WHEATON, Ill. - The Elmhurst University volleyball team suffered a 27-25, 25-23, 25-18 CCIW loss at Wheaton College. 

The loss dropped the Bluejays to 3-9 overall and 0-2 in the CCIW while Wheaton improved to 8-6/1-2 CCIW. 

The tightly contested first set featured 17 ties and seven lead changes. Elmhurst trailed 23-21 but rallied back to bull even. The Bluejays fought off a pair of set points before dropping the set 27-25. 

Wheaton raced out to an early 10-6 lead in the second set and led by as many as seven points at 21-14. The Bluejays answered back with a 9-2 run to pull even at 23-all, b ut two straight points by Wheaton gave the Thunder the set and a 2-0 advantage. 

Wheaton raced out to an 11-2 lead in the third set and never relinquished its lead. Elmhurst closed the gap down to three points at 18-15, but the Thunder finished with a 7-3 run to close out the set and the match. 

Elmhursthit .134 for the contest with 37 kill and 22 errors in 112 attempts. Keely Larson led the way for the Bluejays with eight kills and three blocks. Jada Wiley added seven kills and 14 digs while Lacey Kaiser finished with seven kills and a block. Katelyn Bower chipped in with six kills and three blocks while Kellyn Kennedy led the team in assists with 17. Erin Murray added 14 assists for the Bluejays while Payton Ceh led the team in digs with 17.

Emerson Traweek paced Wheaton with 10 kills, 10 digs and two blocks. Caroline Capps and Naomi Bunker added six kills apiece for the Thunder.

Elmhurst hosts North Central College on Tuesday, September 27.