KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College men's volleyball team (13-1, 6-1 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League) took on the Cardinals of North Central College (2-10, 1-4 MCVL) at Tarble Arena on Saturday, February 20^th.
 
With a tight score throughout the beginning of the first set, the Red Men eventually found themselves with a 10-7 lead over North Central. Carthage would hold onto their lead and make two four-point runs towards the end of the set to win the first set 25-14.
 
Both teams continued their strong rallies in the second set. With the score tied 10-10, Carthage started to pull away and would win the set 25-18.
 
The Red Men would jump out to an early 7-3 lead over the Cardinals in the third set, and they would not let their lead go. Carthage took the third set 25-18, securing their 3-0 sweep of the Cardinals (25-14, 25-18, 25-18). With the sweep of North Central, the Red Men completed their 10^th sweep in a row and have won 32 consecutive sets.  
 
"We knew that yesterday's and today's matches were going to be a little bit more competitive than what we had seen over the past couple weeks," said head coach L.J. Marx.  "I don't want to say we were ready for it, but I the guys are excited to start playing at a higher level.  We have been working so hard in the gym everyday and it is starting to show.  And it becomes difficult at times to maintain the competitive edge through success.  That is my biggest concern, knowing that over the next three weeks the matches continue to get more difficult.  We have a long trip coming up.  So the scenarios start to stack against us a little bit, hitting the road and playing better teams.  So if you get a little bit complacent that is when something can bite you.  Right now, I think our biggest enemy has been our own success.  So we need to really buckle down here the next two three weeks and really focus on controlling what we can control and making ourselves better knowing we need to play at a higher level."
 
Collectively, the Red Men made 37 kills, seven service aces, six blocks, 33 assists, 27 digs, and hit .342 as a team. Griffin Shields led the Red Men win kills with 10, accompanied by Will Craft and J.P. Tulacka with eight apiece. Scotty Adamczyk, Tulacka, and Shields each earned two service aces. Matt Reinsel and Zach Lillig each earned three blocks in addition to Reinsel's 30 assists. Marc Hansen connected on seven digs, along with Adamczyk with six and Craft with four, respectively.
 
Looking ahead to next weekend Marx said, "It's going to be a tough road trip.  We will be flying out on a red-eye flight Thursday.  We get into New Jersey very late Thursday night-Friday morning.  And then we have to play two matches on Friday.  We just talked about this as a group after the game, and how this will be one of the toughest tests of the season, having nothing to do with volleyball but being able to overcome the travel aspects and then face the defending National Champions.  We need a good week's worth of prep to make sure we are ready to go.  It will be a very difficult double-edged challenge against a very good opponent in not the most ideal scenario traveling."
 
The Red Men travel to the east coast this weekend to play three matches. On Friday, February 26^th the Red Men take on the Stevens Institute of Technology at 3 p.m., EST and Medaille College at 5 p.m. with both games taking place at the Canavan Arena in Hoboken, N.J. On Saturday, February 27^th, Carthage will take on Baruch College at 3 p.m. EST in New York, N.Y. at the Baruch Athletics & Recreation Center.