NAPERVILLE — Following the conclusion of the 2026 regular season, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) announced its All-CCIW Men’s Volleyball Teams and specialty award winners on Tuesday morning.
Carthage’s Ryan Bartz was named CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year. Bartz finished second in the conference in both points per set (4.58) and kills per set (3.84). He also led the league in service aces at 0.50 per set. Bartz is the first Firebird to receive the award since Matt Slivinski won it in three consecutive seasons (2020-22).
North Central’s Jonathan Brown was selected as the CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year. Brown led the conference with 3.17 digs per set and anchored a Cardinals team that finished first in the league in team digs at 12.68 per set. He is North Central’s first-ever CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year.
The conference also recognized Co-Setters of the Year for the second time, honoring Carthage’s Ryan Morey and Loras’ Evan Dziadkowiec. Morey led the CCIW with 10.93 assists per set, while Dziadkowiec ranked second at 9.30 assists per set. Morey directed a Carthage offense that led the conference with a .324 hitting percentage, while Dziadkowiec helped Loras finish second in the league at .248.
Illinois Wesleyan’s Aydin Provost received CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year honors. Provost ranked seventh in the conference in both kills per set (2.61) and points per set (2.90) and contributed to Illinois Wesleyan’s highest conference finish in program history. Provost, the only freshman on the All-CCIW Team in 2026, is IWU’s first postseason specialty award winner in league history.
The Illinois Wesleyan coaching staff – led by sixth-year head coach Brandon Mueller – was named CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year. The Titans finished conference play with an 8-2 record and led the league in assists per set at 12.13. Illinois Wesleyan also ranked second in opponent hitting percentage (.178) and total blocks.
The 2026 All-CCIW teams also included several returning honorees. Carthage’s Ben Heise and Ryan Morey repeated as First Team selections after earning First Team recognition in 2025. Loras’ Roman Rothermel moved to the First Team after receiving Second Team honors last season, while teammate Evan Dziadkowiec also secured repeat honors. Carthage’s Owen Hendricks and Illinois Wesleyan’s Gavin Rohlwing also repeated as Second Team honorees.
CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Ryan Bartz, Carthage
CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Jonathan Brown, North Central
CCIW Co-Setters of the Year
Ryan Morey, Carthage
Evan Dziadkowiec, Loras
CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Aydin Provost, Illinois Wesleyan
CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year
Illinois Wesleyan
All-CCIW First Team
Ryan Bartz, Carthage, Sr., OH, Muskego, Wis., Muskego
Ben Heise, Carthage, Jr., OPP, Middleton, Wis., Middleton
Ryan Morey, Carthage, Sr., S, Redwood City, Calif., St. Francis
Ethan Kuziela, Illinois Wesleyan, So., S/OPP, Chicago, Ill., Marist
Bo Brainerd III, Loras, Sr., MB, Delafield, Wis., Kettle Moraine
Roman Rothermel, Loras, Jr., MB, Menomonee Falls, Wis., Catholic Memorial
Brannen Almarales, North Central, Sr., OPP, Downers Grove, Ill., Downers Grove South
Jonathan Brown, North Central, Jr., DS, Oak Park, Ill., Oak Park-River Forest
All-CCIW Second Team
Tom Lamb, Augustana, Sr., MB, Chicago, Ill., Brother Rice
Ruben Emmerich, Carthage, Sr., MB/OPP, Middleton, Wis., Middleton
Owen Hendricks, Carthage, Jr., OH, North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora
Hudson Sweitzer, Carthage, So., MB, Middleton, Wis., Middleton
Aydin Provost, Illinois Wesleyan, Fr., OPP, Chicago, Ill., Mount Carmel
Gavin Rohlwing, Illinois Wesleyan, So., MB, Tower Lake, Ill., Barrington
Evan Dziadkowiec, Loras, So., S, Lockport, Ill., Lockport Township
Brady Oberfoell, Loras, Jr., DS, Pewaukee, Wis., Catholic Memorial
CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Ryan Huntington, Augustana, Jr., OH, Grayslake, Ill., Grayslake Central
Michael Yemm, Carthage, Sr., OH, St. Louis, Mo., St. Louis University
Jace Milka, Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., OH/DS, Bolingbrook, Ill., Plainfield East
Joe Garrett, Loras
BK Bartlett, North Central, Jr., OH/OPP, Litchfield, Ariz., Millennium
Giovanni Serafini, North Park, So., MB, São Paulo, Brazil, Graded The American School of São Paulo