KENOSHA — In the second round of the NCAA Regional Volleyball Championship, the Carthage College men's volleyball team defeated Dominican (Ill.) in straight sets 3-0.

• Final Score: No. 3 Carthage 3 - Dominican (Ill.) 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-21)
• Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin - Tarble Arena
• Records: No. 3 Carthage 23-3, Dominican 23-6

• Dominican (Ill.) held an early 11-9 edge in the opening set before Carthage responded with five consecutive points, capped by a kill from Hudson Sweitzer to take control. 
• The Stars trimmed the deficit to one, but a decisive seven-point surge by the Firebirds extended the lead to 19-13, highlighted by a kill from Ryan Bartz. 
• Dominican (Ill.) closed within 23-19, though Ben Heise finished the set with a kill to give Carthage the 25-19 win.
• In the second, Ruben Emmerich helped Carthage build an early advantage with a kill for an 8-6 lead. 
• The Firebirds later stretched the margin to five behind kills from Ryan Morey and an ace by Ryan Kelly, while Ethan Sprague added another kill to make it 18-12. Dominican (Ill.) answered with five straight points to take a 21-19 lead, but Carthage capitalized on two Stars' attack errors to close the set and earn a 25-20 victory.
• The third set featured a back-and-forth battle, with neither side gaining separation until Dominican (Ill.) moved ahead 16-13. 
• Kills from Emmerich and Heise evened the score at 18, and after the Stars regained a brief edge, Carthage responded with five consecutive points to take a 23-19 lead. Bartz contributed key service aces during the run before Sweitzer sealed the match with a kill, clinching a 25-21 set win.

• Ben Heise had a team-best 11 kills for Carthage. Ryan Bartz and Hudson Sweitzer added each. 
• Ryan Morey registered 35 assists, followed by Devon O'Callaghan with nine digs. 

• Carthage will play Southern Virginia vs Loras in the NCAA Quarterfinal on Saturday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m.