Elmhurst, Ill. - The Wheaton College volleyball team began its 2010 season by going 2-2 on the weekend at the Elmhurst College Invitational.

In the first match on Friday, Wheaton took the first set 25-19 before Saint Mary's came back to win the next two sets 25-13 and 30-28. But the Thunder held strong and finished off the match with set wins of 25-13 and 15-8.

Cassie Murphy paced the attack with 16 kills in the match while setter Jenna McCallister handed out 48 assists. Ashlie Pace led the defensive effort with 19 digs and three aces while Emily Buyse totaled 4.5 blocks in her collegiate debut.

In the second match vs. Lake Forest, the Thunder took the first set easily 25-12. The next three sets were back and forth as the Foresters won set two 25-23 and Wheaton closed it out 25-21 and 25-23.

Hannah Graber and Hannah Velling each tallied nine kills on offense with McCallister contributing 27 assists. Pace racked up 27 digs with two aces and Buyse collected four more blocks.

Gustavus Adolphus College dealt Wheaton its first loss of the season in straight sets 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 on Saturday. Buyse tallied team highs of nine kills and four blocks. McCallister totaled 24 assists and Pace added 16 digs.

The Thunder closed out the weekend with a 3-1 loss to University of Chicago (23-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-22). Murphy led the way in kills once again with 13 as McCallister served up 36 assists. Buyse kept her block numbers high with six more and Pace saw a lot of action at libero with 31 digs. Graber also tallied two service aces.

Wheaton will play its first home game of the year at 7:00 PM on Tuesday against Lake Forest College.