KENOSHA — The Carthage College men's volleyball team shook off an early deficit and seized control the rest of the way, earning a straight-set victory over North Park on Wednesday night. After rallying late in the opening set, the Firebirds dictated play in the second and held firm in a tight third to complete the sweep.

• Final Score: No. 3 Carthage 3 - North Park 0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-22)
• Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin - Tarble Arena
• Records: No. 3 Carthage 17-3 (6-1 CCIW), North Park 1-21 (0-7 CCIW)

• North Park opened set one with an 8-3 lead before Carthage answered, using a bad set to spark a 15-12 advantage.
• After the Vikings trimmed the deficit to two, the Firebirds surged with seven consecutive points, sealing the set behind kills from Justin Ische and Adrian Maciejewski.
• Carthage carried that momentum into set two, jumping ahead 13-4 following a solo block by Erik Stover.
• A Carter Gibbons kill extended the lead to 20-8 as the Firebirds cruised to a 25-11 set win.
• In set three, Gibbons added another kill to give Carthage a 15-10 edge.
• North Park battled back to tie the score at 19 and again at 22 after an ace.
• Carthage closed the match with kills from Ische and Ethan Sprauge, securing a 25-22 victory.

• Carter Gibbons had six kills while Justin Ische and Ethan Sprague had five. 
• Joe Kolwicz had a match-best 24 assists. 
• Devon O'Callaghan tallied six digs in the match. 

• Carthage heads to Augustana (Ill.) on Saturday, March 28, at 3 p.m.