ELMHURST, Ill. – The Lakeland University women's volleyball team found a way to take one set but Elmhurst (Ill.) University rode a big hitting performance to a four-set win in the teams' non-conference matchup Friday night at R.A. Faganel Hall.

The Bluejays won by a 25-17, 25-13, 22-25, 25-15 count as the Muskies continued to struggle against a challenging non-conference slate. Lakeland dropped to 1-10 overall while Elmhurst improved to 4-4 overall after winning its home opener.

The Muskies were on the wrong end of a huge hitting differential. Lakeland hit .071 for the match with 28 kills and 21 errors, while Elmhurst hit a robust .439 with 59 kills and just 12 errors.

Given the numbers, it took a considerable effort for the Muskies to take even one set in the match, but Lakeland got enough mileage out of a strong start to the third set to extend the match. The Muskies scored the first five points of the set, including kills by Susana Stevens (Sr.-Las Cruces, N.M.) and Faith Baker (Fr.-Verona, Ill.) and a service ace by Sydney Gay (Fr.-Rice Lake, Wis.).

Lakeland would never trail in the set and led by as many as six points, though the Bluejays threatened with a pair of four-point runs, the second cutting the margin to 19-18. The Muskies still led by one at 21-20 before scoring the next three points, and eventually closed out the set on an Elmhurst service error.

Beyond that, the Bluejays were led by dominant hitting performances by Jada Wiley, Kali Phillips and Keely Larson. The trio combined for 36 kills and just two errors in 58 attacks, a collective .586 attack percentage. Wiley finished with 17 kills and two errors in 27 swings and Phillips (12 kills in 21 attacks) and Larson (7 in 10) both were error-free.

Stevens finished with 10 kills, reaching double figures in kills for the sixth time this season, and she finished the match one kill shy of 900 kills for her career. Caitlyn Pernsteiner (So.-Arpin, Wis.) added six kills, Gay totaled 14 assists and Rylee Esquibel (Fr.-Devine, Texas) led the Muskies with six digs. Katelyn Kitsembel (Jr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) also added three service aces.

Wiley also recorded a match-high 12 digs for Elmhurst. Gianna Ptaszek also posted four service aces and the Bluejays finished with nine service aces, while also committing 21 service errors.

Lakeland moves into Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play and is back home Tuesday night when it hosts Benedictine University at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.