KENOSHA, Wis. – Carthage won its third College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Men’s Volleyball Tournament Championship on Saturday, earning a 25-22, 25-22, 26-24 decision over visiting Loras at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.
 
The victory for the top-seeded Firebirds (22-3), who also won the CCIW’s regular-season title with a 9-1 record, was their third CCIW Tournament championship win. Carthage previously won CCIW Tournament championships in 2021 and 2022 and went to win the national title in both seasons.
 
Three Firebirds finished with at least 10 kills, led by 12 from Ben Heise. Owen Hendricks added 11 kills, while Owen Otto finished the match with 10 kills. Both Hendricks and Otto had two service aces and a block assist. Ryan Morey finished the bout with a 32-assists, 12-dig double-double. Morey also had a pair of solo blocks in the win.
 
Carthage trailed as late as 20-18 in the opening set before responding with a 7-2 run to close the frame. A Loras (18-5) attack error allowed the hosts to pull even, 20-20, before a Hendricks kill pushed the Firebirds in front, 21-20. Heise’s kill later proved to be set point in CC’s 25-22 win.
 
There were 12 tied scores in set two, including a deadlock as late as 21-21. The Firebirds finished another set with a flurry when Ruben Emmerich’s kill ignited a stretch of four Firebird points on the final five rallies. Ryan Cholewinski secured the set win, finishing an assist from Morey for a kill and another 25-22 decision.
 
Carthage raced to a 5-2 lead in the third set, but the visitors responded with an 11-6 run – capped by a kill from Corey Mayotte – to lead 13-11. The two teams went to trade the lead three more times and found themselves locked in another tie as late as 24-24. Hendricks put down a kill for a 25-24 advantage and the Firebirds clinched the title on a Loras attack error.
 
CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year Corey Mayotte collected a match-high 18 kills for the Duhawks. He also had 10 digs and two service aces. Aidan Peloquin paced the visitors with 14 digs and Evan Dziadkowiec contributed 31 assists.
 
In a pre-match presentation, Heise was named the recipient of the conference’s Elite 26 award, presented to the student-athlete who excels academically and athletically at the conference level in each of the CCIW's 26 sponsored sports. 
 
Carthage will be the conference’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III Tournament. The NCAA selection show is scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. CT at NCAA.com.