NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Elmhurst University women's volleyball team fell to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon inside Gregory Arena.
Elmhurst (14-11, 3-3 CCIW) battled throughout the opening set, keeping the score close early. After trailing 7-4, the Bluejays rallied behind kills from
Katie Hurta and
Paige Belfield to even the score at 7-7. Elmhurst remained within striking distance, but UW-River Falls (19-6, 3-3 WIAC) used a late scoring run to create separation. The Bluejays added several late kills, including points from
Peyton Moroney and Hurta, but the Falcons ultimately took set one, 25-21.
The Bluejays came out strong in the second set, building an early 7-5 advantage behind kills from
Isabella Mendell and
Tzvetomira Tchohadjieva. UW-River Falls responded to even the score at 7-7, and the teams continued exchanging points. Elmhurst found another opportunity to pull ahead, 11-9, but the Falcons eventually gained a two-point advantage late in the set. The Blue and White stayed within reach behind kills from Cross and Tchohadjieva, but UW-River Falls held on for the 25-23 set two win.
Elmhurst held a 3-1 lead early on and extended it to 6-3 following a kill from Mendell, but the Falcons responded with a scoring run to even the set at 6-6. Elmhurst regained control and pushed its advantage to 13-9, highlighted by a Belfield service ace and kills from Hurta and Belfield. The Falcons answered with a run of its own, eventually taking a 16-14 lead. The Bluejays continued to fight, cutting the deficit to 20-19 behind a service ace from
Veronica Curtis. However, the Falcons scored five of the final seven points to secure the 25-21 set three victory and complete the sweep.
Hurta led the Bluejays offensively with 14 kills, while Belfield added nine kills of her own.
Freddie Temple paced the offense with 34 assists, while
Aubrey LeCleir and Temple contributed 10 digs apiece.
As a team, the Blue and White hit .195, finishing with 42 kills and 20 errors in 113 attempts.
Up Next: The Bluejays return to CCIW play on Wednesday, Nov. 4 when they travel to Kenosha, Wis. to take on the Carthage College Firebirds. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Tarble Arena.
