KENOSHA — The top-seeded Carthage College men's volleyball team captured its fourth College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament title since 2020 on Saturday, sweeping No. 2 seed Illinois Wesleyan 3-0 to secure the championship.

• Final Score: No. 1 Carthage 3 - No. 3 Illinois Wesleyan 0 (28-26, 25-21, 25-14)
• Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin - Tarble Arena
• Records: No. 1 Carthage 22-3, No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan 22-6

• The opening set remained tight until Illinois Wesleyan used a late run to take a 17-13 lead.
• Carthage answered with a kill from Ruben Emmerich and an ace by Ryan Bartz to stay within reach.
• Trailing by two late, three consecutive kills from Ryan Monahan and Bartz pushed Carthage in front, 24-23.
• Illinois Wesleyan evened the score at 26, but a service error followed by a Bartz ace secured a 28-26 set victory for the Firebirds.
• In the second set, Carthage built a 10-8 edge behind kills from Monahan and Hudson Sweitzer.
• After Illinois Wesleyan tied the set at 19 and briefly grabbed the lead, Carthage responded with a 5-1 run, capped by Bartz's kills, to take the set.
• Carrying the momentum, the Firebirds surged to a 15-5 advantage in the third set.
• Ben Heise added key kills as Carthage extended the lead to 17-7 and closed out the match to claim its fourth CCIW Championship. 

• Ryan Bartz notched a match-best 15 kills while Ben Heise and Ryan Monahan each had nine. 
• Ryan Morey poured in 32 assists while Devon O'Callaghan added nine digs. 
• Carthage hit .462 in the closing set with 14 kills and two errors. 

• Carthage will make its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and will await its opponent, as the NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Monday, April 13. The live-streamed event will begin at 10 a.m. ET.