POUGHKEEPSIE — Carthage completed a clean sweep to close out their trip out east in Saturday's nonconference action, defeating Vassar in straight sets before turning around to dispatch Widener 3-0 later in the day. The Firebirds controlled play throughout both matches, using balanced offense and timely blocks to secure the pair of victories.


Game One

• Final Score: No. 2 Carthage 3 - No. 12 Vassar 0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-19)
• Location: Poughkeepsie, NY- Kenyon Hall
• Records: Carthage 7-1, Vassar 3-4 

Game Two

• Final Score: No. 2 Carthage 3 - Widener 0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-21)
• Location: Hoboken, N.J.- Canavan Arena
• Records: Carthage 8-1, Widener 3-6

Game One

• Carthage opened a 14-8 lead in the first set behind two Vassar attack errors and a Hudson Sweitzer kill.
• Consecutive Ryan Bartz kills pushed the advantage to 19-11.
• Owen Hendricks sealed the set with a kill for a 25-16 win.
• Kills from Ryan Morey and Bartz gave the Firebirds a two-point edge early in the second set.
• Vassar rallied ahead 14-11 before a Ben Heise kill and a Bartz ace evened the score at 14.
• The teams traded points until a Cooper Cantwell and Bartz block combination put Carthage in front 23-21.
• Bartz finished the set with back-to-back kills for a 25-23 victory.
• A Heise kill helped Carthage move ahead 12-9 in the third.
• Sweitzer added another kill to make it 20-14 as the Firebirds closed the match with a 25-19 set win.

Game Two

• Carthage surged to a 12-5 lead in the opening set, scoring nine unanswered points.
• Ryan Kelly delivered an ace to bring up set point.
• A Widener attack error secured the 25-15 set for the Firebirds.
• Ethan Sprague gave Carthage a one-point edge early in the second set.
• A block by Erik Stover, Joe Kolwicz, and Sprague stretched the lead to four.
• Carter Gibbons recorded a late kill as Carthage captured the set 25-21.
• Justin Ische pushed the Firebirds ahead 10-5 in the third.
• Cantwell followed with a kill to extend the margin to 16-9.
• Widener pulled within two late, but an Xzavion Willett kill clinched the 25-21 final set.

• Ryan Bartz led the Firebirds on the day with 17 kills, followed closely by Ben Heise with 15 and Owen Hendricks with nine. 
• Ryan Morey had 32 assists between both matches as Heise, Hendricks, and Morey all had eight digs. 

"Concluding our long trip to New York and New Jersey, it is nice to come back with two wins. The energy on Saturday was exactly what was required in intense moments. I was particularly impressed with our ability to put together 6 straight sets of disciplined volleyball. All of our guys contributed to sustaining a competitive standard on a long day away from home.

We are disappointed with dropping our first match of the year on Thursday. There are a lot of things we can take from that match and learn from. I think we have already implemented some of those lessons, and I'm proud of how this group has responded to setbacks.

Going 2-1 out on the East Coast and earning a big road win is massive for how we set ourselves up at the end of the year. This group understood the weight of this weekend, and I'm proud of how they competed through adversity.

WHITE OUT on Friday 2/13 vs UC Santa Cruz at 7 pm! This is going to be another clash of top 10 teams, and you won't want to miss the entertainment in Tarble!!!"

• Carthage returns home playing UC Santa Cruz on Friday, February 13, at 7 p.m.