Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Mar. 19, 2025 - Looking for revenge after their match last month, the nineteenth-ranked North Central College men's volleyball team met their rival, fourth-ranked Carthage College, on the court in Gregory Arena Wednesday night. The Cardinals emerged victorious this time, winning the match 3-2.
 
The first set saw 12 tied scores and three lead changes. The teams traded off points to open up the match, which included a service ace from Carson Steinbach. Carthage took a few three-point runs throughout the set that North Central was able to cut off and fight back from. However, the Firebirds found energy at the end of the set to outscore the Cardinals 4-1. Carthage took the first set 25-21.
 
The Firebirds earned the first point of the second set. However, that was the only time they led the Cardinals in the set. Tied at three all, a kill by Steinbach and an attacking error from Carthage gave North Central a two-point lead (5-3). North Central grabbed all the momentum of the set when Tyler Donovan delivered back-to-back kills, followed by a kill from Jeffrey McEachern (20-12). The Firebirds never found their footing enough to make a complete comeback, and McEachern secured the set with a kill (25-18). The second set features North Central's best attacking of the night, with their offense holding a .488 attacking percentage. 
 
Two consecutive errors from Carthage was all North Central needed to keep up their energy in the third set. After a kill by Cooper Lundal dismantled the Firebird's offense, the Cardinals capitalized off four consecutive attacking errors (20-13). However, as North Central led 21-14, Carthage fought back hard to take a 7-1 run to tighten the contest to 22-21. The Cardinals held strong, and an attack error from the Firebirds gave North Central the set, 25-23.
 
The Firebirds entered the fourth set, looking for vengeance. At three all, Carthage took a 5-2 run to take an 8-4 lead. The two teams trade off points for the remainder of the match. The Firebirds took the set 25-19 and set the match into a five-set.
 
In the fifth set, the Cardinals could feel the upset was within reach. North Central took a 5-1 run powered by three kills from Steinbach and a service ace from McEachern (9-4). Carthage pushed back, desperate to stay in the match, coming within three points of North Central (13-10). At 14-10, Donovan denied the Firebirds attack with a huge solo block for the five-set win.
 
The North Central athletes were setting personal season highs all around the board. Defensively, Danny Smithers notched 12 digs, and Mitchell Hester recorded four blocks. Steinbach led the Cardinals with 19 kills, followed slowly by McEachern (17). Donovan tallied 54 assists, just one short of tying his career record of 55 assists in a single match. Donovan's performance ranks third in program history for assists in a single match and a five-set match.
 
North Central is back in Gregory Arena Saturday, Mar. 22, when it hosts Illinois Wesleyan University. The first serve is at 3 p.m.
 
Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.