DECATUR, Ill. - The Elmhurst University women's volleyball team suffered their first loss of the season, 3-1, to Millikin University in their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) opener Wednesday evening.

Elmhurst (6-1, 0-1 CCIW) was led on the evening by Kali Phillips, who tallied 11 kills, while Aly Reardon neared a double-double with eight kills and 10 digs. The Bluejays struggled passing, committing 15 service errors, which led to a .145 hitting percentage on the evening. 

Millikin (4-3, 1-0 CCIW) used a double-double from Kailee Itzenhuiser (13 kills, 12 digs) to power past the Bluejays in the conference opener.

The Big Blue jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in the opening set before a pair of kills from Phillips and brought the deficit to just one. Both teams traded three-point bursts, but Millikin pulled away late with a 7-3 run to take the opening set by a score of 25-17.

Elmhurst began to find their rythym in the second set, forcing a trio of errors from the Big Blue and leading early, 10-7. After Millikin closed the deficit to one late, a Millikin service error and kill from Jada Wiley allowed the Bluejays to take the second set, 25-22.

Both teams traded the lead to begin set three, but Millikin used a huge 15-2 closing run to take the third set, 25-11. Millikin continued to cruise in the fourth, opening a 12-5 lead which allowed the Big Blue to take set four and the match, 3-1.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays will open their 2023 home schedule this Saturday, Sep. 16, hosting Benedictine University (IL) and Lake Forest College for a tri-match at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. inside R.A. Faganel Hall.

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