SPRINGFIELD — The Carthage College men's volleyball team closed out its historic 2026 season with a 3-0 loss to Springfield in the national championship match. Facing the top-seeded Pride, the Firebirds challenged throughout a competitive contest, keeping sets tight before Springfield pulled away late. Carthage responded with key runs and strong play at the net, but Springfield used timely surges to claim the title.
- Final Score: No. 1 Springfield 3 - No. 3 Carthage 0 (29-27, 25-21, 25-16)
- Location: Springfield, Massachusetts - Blake Arena
- Records: No. 1 Springfield 24-3, No. 3 Carthage 25-3
- The Pride opened set one with a 5-3 lead.
- A kill from Ryan Bartz trimmed the deficit to one, but Springfield responded with two kills to extend its edge to 7-4.
- Springfield pushed ahead 11-6 on another kill.
- Ben Heise added a kill to cut the margin to three.
- Ruben Emmerich recorded a solo block to make it 14-13, and an attack error tied the set at 14.
- After a back-and-forth stretch, a service error gave Carthage a 22-20 lead.
- Bartz followed with a kill to put the Firebirds up two.
- Heise delivered a kill for set point, but a Springfield block evened the score at 24.
- Springfield regained the lead on a service error and secured the set, 29-27.
- In set two, the Pride took an early 4-2 advantage.
- Springfield maintained a three-point lead at 12-9 with a kill.
- Heise answered with a kill to narrow the gap to 13-11, but Springfield countered to go back up three.
- Carthage tied the set at 15 on an ace from Emmerich.
- Springfield moved back in front by three with a kill.
- Bartz made it 20-17 with his 10th kill, and a combined block forced a Springfield timeout.
- The Pride regained control and closed out the set, 25-21.
- In set three, Bartz helped Carthage to a 5-3 lead with a kill, but Springfield answered to tie the set at five on an attack error.
- Bartz gave Carthage a one-point edge with another kill.
- Springfield responded with a kill to take a two-point lead.
- The Pride extended the margin to four following an attack error, prompting a Carthage timeout.
- Carthage used its second timeout as Springfield stretched the lead to 19-15.
- Springfield finished off the match with a 25-16 set win.
