HOBOKEN — The No. 2 Carthage College men's volleyball team earned an early advantage but was unable to regain momentum after the opening set, falling in four sets to Stevens on Friday night. The Firebirds controlled the first frame before the Ducks answered with three straight set wins to close the match.

• Final Score: No. 3 Stevens 3 - No. 2 Carthage 1 (25-22, 21-25, 16-25, 23-25)
• Location: Hoboken, N.J.- Canavan Arena
• Records: No. 3 Stevens 8-0, No. 2 Carthage 6-1

• The opening set featured extended rallies and frequent lead changes, with Ryan Bartz delivering three consecutive kills to give Carthage a 15-14 edge.
• Bartz later added another kill to keep the Firebirds in front, and Stevens errors down the stretch helped Carthage close out the set, 25-22.
• Stevens jumped out to a 13-9 lead in the second set before Ben Heise sparked a response with a kill. 
• Bartz followed with multiple finishes to cut the deficit to one.
• Despite the push, Stevens capitalized late to even the match with a 25-21 win in the second.
• Momentum stayed with the Ducks in the third as they built a 12-7 advantage. 
• Carthage answered with a rally, pulling within one at 15-14 after a block from Hudson Sweitzer and Ryan Morey.
• Stevens regained control and secured the third set, 25-16, off a late kill and a Firebirds attack error.
• Carthage took an early 9-8 lead in the fourth behind a kill from Owen Hendricks and later extended the margin to three following another Bartz finish.
• After a Heise kill, Stevens responded with a four-point run to move ahead 23-22. 
• Bartz tied the set at 23, but the Ducks scored the final two points to clinch the match, 25-23.

• Ryan Bartz had a match-high 21 kills, followed by Owen Hendricks with eight and Ben Heise with seven. 
• Hudson Sweitzer recorded four total blocks while Ruben Emmerich had three. 
• Ryan Morey added 42 assists, the second time this season he has had 40 or more assists 
• Austin Mallory registered 12 digs for the Firebirds. 

• The Firebirds turn their attention to No. 12 Vassar on Saturday, February 7, at 12 p.m. EST and Widener at 2 p.m. EST to close out their trip out east.