VOLLEYBALL TEAM DROPS HEARTBREAKER TO MILLIKIN

Millikin Boxscore

ELMHURST, Ill., September 14, 2004 -- If the Elmhurst College volleyball team is going to win their fifth straight CCIW championship, they're going to have to do it with an early season blemish on their record. The Bluejays dropped to 0-1 in league play and 6-3 overall after a 35-33, 26-30, 28-30, 30-25, 12-15 loss to Millikin University.

The Bluejays fell behind early in game one but rallied to tie the score and take their first lead at 27-26. Millikin fought off five game points before Elmhurst won 35-33. The Bluejays never led in game two with Millikin taking a quick advantage and winning 30-26. The Bluejays had a six point advantage in game three at 19-13 but led Millikin back into the game as the Big Blue even the score at 26-26. The Bluejays took the next two points to lead 28-26, but Millikin won the next four points to take the game 30-28. It looked as though Millikin was going to win in four games as the Big Blue took another early lead and led 21-17. The Bluejays came storming back to even the score at 22-22 and then won eight of the next 11 points to force a fifth game.

In the decisive game five, the Bluejays jumped out to a quick lead with an 8-4 advantage on the side change. Elmhurst made it 9-5 when Millikin called timeout and rattled of the next five points to take a 10-9 lead. The Bluejays tied the score at 10-10 but Millikin took the next four points to take a 14-10 lead. The Bluejays fought off two match points before succumbing 15-12.

The Bluejays struggled with their play at the net with Millikin taking advantage of Elmhurst blocking errors and finding open spots in the back to drop in shots.

Erin Whitehead (Lake Bluff-Lake Forest) led the team with 23 kills while Lindsey Mieling (Batavia-H.S.) added 13 kills in the win. Regina Morrone (Orland Park-A.A. Stagg) was the team leader in digs with 44 while Lindsay Johnson (Rockofrd-Boylan) led the team in assists with 71.

The Bluejays will look to rebound when they host Illinois Wesleyan University on Friday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m.