhurst hit .100 for the match with 48 kills and 28 errors in 201 attempts. The Bluejays dominated at the net, finishing with 16 total blocks.
 
Kayla Mast led the way for Elmhurst with 16 kills, 18 digs and seven blocks. Taylor Zurliene finished with nine kills and 22 digs while Payton Froats tallied nine kills and four blocks. Emily Duis finished with six kills and 12 blocks while Valerie Thomas led the team in digs with 32. Erin Murray tallied 24 assists and four blocks for the Bluejays.
 
IWU hit .112 for the contest with 61 kills and 37 errors in 215 swings. Jessica McCall led the Titans with 13 kills and seven digs. Grace Sanders finished with 12 kills and 27 digs while Courtney McAuliffe finished with 11 kills. Amber Juarez led the team in digs with 31.
 
Elmhurst plays three exhibition matches at the AVCA Division III Tournament on Friday, April 9.