ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst University volleyball team lost a tight match at Carthage in four sets (21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 22-25). 

Elmhurst (6-17/3-5 CCIW) battled through a close first set with the teams combining for six 3-0 runs. The final push for the Bluejays brought them to within one at 20-19. Carthage (19-8/6-2 CCIW) had a pivotal service ace to maintain the lead and take the first set. 
 
 It looked like Carthage would be in control of the match as they landed an 8-2 lead partway into the second set. The Bluejays chipped away taking two points per Carthage one and then went on a 4-0 run to be back in the set at 12-13. Another run in the set put Elmhurst on top for the first time leading 18-16. All knotted up at 23 the Firebirds finished the match on two points assisted by Tatum Kebisek. 
 
The Bluejays came out firing in the third set. They led from start to finish to get the set to 2-1 as they headed for the fourth set. The fourth set was a game of runs as Elmhurst took the early lead after a 5-0 run at 7-4. The Firebirds answered back with a run of their own to take the lead 8-7. There were six lead changes in the set including the Bluejays taking the lead 20-19 on a 5-0 run. The tight set was not enough as Carthage finished strong to take the set and the match 25-22, 3-1.  
 
Elmhurst hit .265 for the match with 55 kills and 16 errors in 147 attempts. Jada Wiley led Elmhurst with 14 kills, 18 digs and three blocks. Lacey Kaiser finished the match with 12 kills, while Elise Rossing added eleven kills of her own. Hannah Horn accumulated 25 assists, with Kellyn Kennedy adding 21 of her own. Payton Cey logged 27 digs and two assists and an ace in the match. Katelyn Bower added four blocks to lead the Bluejays. 
 
Carthage was led by Liv Carel with 16 kills followed close behind by Molly Skoda who added 15.  Carthage hit .215 for the match with 56 kills and 22 errors on 158 attempts in the match. Kebisek was the assist leader for Firebirds tallying 23 in the match, while Kiley McCarthy finished with 18. Molly Skoda had four blocks and Jenna Damon totaled 14 digs in the match to close out the team leaders. 

Elmhurst travels to the Wisconsin Lutheran College Invitational on Friday, October 29^th.