KENOSHA — The No. 3 Carthage College men's volleyball team controlled the tempo early and withstood a late surge to secure a straight-sets victory over No. 10 Loras on Saturday. The Firebirds capitalized on timely serves, efficient swings, and key blocks to close out the match, sealing the final set 25-23 after pulling away in the opening two frames.

• Final Score: No. 3 Carthage 3 - No. 10 Loras 0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-23)
• Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin - Tarble Arena
• Records: No. 3 Carthage 12-2 (3-0 CCIW), No. 10 Loras 12-3 (1-2 CCIW)

• Ruben Emmerich opened the match with an ace, giving Carthage the early edge in the first set.
• A combined block from Ryan Morey and Hudson Sweitzer pushed the advantage to 14-11.
• Morey followed with an ace to extend the margin to four.
• Kills from Sweitzer and Ryan Bartz capped the set as Carthage claimed a 25-20 win.
• The Firebirds carried that energy into the second set, where Ben Heise delivered a kill to build a 13-8 lead.
• Consecutive finishes from Heise and Bartz stretched the cushion to seven before Bartz recorded a set-clinching kill, and Sweitzer teamed with Owen Hendricks for a combined block to secure the frame.
• Emmerich added a kill early in the third to put the home team in front by five, and kills from Ryan Monahan and Bartz made it 13-8.
• A kill and ace from Heise maintained a 19-14 advantage as Carthage moved toward the finish.
• After Loras trimmed the deficit to one late, Heise answered with back-to-back kills to lift Carthage to a 25-23 victory in the final set. 

• Ben Heise had a match-best 13 kills for Carthage while Ryan Bartz notched eight kills and Hudson Sweitzer had six. 
• Ryan Morey led the way in assists for the Firebirds with 32. 
• Austin Mallory recorded six digs and Bartz had five. 

• Carthage stays at home playing St. Norbert on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m.