Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
KENOSHA, Wis (Feb. 26, 2025) - In a highly-anticipated match-up, the No. 18 North Central College men's volleyball team fell to No. 5 Carthage College 3-0 on Wednesday evening inside Tarble Arena.
 
The first set saw eight tied scores and six lead changes. Down by one point at 13-12, North Central took four consecutive points by a kill from Carson Steinbach and three Carthage attacking errors (16-13). Unfortunately, the Firebirds ripped the Cardinal's momentum away by taking a 6-1 run, capitalizing on North Central's attacking errors (19-17). Carthage kept the momentum and finished the set 25-21.
 
The Cardinals worked to keep the score tight at the start of set two, but with the score tied at four-all, the Firebirds took four consecutive points (8-4). North Central chipped away at Carthage's lead, but after trading three-point runs at 19-15, the Firebirds found momentum. The Carthage offense led the way with a 25-20 set win.
 
North Central struggled to find its footing in set three, as Carthage took an early 7-1 lead. The Cardinals fought back, but the Firebirds continued on their offensive run, ultimately winning the set 25-11 to take the match.
 
Steinbach tied with Carthage's Ben Heise for the most kills in tonight's match with 12. Steinbach was followed by Mitchell Hester (6) and Austin Scott (5). Tyler Donovan led the team with 27 assists and six digs.
 
North Central will be back on the road Saturday, Mar. 1, to take on North Park University in the North Park Gymnasium. The first serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Chicago, Ill.
 
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