NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Carthage College Red Men advanced to the 2018 MCVL Tournament championship match Friday night, defeating the Lions of Mount St. Joseph University for the second time in as many weeks, 3-0.

Currently ranked second in the country, the win moves the Red Men to 23-1 on the season, while the #15 Lions have their season come to an end at 17-8.
 
The Red Men dominated the stat sheet, starting with the serve receive, where the Red Men cracked off five aces to none for the Lions.  With a .429 attack percentage, the Red Men turned in their second best match of the season, while MSJ hit a respectable .267; the best by a Red Men opponent this season. 
 
Carthage finished with 44 total kills and three individuals with ten-or-more in the win.  Mason Moore, who replaced Evan Walsh due to injury, led Carthage with 12 kills from the opposite, followed by Kelvin Rivera with 11 and Zach Lillig with ten.  Matt Reinsel dished out 34 assists in the win and Rivera led all players with two aces.
 
The attacking trio dominated at the net on the defensive side as well, with all three leading Carthage in blocks as well.  Moore finished with four and Lillig and Rivera each had a pair along with Parker Connolly.
 
The Red Men will face the winner of the second semifinal on Friday night, Loras College and the top-seeded North Central College Cardinal.  The championship match is set for 2:00 p.m. from Gregory Arena at Merner Field House in Naperville.