UOlivet loses two three-set matches at Elmhurst Bluejay Invitational

ELMHURST, Ill. – The University of Olivet women's volleyball team fell in two matches today at the 2025 Elmhurst (Ill.) University Bluejay Invitational. The Comets lost in three sets to both Aurora (Ill.) University and Lawrence (Wis.) University.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Aurora defeated Olivet 25-19, 27-25, 26-24
• Location: R.A. Faganel Hall; Elmhurst, Illinois
• Records: Olivet 3-8 overall, Aurora 7-4 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first set, the Comets gained a five-point cushion, 9-4. The Spartans fought back with a 9-2 run to take a 13-11 lead. Three Olivet points made the score 14-13. Aurora scored nine straight points to go up 22-14. The Comets closed the gap down to as few as five points twice.
• The majority of the second set was close. The Spartans led 24-19. Olivet battled back with a 6-0 spurt to take a 25-24 lead. Aurora scored the final three points to win the set.
• The third set was like the second set. The Spartans led by as many as six points, 21-15. The Comets came all the way back to even the score at 24-24. Aurora tallied the last two points to win the set and seal the match victory.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet recorded 38 kills.
• Freshman Payton Smith totaled a match-high 17 kills.
• Sophomore Jordyn Smith notched 33 set assists and three service aces.
• Senior Jaydn Cary registered 16 digs, followed by sophomore Ashlynn Giannunzio with 12.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Lawrence defeated Olivet 25-14, 25-23, 25-17
• Location: R.A. Faganel Hall; Elmhurst, Illinois
• Records: Olivet 3-9 overall, Lawrence 12-4 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Vikings raced out to a 12-3 lead in the opening set. Olivet trimmed its deficit down to four points, 15-11, but did not get any closer.
• In the second set, Lawrence led by as many as seven points, 22-15 and 23-16. The Comets used a 7-1 run to close the gap to one point, 24-23. A kill ended the set in favor of the Vikings.
• The early part of the third was close until Lawrence put together a 5-0 run to turn a 6-4 deficit into a 9-6 lead. The Vikings held onto the lead for the remainder of the set.

FOR THE COMETS

• Payton Smith pounded down 10 of the 31 Olivet kills.
• Junior Julia Hall was next with six kills, followed by senior Morgan Good with five.
• Jordyn Smith had 25 set assists.
• Giannunzio finished with a team-best eight digs.

UP NEXT

Olivet wraps-up the invitational tomorrow morning with a match against the host Bluejays at 11 a.m. ET.