ELMHURST, Ill. - The women's volleyball team, who has advanced to the NCAA tournament for the past four years, began their 2019 season with a split on the opening day of the Elmhurst tournament in the Chicagoland area. The Panthers gained a five-set win against North Central in the first match of the season, followed by a four-set loss to Heidelberg in their nightcap.

After falling behind 25-23 and 25-10 in the first two sets against North Central, Greenville rallied with 25-19, 25-21, and 15-13 wins in the final three sets to take the win.

Newcomers Jasmin Smith and Sacorra Patton produced double-double efforts to lead the squad. Smith picked up team-leading totals in kills and digs with 18 kills and 24 digs in the victory. Patton provided support with 16 kills and 15 digs.

Kaitlin Murray added 42 assists and 17 digs in a double-double of her own, and Gretchen Bond came away with 15 digs.

The Panthers hit at a .156 rate in the match with 53 kills, 25 errors, and 180 attacks.

In the match against Heidelberg, Greenville opened with a 25-23 win in set one, but they ran out of steam, falling 25-14, 25-16, 25-18 in sets two through four.

Patton gave GU another double-double match with 15 kills and 15 digs.

Smith ended just one kill from a double-double as she collected nine kills and a team-high 17 digs.

Murray again led Greenville with 34 assists.

The Panthers finished 42-29-151 on the attack to hit at a rate of .086.

Tha Panthers (1-1) play in the Elmhurst tournament on Saturday against Alma and Augustana.