CHICAGO – In its final home matches of the season, the University of Chicago volleyball team defeated Grinnell College 3-1 and Elmhurst College 3-0 on Saturday in the Ratner Athletics Center.

The No. 22-ranked Maroons improved their record to 14-8 on the season.

After the Elmhurst match, UChicago honored Temilade Adekoya and Audra Berg on the court to conclude Senior Day. In their four years as part of the program, the Maroons own a cumulative record of 71-17 (.807 winning percentage) with two appearances in the NCAA postseason.

UChicago 3, Grinnell 1

The visiting Pioneers (17-11 record) were the opening opponent, and a nip-and-tuck first set ensued. UChicago made a late charge to erase a five-point deficit, but Grinnell thwarted the hosts on four set points. The set went into extra points, where two-straight kills by junior Ellie Alden ended it at 29-27.

UChicago jumped out to an 8-3 lead and steadily improved their position from there to go up 20-9. The home side cruised to the finish to go up two sets, 25-16. The Maroons hit at a blistering rate of .435.

Attack errors (nine total) haunted UChicago in the third set. Grinnell would eventually pull away with a 6-1 run to seize the set 25-20.

With a 13-11 lead in hand in the fourth set, the Maroons scored seven of the next nine points. Three kills and a service ace ended the proceedings, 25-16.

The story of the match was Alden. The junior middle blocker set a new career high with 20 kills. She did not make any attack errors and finished with an eye-popping .690 hitting percentage. Alden also accrued four blocks.

Adekoya contributed in all facets of the match – her well-rounded stat line featured 13 kills, 11 digs and four blocks. Berg spiked seven kills and racked up four blocks. Sophomore Christine Jurgens posted eight kills and 10 digs. Sophomore setter Maya Patel recorded 47 assists and 11 digs. First-year libero Julia Craig collected a team-best 16 digs. Sophomore Jillian Amsler served up four aces as well.

UChicago 3, Elmhurst 0

The triangular concluded with a matchup against Elmhurst University (14-11 record). UChicago went ahead 20-14, but the Bluejays rallied back to force extra points. With the score tied 26-26, Adekoya and Berg scored back-to-back kills to win the set, 28-26.

The Maroons turned things around with an 11-3 run in the second set that put them up 21-17. UChicago would soon grab the set 25-22.

In the third set, it was UChicago's turn to thwart a set point at 24-23. Jurgens and Alden put up consecutive kills to swing the momentum back. Then Alden and Patel stuffed an Elmhurst attacker on match point, 26-24.

Jurgens led in kills with a high of 15. Berg and Alden tallied 10 kills each with a combined five blocks between them. Adekoya and first-year Bettye Igbenebor both compiled 10 digs and two aces. Patel dished out 41 assists, and Craig produced 13 digs.

NEXT MATCH:

• Saturday, Oct. 30 @ 4:00 PM – UChicago at Aurora University