Carthage Release

SALEM, Va. -- Carthage men's volleyball claimed the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin's (CCIW) 56th NCAA Division III national title following a five-set win over Benedictine in the national championship match on Saturday.

This was also Carthage's first-ever national title in any sport as the Firebirds finished the 2021 campaign with a perfect 23-0 record.

All-Americans Matt Slivinski (22 kills), Carter Schmidt (17 kills) and Zach Bulthuis (17 kills) led the way in kills for the Firebirds. Bulthuis' 17 kills established a new career high, while AVCA Newcomer of the Year Gene McNulty established a new career high with 61 set assists. Additionally, Slivinski was named the Tournament MVP.

CCIW teams have combined for 20 NCAA Division III national titles since 2010. Along with Carthage’s win on Saturday, titles since 2010 include six by North Central men’s cross country (2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), five by North Central men’s indoor track & field (2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019), two by North Central men’s outdoor track & field (2010, 2011), two by Illinois Wesleyan women’s outdoor track & field (2010, 2016), and one each by North Central football, Illinois Wesleyan men’s golf (2019), women’s basketball (2012) and baseball (2010).

In addition, CCIW teams have won 28 national titles this century. Between 2000 and 2009, conference teams combined for eight titles including Wheaton women's soccer (2004, 2006, 2007), Millikin women's basketball (2005), Illinois Wesleyan women's indoor track & field and outdoor track & field (both in 2008), North Central men's outdoor track & field (2000) and North Central men's cross country (2009).  

Visit the CCIW's national championships page for a complete list of all national titles won by conference institutions.
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carroll University (Waukesha, WI), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL).