BLUEJAYS NIP CARTHAGE IN CCIW TOURNAMENT OPENER

Carthage Boxscore

ELMHURST, ILL., November 5, 2003-- The dream of a fourth consecutive CCIW volleyball championship is still alive for the Elmhurst College Bluejays. Elmhurst nipped Carthage College 3-2 (26-30, 30-22, 25-30, 30-28, 15-7) in the opening round of the CCIW Tournament.

Carthage took the opening game despite trailing the Bluejays for half of the game. The Bluejays rebounded to take game number two and even the match. The Lady Reds opened up a 17-9 lead in game three before Elmhurst rallied to tie the score 19-19. Carthage won 11 of the final 17 points to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Game four was a back-and-forth affair as both teams traded points throughout, unable to establish a large lead. Carthage was serving with the score tied at 28-28 but the Bluejays were able to side out and serve out the game to force a decisive game five. The fifth game was all Elmhurst as the Bluejays jumped out to a commanding 6-1 lead and never looked back.

Carly Bearwald (Northbrook-Glenbrook North) powered the Bluejays with a 21-kill, 12-dig performance. Lisa Denman (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin-Coffmann) pounded down 12 kills, tallied 20 digs and two blocks in the win. Nicole Carlson (Forreston-H.S.) and Becky Puccini (Carol Stream-Glenbard North) added 11 kills. Carlson added 24 digs as well. Christy Barone (Addison-Addison Trail) led the team in assists with 32 while Regina Morrone (Orland Park-A.A. Stagg) dished out 30 assists in the win. Katie Bequette (Staunton-H.S.) led the team in digs with 46.

The Bluejays will continue play in the CCIW tournament this weekend when they play Augustana College and North Central College on Friday in Bloomington.