HOLLAND, Mich. – The Elmhurst University volleyball team dropped both of its matches on day two of the Hope College Invitational. The Bluejays fell to Otterbein University in five sets before falling to fifth-ranked Calvin College in three sets.
OTTERBEIN 3, ELMHURST 2 - Elmhurst (3-5) dropped a tightly-contested five-set match to Otterbein University to start the day. Otterbein rallied to tip Elmhurst 27-29, 26-24, 22-25, 25-16, 16-14.
Elmhurst fought off multiple set points in the first set, rallying to take the set 29-27. Otterbein rallied back in the set, holding off the Bluejays 26-24 to even the match. The Bluejays opened up a 21-16 lead in the third set before Otterbein pulled even at 22-22. Elmhurst won the last three points to take the set 25-22. In the fourth, Otterbein opened up a 10-5 lead and never trailed the rest of the way, pulling away for the 25-16 win.
The fifth set was back-and-forth before Elmhurst opened up a 13-11 lead. Otterbein pulled even at 13-13 but the Bluejays served for the match at 14-13, but three straight kills from Otterbein gave them the set (16-14) and the match.
Elmhurst hit .148 for the match with 46 kills and 23 errors in 155 attempts.
Jada Wiley powered the Bluejays' attack, finishing with 16 kills, 17 digs and four blocks.
Elise Rossing added 12 kills and a pair of blocks.
Lacey Kaiser added nine kills and two blocks. Katelynb Bower finished with a team-leading eight blocks to go along with two kills.
Erin Murray added 27 assists while
Kellyn Kennedy added 17.
Payton Ceh chipped in with 16 digs.
CALVIN 3, ELMHURST 0 – Elmhurst finished the tournament with a 1-2 record after falling 25-21, 25-17, 25-16 to fifth-ranked Calvin College.
The opening set was back-and-forth, featuring 12 ties and seven lead changes before Calvin finished the set on a 5-1 run to earn the victory. Calvin raced out a 16-10 lead in the second before fulling away for the 25-17 win. In the third, the Knights broke a 6-6 tie with a 9-4 run before cruising to the 25-16 win.
Elmhurst hit .148 for the contest with 31 kills and 15 errors in 108 swings. Wiley and Kaiser paced the Bluejays in the loss, finishing with seven kills apiece. Rossing finished with six kills while Bower chipped in with four kills and three blocks. Ceh led the squad in digs with 13 while Murray totaled a team-best 13 assists.
Elmhurst travels to North Park University on Wednesday, September 21.
