Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. –  Elmhurst eked out a win in the first set Tuesday and went on to defeat Augustana in four sets at Faganel Hall. The Vikings fell to 13-4 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW, while the 10th-ranked Bluejays won their CCIW opener to improve to 17-2 on the year.
 
Augustana jumped out in front 8-4 in the opening set and still led 22-20 after a Jacqueline Kibir-Evans (Trinity HS, Forest Park, Ill.) kill. Senior Emily Leazer (St. Viator HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) put Coach Kelly Bethke's club up 24-23 with a service ace, but the Vikings couldn't capture set point with Leazer serving. A pair of Dory Dudley (Tremont HS, Tremont, Ill.) kills helped Augustana stave off set points trailing 25-24 and 26-25, but Elmhurst finally prevailed 29-27 on a combined block by Melissa Nava and  Alli Rogers.
 
The Vikings fell behind 5-1 in the second set and found themselves playing catch-up the rest of the way. The Bluejays won 10 of the last 11 points in a 25-11 win. A Dudley kill closed out a 25-22 third-set win for Augustana, but the hosts jumped out in front 5-0 in the fourth and went on to a 25-16 win, getting match point on a Sam Szarmach kill.
 
Dudley led the Vikings with 14 kills, while sophomore Nicole Morrissey (Lake Zurich HS, Lake Zurich, Ill.) was next with eight. Junior Jordan Hampel (Hilliard Davidson HS, Hilliard, Ohio) had 20 assists and sophomore Hannah Lindaman (North Scott HS, Eldridge, Iowa) added 12. Leazer and junior Kylie Siebert (Kaneland HS, Sugar Grove, Ill.) each had a dozen digs and Leazer and Lindaman had a pair of service aces apiece.
 
This weekend, Bethke's squad will be in action at the Wisconsin-Platteville Tournament. Augustana opens with a non-conference matchup versus Carthage on Friday, October 3 at 4:00 p.m. The Vikings will also play the hosts on Friday, before facing UW-Stevens Point and UW-River Falls on Saturday, October 4.