ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst University volleyball team dropped its home-opening contest of the 2022 season, falling to ninth-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 25-20, 25-19, 25-21 at R.A. Faganel Hall.

Elmhurst (1-2) jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the opening set before UW-Whitewater (5-0) ripped off a 9-2 run to open up an 11-7 lead. The Warhawks led 18-12 before Elmhurst used an 8-2 run to pull even at 20-20. The Warhawks scored the next five points to take the set 25-20. 

The Warhawks jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the second, but Elmhurst answered back, pulling even at 11-all. The Warhawks responded with a 9-2 run to open up a 20-13 cushion before putting the set away at 25-19. 

Whitewater raced out to a 15-6 lead in the third set before Elmhurst mounted a late rally, closing to within two points at 23-21. Whitewater scored the final two points of the set to put the match away. 

Elmhurst hit .143 for the match with 31 kills and 16 errors in 105 attempts. Elise Rossing led the way for the Bluejays with nine kills. Lacey Kaiser added eight kills and four digs while Katelyn Bower finished with three kills and four blocks. Keely Larson and Jada Wiley finished with five kills and three blocks apiece. Jayla Hampton also added three blocks for the Bluejays. Erin Murray tallied 18 assists while Kellyn Kennedy finished with 10. Payton Ceh led the squad in digs with 14. 

Jenna Weinfurt paced Whitewater with 13 kills and six digs. Erin McNeil added 10 kills while KellyAnn Sotrios finished with 24 assists. 

Elmhurst hosts Dominican University on Thursday, September 8.