JONESBORO, Ark. - The Elmhurst College bowling team returned to action and posted a 5-8 record at the Mid-Winter Classic in Arkansas.

Elmhurst struggled on the tournament's opening day which consisted of total-pinfall Baker matches. The Bluejays dropped all five of their contests on the day. Elmhurst opened with a 952-804 loss to sixth-ranked Vanderbilt before falling 873-837 to Jackson State. The Bluejays closed the day with losses to Nebraska (1010-902), Prairie View A&M (988-816) and Arkansas State (979-797).

Elmhurst bounced back from the rough opening day by winning their first two contests on Saturday. The Bluejays opened with a 915-795 win over Texas Southern. Amanda Warwick paced the Bluejays in the win with a 214 while Ann Bialk rolled a 191. Elmhurst followed with an 875-855 victory over Southern University with Warwick bowling a team-leading 203. Elmhurst had its two-game winning streak snapped against sixth-ranked Central Missouri (989-930) despite Bialk rolling a 217.

Elmhurst followed the loss to Central Missouri with its biggest win of the season, as the Bluejays handed defending national champion Maryland-Eastern Shore (ranked #4) a 981-976 defeat. Three Bluejays recorded games over 200 with Bialk leading the way with a 224. Margaret Gawlik added a 216 and Warwick topped the 200-mark with a 203. The Bluejays closed the tournament's second day with a 929-881 loss to top-ranked Valparaiso. Gawlik led the squad in the loss with a 193 while Alyssa Collins recorded a 191.

Elmhurst posted a 1-2 record on the tournament's final day to place 13th. Competing in best-of-seven Baker matches, the Bluejays fell 4-3 to Southern to open the day. Elmhurst bounced back to topple Alabama-Birmingham 4-1 and then closed the tournament with a 4-3 victory over Southern. The Bluejays needed a tiebreaker to take the last match against Southern as the seventh and decisive game, ended in a tie.

Elmhurst moved to 25-48 on the season.

The Bluejays compete at the Big Red Invitational on January 19-21.