KENOSHA — The Carthage College men's volleyball team is back in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the ninth time in program history and serving as one of the regional hosts for the third time. Under sixth-year head coach JW Kieckhefer, the Firebirds enter the tournament with a 22-3 overall record and a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championship, finishing with a 9-1 mark.

Carthage is no stranger to postseason play as the Firebirds are 17-8 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, having captured national titles in 2021 and 2022. 

Firebirds NCAA Tournament History

Carthage makes its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance and will host the regional round for the third time in program history. Under head coach JW Kieckhefer, the Firebirds have qualified for the NCAA Tournament four times and will host for the second time during his tenure. Carthage last hosted in 2022, where they earned wins over Mount Union and Dominican to take the Regional Championship before topping Wentworth and Springfield en route to their second NCAA Division III National Title.

CCIW Champions Again

Carthage secured its third CCIW Men's Volleyball Tournament Championship on Saturday at Tarble Arena, sweeping Loras 25-22, 25-22, 26-24. Since joining the CCIW in 2020, the Firebirds have appeared in five CCIW Tournament Championship matches, winning three. The Firebirds also captured the regular-season title with a 9-1 record and currently hold a 22-3 overall mark.
Carthage previously won the CCIW Tournament in 2021 and 2022. 

2025 All-CCIW & All-Region IV Honorees

Carthage was well represented on the 2025 All-CCIW and All-Region IV teams, led by Ryan Morey, who was named CCIW Setter Student-Athlete of the Year and earned a spot on the Region IV All-Region team. A four-time CCIW Setter of the Week selection, Morey has appeared in 87 sets over 25 matches, totaling 813 assists (9.34 per set) and 136 digs (1.56 per set). He recorded a season-high 51 assists against North Central (Ill.) and posted 30 or more assists in 19 matches. Morey becomes the second setter in program history to earn the conference's top setting honor, joining Gene McNulty (2024).

Morey, Ryan Cholewinski, Ben Heise, and Owen Otto joined Morey on both the All-CCIW First Team and All-Region lists. Cholewinski earned his second consecutive First Team nod after tallying 155 kills (1.76 per set), 58 blocks, and 27 digs. Heise, a two-time CCIW Hitter of the Week, finished the season with 236 kills (2.68 per set), 126 digs (1.43 per set), and 46 total blocks. Otto led the Firebirds in kills (320) and service aces (38), averaging 3.64 kills and 1.67 digs per set.

Owen Hendricks and Zack Noland were named to the All-CCIW Second Team. Hendricks totaled 220 kills (2.78 per set) and 136 digs (1.72 per set) across 79 sets, while Noland recorded 232 digs (2.67 per set), including a season-high 22 digs in a win over UC Santa Cruz.

Kieckhefer Guides Carthage to Another Standout Season

Head coach JW Kieckhefer was named CCIW Coach of the Year for the fourth time and has now surpassed 100 career victories at Carthage. Under his guidance, the Firebirds have maintained a national presence, ranking as high as No. 4 in this season's AVCA national poll and currently sitting at No. 6. Carthage also ranks among the national leaders in kills per set (third), hitting percentage (fourth), and assists per set (fifth). Kieckhefer has been named Coach of the Year in three of the past six seasons.

Clash of Firsts

Carthage will face Aurora in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans, 26-4 on the season, earned an automatic selection into the 19-team field after winning both the regular season and tournament championships in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). Aurora is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in the program's eight-year history.
Earlier this season, the Firebirds defeated Aurora 3-1 (25-17, 25-22, 17-25, 25-19) in a regular-season matchup on March 15. Carthage leads the all-time series 8-0, with a 24-3 edge in sets played.

The Stage is Set

Carthage and Aurora will square off on Friday, April 18, at 7:00 p.m. at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis. The winner will advance to the national quarterfinals on Saturday, April 19, at 6:00 p.m., where they will face either Springfield (22-4) or Mount Union (20-8).