CHICAGO.  — The No. 4 Carthage College men's volleyball squad blew threw North Park to collect the regular season series sweep of the Vikings 3-0 on Wednesday. 

• Final score: Carthage 3 - North Park 0
• Location: Chicago, Illinois - North Park Gymnasium
• Records: No. 4 Carthage 10-3 (2-0 CCIW), North Park 7-6 (0-2 CCIW)

 

• In the first, North Park controlled a 10-6 score until an 8-2 run for the Firebirds flipped the score to 14-12. 
• Later, kills from Gene McNulty and David Markes extended the advantage to three. 
• Although North Park tied it at 19, Carthage closed the set by scoring six unanswered points to win 25-19 with a kill from Zach Bulthuis. 
• Carter Schmidt connected on a kill in the second, propelling the Firebirds ahead 8-3. 
• Two consecutive kills from Schmidt moved the score to 17-9 as Carthage won 25-15. 
• Kyle Radecki added a kill in the third, putting the visitors in control 13-8. 
• A combined block from Bulthuis and Mik Brunovskis saw the Firebirds control a 21-14 set score. 
• Drew Jansen closed the night off with a kill for the straight-set victory 25-15. 

• Carter Schmidt had a match-best 14 kills, followed closely by Kyle Radecki with 11. 
• Schmidt hit .522 on the day, while Zach Bulthuis hit .786 (11 kills, zero errors, 14 total attacks). 
• Drew Jansen was the team leader in digs with eight, while Gene McNulty recorded 34 assists. 
• The Firebird offense hit .500 in the match (43 kills, five errors, 76 total attacks), a season-best for Carthage. 
• Since 2019, the Firebirds are 30-2 in sets against North Park and have never lost to the Vikings.

"I'm really proud of our group today. Our effort in every phase of the game was outstanding. That is the Carthage Volleyball that I know we have in us.

Our serve reception was impressive today, led by Mitch Geiger. It allowed us to run through the middle of the court where David Markes and Zach Bulthuis were unstoppable all match long. When that duo gets going, it makes us really tough to defend. We talk a lot about the little things, and I think Drew Jansen was the unsung hero doing the dirty work tonight He led the team in digs, passed the ball great, and played an errorless game offensively. 

What a team win today. When Gene McNulty leads your team to hit .500, and Carter Schmidt hits .522 with the most attempts on the team, it makes for some really fun volleyball to be a part of. I am excited to continue working in the practice gym to improve."

 

• Carthage continues conference play on the road facing Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m.