Firebirds Collect All-Region Honors Ahead of NCAA Regionals

LEXINGTON — The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 2025 All-Region teams this week, with four Carthage College men's volleyball student-athletes and head coach JW Kieckhefer earning Region IV recognition ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

Setter Ryan Morey was named the CCIW Setter Student-Athlete of the Year and collected All-Region honors. The junior appeared in 87 sets over 25 matches, finishing the regular season with 813 assists (9.34 per set), 136 digs (1.56 per set), and a fourth-place ranking in the conference for assists per set. A four-time CCIW Setter of the Week, Morey recorded 30 or more assists in 19 matches, highlighted by a season-best 51 against North Central (Ill.). He is the second student-athlete in program history to earn the league's top setter honor, joining Gene McNulty in 2024.

Joining Morey on the All-Region and All-CCIW First Team lists were Ryan Cholewinski, Ben Heise, and Owen Otto. Cholewinski earned his second straight first-team conference selection with 155 kills (1.76 per set), 58 blocks, and 27 digs. He posted season highs of 10 kills against North Park on April 2 and seven blocks against Stevens on Jan. 31.

Heise, a two-time CCIW Hitter of the Week, totaled 236 kills (2.68 per set), 126 digs (1.43 per set), and 46 blocks. His standout performances included 15 kills against North Central (Ill.) and 10 digs against Augustana (Ill.).

Otto led the Firebirds in kills (320) and service aces (38) while averaging 3.64 kills and 1.67 digs per set. A two-time CCIW Hitter of the Week, Otto tallied a season-high 19 kills against North Central (Ill.) and 12 digs versus Stevens.

In his sixth season at the helm, Kieckhefer was named Region Coach of the Year for the second time and CCIW Coach of the Year for the fourth time. He surpassed 100 career wins earlier this season and guided Carthage to a 22-3 record and a 9-1 mark in conference play. The Firebirds captured their third CCIW Tournament title with a 25-22, 25-22, 26-24 sweep of Loras at Tarble Arena.

Kieckhefer has led Carthage to the NCAA Tournament in four of the past six seasons, winning national titles in 2021 and 2022. The Firebirds are making their ninth NCAA appearance overall (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025) and will host regionals for the third time. During their most recent hosting duties in 2022, Carthage defeated Mount Union and Dominican before downing Wentworth and Springfield to claim the national championship.

This season, the Firebirds have ranked among the top five nationally in kills per set, hitting percentage, and assists per set. Carthage was ranked No. 4 in the AVCA national poll and was ranked No. 6 last week.

Carthage will face Aurora in the second round of the NCAA Regional Tournament on Friday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. The Firebirds defeated the Spartans earlier this season in four sets (25-17, 25-22, 17-25, 25-19). This will mark the first postseason meeting between the two programs.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Gene McNulty: S; 6' 2"; Senior

#15 Ryan Cholewinski: MB; 6' 8"; Senior

#13 Ben Heise: OPP; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#6 Ryan Morey: S; 6' 7"; Junior

#21 Owen Otto: OH; 6' 3"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#11 Gene McNulty
: 6' 2"; Senior
: S

#15 Ryan Cholewinski
: 6' 8"; Senior
: MB

#13 Ben Heise
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: OPP

#6 Ryan Morey
: 6' 7"; Junior
: S

#21 Owen Otto
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: OH